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Ordinarilyunless the sheep were ready to come homeit was a matter
of ten or fifteen minutes each evening for Link to collect them and start
them on their way。 To…day； in less than three minutes； Chum had the whole
flock herded and trotting through the opening； to the lane outside。
Nor； this time； did the sheep flee from him in the same panic dread as
in the morning。 They seemed to have learnedif indeed a sheep can ever
learn anythingthat Chum was their driver； not their enemy。
From the fold Link as usual went to the woodlot where his five head of
lean milch cattle were at graze。 Three of the cows were waiting at the bars
for him； but one heifer and a new…dry Holstein were hidden somewhere in
the recesses of the second…growth timber。
The afternoon was hot； it had been a hot day。 Link was tired。 He
dreaded the labor of exploring ten acres of undergrowth for his two
missing cattle。 An inspiration came to him。 Pointing to the three stolidly
waiting cows at the bars he waved his arm in the general direction of the
lot and called on Chum。
〃Go find 'em！ Bring 'em in！〃
Almost before the words were spoken Ferris regretted them。 He hated
to dim the luster of his dog's earlier exploits by giving him a job beyond
his skill。 And this time Chum did not flash forward with his former zest。
He stood； ears cocked； glancing uncertainly from Link to the three cows
already waiting。
Then； as he still peered doubtfully； one of the bovine trio took fright at
the dog and trotted clumsily away toward the woods。 Link gave chase。 He
had not gone three steps before Chum caught the idea。 Whirling past
Ferris he headed off the surprised； indignant cow； and by dint of a flurry of
barks and dashes started her back toward the bars。
Her bell jangled dolefully as she obeyed the noisy urge。 And from
somewhere among the bushes； two hundred yards away； a second cowbell
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sounded in answer。 At this distant tinkle Chum evidently grasped the
meaning of his master's earlier mandate。 For he galloped away in the
direction of the sound。
And presently； with much crashing of undergrowth； appeared the
rebellious heifer； driven on by Chum。 After depositing her； sulky and
plunging； at the bars； Chum vanished againin apparent response to
another far…off bell jangle。 And in three minutes more he was back at the
bars with the fifth cow。
〃Lucky one was a heifer an' the other one dry！〃 commented Link to the
collie； after petting him and praising him for the exploit。 〃I'll have to learn
you to drive milch cows easy an' quiet。 You can't run 'em like you run
sheep an' yearlin's。 But apart from that； you sure done grand。 You can lop
off an hour a day of my work if I c'n send you reg'lar for the critters。 That
ought to be worth the price of your keep； by itself。 Now if I c'n learn you
how to milk an' maybe how to mowwell； 'twouldn't be a hull lot
queerer'n the stunts you done to…day！〃
It was perhaps a week later that Link Ferris received his quarterly
check from the Paterson Vegetable Market。 These checks hitherto had
been the brightest spots in Link's routine。 Not only did the money for his
hard…raised farm products mean a replenishing of the always scant larder
and an easing of the chronic fiscal strain between himself and the
Hampton general store's proprietor； but sometimes enough spare cash was
left over to allow Ferris to get very satisfactorily drunk。
Since Chum's advent； the old gnawing of loneliness had not goaded
Link to the Hampton tavern。 As a consequence； he had a dollar or two
more on hand than was usual at such times。 This wealth was swelled still
further by the fact that a boost in vegetable prices had fattened his
quarterly check beyond its wonted size。
All this and his long abstinence seemed to call for a real celebration。
And Link looked forward with a thrill of merry anticipation to the coming
of night。
As soon as he could clear away his evening chores and swallow some
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supper he fared forth to the village。 This was going to be one of those
nights to date time from。 Not a miserable half…jag； stopped in mid…career
by lack of funds and of credita nipped…in…the…bud debauch； such as so
often had sent him home cranky and unsatisfied and railing against
poverty。 No； this was going to be the real thinga record performance；
even for these pre…prohibition times。
Ferris fed the collie and shut him into the kitchen； pending his own
return from Hampton。 If Link were going to become blissfully and
helplessly drunk； as he had every hope of being； someone might take
advantage of his condition to steal his precious dog。 Therefore Chum was
best left safe at home。 This Link explained very carefully to the
interestedly listening collie。 And Chum； with head and brush a…droop；
walked meekly into the kitchen at his master's behest。
Link set off for the village； happy in the feeling that his home was so
well guarded and that he would find a loving friend waiting to welcome
him on his return。 What with ready money and a real friend and the
prospect of getting whole…souledly drunk the world was not such a rotten
place to live in after all！
As a rule； on these occasions； Ferris first went to the Hampton store。
There he was wont to cash his check； pay his longstanding bill； order his
new suppliesand then； with a free heart； sally forth to the Hampton
tavern。 But to…night； having money in his pocket apart from the check； he
decided to pay a preliminary call at the tavern； just by way of warming up；
before going on to the store。
There were few people in the barroom at so early an hour of the
evening and on so early an evening of the week。 Link nodded affably to
one or two men he knew and bade them line up at the bar with him。 After
the second drink he prepared to leave。 To the tavern's proprietor； who was
mildly surprised at the brevity of his call； Ferris explained