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It began with a promising account of a puppy named Pelleas。 But
midway it branched off into something else。 Something Link could not
make head nor tail of。 Then； on second reading； bits of Maeterlinck's
meaning； here and there； seeped into Ferris's bewilderedly groping
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intellect。
He learned； among other things； that Man is all alone on earth； that
most animals don't know he is here； and that the rest of them have no use
for him。 That even flowers and crops will desert him and run again to
wildness； if Man turns his back on them for a minute。 So will his horse； his
cow and his sheep。 They graft on him for a living； and they hate or ignore
him。
The dog alone； Link spelled out； has pierced the vast barrier between
humans and other beasts； and has ranged himself； willingly and joyously；
on the side of Man。 For Man's sake the dog will not only starve and suffer
and lay down his life； but will betray his fellow quadrupeds。 Man is the
dog's god。 And the dog is the only living mortal that has the privilege of
looking upon the face of his deity。
All of which was doubtless very interesting； and part of which thrilled
Ferris； but none of which enlightened him as to a dog's uncanny wisdom
in certain things and his blank stupidity in others。 Next day Link returned
the book to the library； no wiser than before； albeit with a higher
appreciation of his own good luck in being the god of one splendid dog
like Chum。
July had drowsed into August； and August was burning its sultry way
toward September。 Link's quarterly check from the Paterson Market
arrived。 And Ferris went as usual to the Hampton store to get it cashed。
This tine he stood in less dire need of money's life…saving qualities than of
yore。 It had been a good summer for Link。 The liquor out of his system
and with a new interest in life； he had worked with a snap and vigor which
had brought results in hard cash。
None the less； he was glad for this check。 In another month the annual
interest。 on his farm mortgage would fall due。 And the meeting of that
payment was always a problem。 This year he would be less cruelly
harassed by it than before。
Yet； all the more； he desired extra money。 For a startlingly original
ambition had awakened recently in his heartnamely； to pay off a little of
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HIS DOG
the mortgage's principal along with the interest。
At first the idea had staggered him。 But talking it over with Chum and
studying his thumbed…soiled ledger； he had decided there was a bare
chance he might be able to do it。
As he mounted the steps of the store； this evening in late August； he
saw； tacked to the doorside clapboards； a truly gorgeous poster。 By the
light of the flickering lamp over the door； he discerned the vivid scarlet
head of a dog in the upper corner of the yellow placard； and much display
type below it。
It was the picture of the dog which checked Link in passing。 It was a
fancy headthe head of a stately and long muzzled dog with a ruff and
with tulip ears。 In short； just such a dog as Chum。 Not knowing that Chum
was a collie and that poster artists rejoice to depict collies； by reason of the
latter's decorative qualities； Ferris was amazed by the coincidence。
After a long and critical survey of the picture； he was moved to run his
eye over the flaring reading matter。
The poster announced； to all and sundry； that on Labor Day a
mammoth dog show was to be held in the country club grounds at
Craigswolda show for the benefit of the Red Cross。 Entries were to be
one dollar for each class。 〃Thanks to generous contributions； the
committee was enabled to offer prizes of unusual beauty and value； in
addition to the customary ribbons。〃
Followed a list of cups and medals。 Link scanned them with no great
interest； But suddenly his roving gaze came to an astonished standstill。 At
the bottom of the poster； in forty…eight…point bold…face type； ran the
following proclamation：
COL。 CYRUS MARDEN OF CRAIGSWOLD MANOR OFFERS A
CASH AWARD OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS （100） TO THE BEST
DOG OF ANY BREED EXHIBITED
One hundred dollars！
Link reread the glittering sentence until he could have said it backward。
It would have been a patent lie had he heard it by word of mouth。 But as it
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was in print； of course it was true。
One hundred dollars！ And as a prize for the finest dog in the show。 Not
to BUY the dog； mind you。 Just as a gift to the man who happened to own
the best dog。 It did not seem possible。 Yet
Link knew by hearsay and by observation the ways of the rich colony
at Craigswold。 He knew the Craigswolders spent money like mud； when it
so pleased themalthough more than one fellow huckster was at times
sore put to it to collect from them a bill for fresh vegetables。
Yes； and he knew Col。 Cyrus Marden by sight； too。 He was a long…
faced little man who used to go about dressed in funny knee pants and
with a leather bag of misshapen clubs over his shoulder。 Link had seen
him again and again。 He had seen the Colonel's enormous house at
Craigswold Manor； too。 He had no doubt Marden could afford this gift of
a hundred dollars。
〃TO THE BEST DOG OF ANY BREED！〃
Ferris knew nothing about the various breeds of dogs。 But he did know
that Chum was by far the best and most beautiful and the wisest dog ever
born。 If Marden were offering a hundred dollar prize for the best dog；
there was not another dog on earth fit to compete with Chum。 That was a
cinch。
As for the hundred dollarswhy； it would be a godsend on the
mortgage payment！ Every cent of it could go toward the principal。 That
meant Ferris could devote the extra few dollars he had already saved for
the principal to the buying of fertilizers and several sorely…needed utensils
and to the shingling of the house。
Avid for more news of the offer； he entered