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outdoor exercise。 Olive came running down the path after her； eagerly
demanding to be taken along。 Dorcas with much sternness bade her go
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back。 She wanted to be alone； unlessBut she refused to admit to herself
that there was any 〃unless。〃
Olive； grievously disappointed； stood on the steps； watching her big
sister set off up the road。 She saw Dorcas take the righthand turn at the
fork。 The baby's face cleared。 Now she knew in which direction Dorcas
was going。 That fork led to the Glen。 And the Glen was a favorite Sunday
afternoon ramble for Link and Chum。 Olive knew that； because she and
Dorcas more than once had walked thither to meet them。
Olive was pleasantly forgetful of her parents' positive command that
she refrain from walking alone on the motor…infested Sunday roads。 She
set off at a fast jog trot over the nearby hill； on whose other side ran the
Glen road。
Link Ferris； with Chum at his heels； was tramping moodily toward the
Glen。 As he turned into the road he paused in his sullen walk。 There；
strolling unconcernedly； some yards in front of him； was a tall girl in white。
Her back was toward him。 Yet he would have recognized her at a hundred
times the distance。 Chum knew her； too； for he wagged his tail and started
at a faster trot to overtake her。
〃Back！〃 called Link。
Purposely he spoke as low as possible。 But the dog heard and obeyed。
The girl； too； started a little； and made as if to turn。 Just then ensued a wild
crackling in the thick roadside bushes which lined the hillside from
highway to crest。 And a white…clad little bunch of humanity came
galloping jubilantly out into the road； midway between Dorcas and Link。
At the road edge Olive's stubby toe caught in a noose of blackberry
vine。 As the youngster was running full tilt； her own impetus sent her
rolling over and over into the center of the dusty turnpike。
Before she could get to her feet or even stop rolling； a touring car
came round the bend； ten yards awaya car that was traveling at a speed
of something like forty…five miles an hour； and whose four occupants were
singing at the top of their lungs。
Link Ferris had scarce time to tense his muscles for a futile spring
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Dorcas's scream of helpless terror was still unbornwhen the car was
upon the prostrate child。
And in the same fraction of a second a furry catapult launched itself
across the wide road at a speed that made it look like tawny blur。
Chum's mad leap carried him to the baby just as the car's fender hung
above her。 A slashing grip of his teeth in the shoulder of her white dress
and a lightning heave of his mighty neck and shouldersand the little form
was hurtling through the air and into the weed…filled wayside ditch。
In practically the same instant Chum's body whizzed into the air again。
But this time by no impetus of its own。 The high…powered car's fender had
struck it fair； and had tossed it into the ditch as though the dog had been a
heap of rags。
Therehuddled and lifelesssprawled the beautiful collie。 The car put
on an extra spurt of speed and disappeared round the next turn。
Olive was on her feet before Dorcas's flying steps could reach her。
Unhurt but vastly indignant； the baby opened her mouth to make way for a
series of howls。 Then； her eye falling on the inert dog； she ran over to
Chum and began to cry out to him to come to life again。
〃No use of that； kid！〃 interposed Link； kneeling beside the collie he
loved and smoothing the soiled and rumpled fur。 〃It's easier to drop out of
life than what it is to come back to it again。 Well；〃 he went on harshly；
turning to the weeping Dorcas； 〃the question has answered itself； you see。
No need now to tell me to get rid of him。 He's saved me the bother。 Like
he was always saving me bother。 That being Chum's way。〃
Something in his throat impeded his fierce speech。 And he bent over
the dog again； his rough hands smoothing the pitifully still body with
loving tenderness。 Dorcas； weeping hysterically； fell on her knees beside
Chum and put her arms about the huddled shape。 She seemed to be trying
to say something； her lips close to one of the furry little ears。
〃No use！〃 broke in Ferris； his voice as grating as a file's。 〃He can't hear
you now。 No good to tell him you hate dogs； or that you're glad you've
saw the last of him。 Even if he was alive； he wouldn't understand that。
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He'd never been spoke to that way。〃
〃Don't！ Oh； don't！〃 sobbed the girl。 〃Oh； I'm so〃
〃If you're crying for Chum；〃 went on the grating voice； 〃there's no
need to。 He was only just a dog。 He didn't know any better but to get his
life smashed out'n him； so somebody else could go on living。 All he asked
was to be with me and work for me and love me。 After you said he
couldn't keep on doing that； there ain't any good in your crying for him。 It
must be niceif you'll only stop crying long enough to think of itto know
he's out of your way。 And I'M out of it too！〃 he went on in a gust of fury。
〃S'pose you two just toddle on； now； and leave me to take him home。 I got
the right to that； anyhow。〃
He stooped to pick up the dog； and he winked with much rapidity to
hold back an annoying mist which came between him and Chum。 His
mouth corners； too； were twitching in a way that shamed him。 He had a
babyish yearning to bury his face in his dead friend's fur； and cry。
〃DON'T！〃 Dorcas was wailing。 〃Oh； you can't punish me any worse
than I'm〃
Her sob…broken voice scaled high and swelled out into a cry of stark
astonishment。 Slowly Chum was lifting his splendid head and blinking
stupidly about him！
The fender had smitten the collie just below the shoulder； in a mass of
fur…armored muscles。 In falling into the wayside ditch his skull had come
into sharp contact with a rock。 Knocked senseless by the concussion； he
had lain as dead； for the best part of five minutes。 After which he had
come slowly to his