just within the dim
radiance of the car-lamps. Even sooner than he saw this, his keen
nostrils had told him of human presence there. He shifted his course to
investigate.

Standing over the compactly-fastened swathing of clothes, Laddie bent
down and sniffed. It was a human. He knew that; in spite of the thick
veil that covered the slumberer's face. But it was also a bundle. It
was a bundle which might well be expected to delight the Mistress
almost as much as had the parasol;--far more than had the defunct
chicken.

Daintily, with infinite gentleness, Lad fixed his teeth in the loosest
portion of the bundle that he could find; and lifted it. It was
amazingly heavy, even for so powerful a dog. But difficulties had never
yet swerved Lad from any set purpose. Bracing his strength, he turned
homeward, carrying the burden between his mighty jaws.

And now, he was aware of some subtler feeling than mere desire to bring
the Mistress one more gift. His great heart had ever gone out in loving
tenderness toward everything helpless and little. He adored children.
The roughest of them could take unpardonable liberties with him. He
would let them maul and mistreat him to their heart's content; and he
reveled in such usage; although to humans other than the Mistress and
the Master, he was sternly resentful of any familiarity.

His senses told him this bundle contained a child;--a baby. It had been
lying alone and defenseless beside the road. He had found it. And his
heart warmed to the helpless little creature which was so heavy to
carry.

Proudly, now, he strode along; his muscles tensed; moving as if on
parade. The bundle swinging from his jaws was carried as lovingly as
though it might break in sixty pieces at any careless step.

The spare tire was adjusted. The men glanced nervously up and down the
road. No car or pedestrian was in sight. The driver scrambled to his
place at the wheel. His brother crossed to the alder bush behind whose
shelter he had left the baby. Back he came, on the run.

"'Tain't there!" he blithered. "'Tain't there! 'Tain't rolled nowheres,
neither. It's been took! Lord! What're we goin' to--?"

He got no further. His brother had scrambled down from the seat; and
pushed him aside, in a dash for the alder. But a few seconds of frantic
search proved the baby was gone. The two men glared at each other in
silent horror. Then by tacit impulse they got into the car.

"It couldn't 'a' walked off, could