Burdett and Sons' most immaculate and beautiful stenographer.

She dug the shapeless hat into David's shoulder, and clung to him.
"David!" she sobbed, "promise me you'll never, never do it again!"

THE BAR SINISTER

PREFACE

When this story first appeared, the writer received letters of two
kinds, one asking a question and the other making a statement. The
question was, whether there was any foundation of truth in the story;
the statement challenged him to say that there was. The letters seemed
to show that a large proportion of readers prefer their dose of fiction
with a sweetening of fact. This is written to furnish that condiment,
and to answer the question and the statement.

In the dog world, the original of the bull-terrier in the story is known
as Edgewood Cold Steel and to his intimates as "Kid." His father was
Lord Minto, a thoroughbred bull-terrier, well known in Canada, but the
story of Kid's life is that his mother was a black-and-tan named Vic.
She was a lady of doubtful pedigree. Among her offspring by Lord Minto,
so I have been often informed by many Canadian dog-fanciers, breeders,
and exhibitors, was the only white puppy, Kid, in a litter of
black-and-tans. He made his first appearance in the show world in 1900
in Toronto, where, under the judging of Mr. Charles H. Mason, he was
easily first. During that year, when he came to our kennels, and in the
two years following, he carried off many blue ribbons and cups at nearly
every first-class show in the country. The other dog, "Jimmy Jocks," who
in the book was his friend and mentor, was in real life his friend and
companion, Woodcote Jumbo, or "Jaggers," an aristocratic son of a long
line of English champions. He has gone to that place where some day all
good dogs must go.

In this autobiography I have tried to describe Kid as he really is, and
this year, when he again strives for blue ribbons, I trust, should the
gentle reader see him at any of the bench-shows, he will give him a
friendly pat and make his acquaintance. He will find his advances met
with a polite and gentle courtesy.

The Author.

PART I

The Master was walking most unsteady, his legs tripping each other.
After the fifth or sixth round, my legs often go the same way.

But even when the Master's legs bend and twist a bit, you mustn't think
he can't reach you. Indeed, that is the time he kicks most frequent. S