the spare room, and I can't get him to
come out."

Brown, unmindful of Maggie's threat, perhaps realizing that her bark
was worse than her bite, went with Mrs. Davenport to the spare room.
Beth followed after them. Brown got down upon his knees and tried to
entice the dog out. Duke, however, would not budge.

"Beth, if you called him perhaps he'd come," suggested Mrs. Davenport.

Beth burst into tears. "Mamma, I can't do it. It breaks my heart to
have him go."

The man arose. There was a kindlier light in his eyes. "Little un,
get him for me and I'll promise not to whip him."

"Dear," whispered Mrs. Davenport, "call him; it is a kindness to Duke.
He belongs to the man."

So Beth called, and immediately Duke answered the summons. However, he
shrank from his owner.

"Duke," said Beth, "we'd like to keep you, but we can't. You must go
quietly."

Mr. Brown had a leather collar which he fastened on the dog. Then he
led him quietly away. Beth cried, and even Mrs. Davenport's eyes were
suspiciously moist.

That night it rained, and the Davenports had a wood-fire around which
they gathered. Beth was just saying, "I wish I could have kept Duke,"
when she was interrupted by a noise upon the piazza.

"It sounds like a convict with chains," suggested Marian, who had a
lively imagination.

Beth looked towards the front window and cried:

"It's Duke."

Sure enough, with his paws upon the window ledge, and his great
intelligent eyes looking at them, there was Duke looking very
triumphant.

Marian and Beth rushed to the front door, and called him into the
house. He came all wet and muddy, dragging a great chain which he had
evidently broken. Notwithstanding his drabbled condition, both
children were demonstrative in their greeting, and their parents could
not find it in their hearts to object. In fact, Duke was brought in
beside the fire and made much of that night.

The next forenoon his owner came to carry Duke away. In leaving, he
remarked to Maggie that he'd see--well, that the dog didn't get away
again.

That day passed without any new developments, but the next morning the
Davenport family was wakened by a series of barks.

Marian and Beth immediately jumped out of bed, and rushed out upon the
upper piazza. In the yard below, looking as conscious as a truant
child, was Duke.

Beth, not waiting to put on anything over her night-dress, rushed
down-stairs and opened the door for the dog. A