y taken his dog from him, and that now she should be made to
try again when neither of them wished the dog to leave him. Tears were
in her eyes, but she clapped her hands as if ready for a frolic. "Come
on, Gift; come on." Duke also barked an invitation. Gift leaped down
the steps and was by their side in an instant.

"Oh, please call him back, or let me come back."

"Go on. Don't you dare let him see that you don't want him. If he
follows you home, I never want to see any of you again. Both dogs then
are yours forever," growled Gift's owner.

Tears now blinded poor Beth so that she could hardly see to open the
gate. Duke did not wait for it to be opened, but leaped over the
fence. Gift hesitated about following. He was perfectly able to make
the jump, but he evidently thought of his master for the first time.
He looked back undecided what to do.

"Oh, if he only would call him," but Brown stood as if turned to stone.
Suddenly Gift ran back to his side. Beth never felt more grateful.

"Call him. I am not sure of him yet," cried Brown in a strange voice.

"It's cruel to the dog and to me," thought Beth. She now held the gate
open. "Come, Gift." Again Duke barked.

"I'm ashamed of you, Duke Davenport, for tempting your own son,"
thought Beth.

Gift looked up at his master as if for a word of instruction. He
received no word or sign in reply. Then Gift made a slight move as if
to follow Beth, but suddenly turned and licked his master's hand.
Next, he settled down on the porch for a sleep as if the matter were
settled once and forever.

Beth now expected to see Mr. Brown show some emotion, but he simply
called, "Missy, come back."

She would have thought that she had overestimated his feelings in the
matter if she had not caught sight of tears in his eyes when she
returned.

"Gift is the best friend I have," he said quietly when Beth was
reseated. "Do you know he helps keep me from saloons. If he is with
me and I start in one, he growls. Now, what favor do you want to ask
of me?"

She had almost forgotten the object of her visit, and the abruptness
with which it was recalled to her embarrassed her.

"I--I want to pay you for Duke. I have some money of my own in the
bank and I think----"

"But I gave Duke to you." He looked grieved. "I accepted Gift from
you, I don't see----"

"You don't understand. Do you remember what you said when you gave me
Duke? You said if I ever left Flori