er half hour must be more than over.

"Harvey, I must go. Good-bye."

"Wait a minute. I say, I really like you, and will teach you how to
fish some day."

This was the greatest compliment he could pay her, for he was an expert
angler, and had never allowed a girl to share in the sport with him.
Such an invitation as he had just extended surprised even himself, but
he actually hoped that it would be accepted. He even decided to set a
definite time.

"Come here--well, say Monday afternoon between four and five."

"I'll come if mamma will let me."

"Remember, you mustn't tell any one about the 'gator."

"Not even mamma?"

"No, indeed. You wouldn't break your word, would you?"

"I never do that."

"You're a trump, Beth. Good-bye."

She skipped back towards the house, revelling in her adventure now that
it was over. Being called a trump by Harvey pleased her, but even this
praise only half reconciled her for keeping any secret from her mother.

Halfway up the avenue, a homely, impudent, scraggy little dog, sprang
from among the trees and yelped at Beth. A ragged little darky
followed. Beth had never seen any human being quite so ragged.

"Come 'way, Fritz. What yo' mean by jumpin' on de missy?"

Beth eyed doubtfully both the dog and his master. The latter looked at
her reassuringly.

"Yo' needn't be 'fraid, missy. I won't let Fritz hurt yo'."

"I--afraid--of him! He don't look as if he could harm anything," and
Beth laughed.

The boy appeared grieved.

"Really, missy, he's a wonderful dog. I'll show yo' what he can do.
Come, Fritz, dance for missy."

The ragged leader held up a warning finger. Fritz wagged his stubby
tail, but did not budge.

"Come, come, Fritz. Dance for de missy."

Fritz wagged his stubby tail more vigorously, but gave no other
response. The boy looked wise.

"He's bashful, missy, jes' like me. Perhaps, if I whipped him like my
mother whips me----"

"Does she whip you?"

"Yes, 'deed she does--if she kotches me," added the boy laughingly.
"If I'd whip Fritz, he'd dance, but I likes him too well to whip him."

Beth liked all dogs, with or without pedigree, and said warmly:

"I wouldn't whip him either, but it's too bad he won't dance. I'd
really like to see him."

Again the boy said coaxingly, "Fritz, do dance," but the dog was not to
be coaxed.

The boy frowned. "Yo'll think he can't dance, but 'deed he can.
Maybe, if I dance, he'll dance too."

At