down a handsome fur robe from the shelf, and secreted it in the
hay, near the window. He then proceeded to leave, when Leo caught him
and held him fast.

Nearly an hour later, when the hostler returned, they were still in this
position, the robber frightened almost out of his wits, and not daring
to move lest the dog should kill him.

Being closely questioned by the hostler, he acknowledged his theft, and
said that he had intended to come in the night and take away the robe,
which he knew was valuable, by removing the window.

While he was talking, Leo watched him narrowly, and then followed him
from the barn, growling continually.

Leo was very fond of his young mistress, whom in her babyhood, he had
many times carried on his back around the gravelled walks near the
house.

Minnie was fond of him too, and sometimes put her arms around his neck
and kissed him.

When he saw her coming, he always ran to meet her, wagging his tail with
pleasure.

But there was one member of the family Leo did not like at all, and no
inducements which his master could urge would bring him on even decently
friendly terms with him.

This was Jacko, the monkey, who by his grinning and chattering, and
uncouth gestures, so disgusted the great dog, that he kept as far from
his cage as possible.

One morning, about three months after Minnie's cousin Ida had come to
reside with them, the little girl was taken suddenly ill. When she was
partially recovered, it was curious to see her sitting bolstered up in
bed, with so many pets around her.

First, there was Poll, hopping up and down from her perch to the floor
of the cage, chattering continually between her fits of coughing, "I'm
sick! I'm sick! O, what a cold!" and then, changing her tone, "better
now! better to-day!"

On the bed were Fidelle and Tiney, the latter nestled closely under his
little mistress's arm.

By the side of the couch, with his fore paws resting on the white
counterpane, stood Leo, grave and dignified, seeming to realize more
than any of them what a sad thing it was for Minnie to be lying there,
instead of running over the grounds as usual.

Just at this moment, Anne came into the room bringing Jacko, who began
to grin and chatter with delight.

Mrs. Lee directed the woman to fasten the monkey's chain tightly to the
post of the bedstead, and let him have his liberty; but she soon
regretted having done so, for Leo, who had bristled up the moment Jacko
came in