as he had always fancied.

"Depends on whether you get castor-oil or cake," was the pessimistic
reply of one who had gone through bitter experiences along those lines.
"This just shows what belongin' t' orders does for you, Dan. If Ben
wasn't a member o' the Bow Wows, I'll bet he could 'a' died an' hardly
any one would 'a' known it but his mother. An' now he's havin' a party
give to him 'cause our Society kinda hinted to her what we was plannin'
when she showed up." And for once an approving glance was cast toward
the Woman.

"When I'm old enough," decided Dan, "I'm goin' t' belong t' everything.
You can wear feathers an' gold braid in processions, an' have stuff like
this when you're sick, an' bully funerals with brass bands when you're
dead."

"Me too," agreed George heartily.

As they turned the corner into Second Avenue, a short distance from the
Edwards cabin, an adventure befell them which was fully covered by Rule
Seven of the "Rules and Regerlations" of their Order: "To help thoes in
Trubble." It came at the very end, just next the important one which
forbade any hint of sharp practice in dog trading; and had been added
after they had listened to the Woman's story about King Arthur and his
Knights.

"Just 'cause it's a dog man's order we needn't stop tryin' t' do things
for people," George had announced when Rule Seven was being considered.
And the others had felt, too, that their association with good dogs
should make them more tolerant of human weakness and imperfection.

Down the street came a tiny Mother with a cherished doll-baby in its
go-cart, out for an airing; and down the street, too, came Oolik Lomen,
who had wandered away from his rug on the porch in search of diversion.
He had mislaid his rubber doll, there was nothing to play with, and he
was decidedly bored; when his covetous eyes fell upon the golden-haired
infant, whose waxen beauty was most tempting.

The piratical instinct that was, perhaps, an inheritance, took
possession of him completely; and with a rush he overturned the
carriage, grabbing its occupant, and dashing away full speed toward the
Lomen home.

The shocked parent, seeing her child snatched from her loving care so
ruthlessly, broke into cries of distress. And the Wonder Workers, who
were so solemnly pledged "To help thoes in Trubble," unceremoniously
bestowed their various bundles upon the Woman, and started in pursuit.

Baldy, who had been quietly following, also joine