ve 'em under cover; steam heat
when it's cold; and blankets and brushes without end. Sometimes Lola,
the pet of 'em all, sleeps up at the big house; but mostly she's here
with the rest. There's too big a caravan of 'em to have the lot live
with the family. Besides, the folks like to sleep late in the morning
and not be disturbed by the noise of a pack of puppies. Then there's
guests here off and on. So take it all in all, the dogs are best by
themselves."

"But I don't know anything about taking care of dogs," faltered
Walter.

"I thought you'd had a dog yourself."

"So I had once. But he wasn't like any of these. He was just a dog.
All you had to do was to chuck him a bone."

"Well, you'll have a darn sight more to do for these critters than
that," announced Jerry.

"But how'll I know----" began the boy, alarmed by the prospect before
him.

"Oh, you'll get your instructions from the Madam, most likely--get 'em
all written down in black and white along with the history of every
dog. She'll tell you just what every one of 'em is to eat, and how
much; and where they're all to sleep. And if she don't Miss Nancy or
Mr. Dick will. You'll get yards and yards of directions before you're
through," chuckled Jerry. "You want to listen well to every word you
hear too, son, for these dogs ain't like your Towser--or whatever his
name was; a crumb of food too much might kill 'em. Or a blast of air."

"Scott!"

"Oh, there's no use getting panicky at the outset," declared Jerry
comfortably. "Follow orders and use your brains; and remember that if
you get addled you can always consult Tim. Tim has a world of common
sense and a heap of knowledge of odd sorts. And more than that, he's
never swept off his feet by the cost of things. Having been brought up
in the company of Rolls-Royce cars, and diamond rings, and
thousand-dollar dogs they don't move him an inch. He just treats 'em
same's he would anything else and often it's the best plan. Instead
of losing his head, and standing wringing his hands 'cause the prize
roses have got bugs on 'em he sets to work and kills the bugs; sprays
the plants same's he would ordinary bushes, and they go to growing
again like any other civilized flowers. An orchid ain't no more to him
than a buttercup. He's too used to 'em. He's used to dogs as well, and
with the shifting fashions he's seen during his fifty years with the
family he's had experience with most every kind of dog that ever was.
Fo