do I?"

"We all do. We agree neither to borrow, lend, nor ask favors."

"I'm afraid I shan't make one of the gang then," observed Walter, with
a smile so good-humored that the words could not offend.

"Then the more fool you, that is all I can say," laughed Wheeler. "By
the end of a month you won't have so much as a collar button to your
name. Everything you own will be gone, especially your tools. We're a
lot of pirates. I give you fair warning."

"I'm not afraid you'll want much that I've got," grinned Walter.

The upraised stick descended in a series of rhythmic blows, sending
into the air a cloud of dust.

"Where's the brush?" panted the boy, when he had beaten until his arm
ached.

"Say, kid, I'm not going to have you breaking your back over my job,"
asserted Wheeler in a friendly tone.

"I'm not breaking my back."

"But what on earth are you doing it _for_?" questioned the man, his
eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"I don't know myself," returned the lad shyly. "It was just the way I
was brought up, I guess."

For an interval only the sweeping of the brush broke the stillness.

"I was brought up to be decent, too," observed Wheeler slowly, "but
somehow since I've been knocking round I've got to be an awful brute.
There isn't any very high standard among the crowd I mix in. Still,
I'm afraid that isn't much of an excuse for shifting back into a
savage." He paused thoughtfully, then added, "I'm much obliged to you,
sonny, for your help, and just to show you I don't forget it, sometime
when you are hard put hunt me up and ask me to give you a lift. I'm a
human being though you may not think so."

With a little glow at his heart Walter moved away toward the kennels.

He had made a friend, and in this new environment where he was
conscious of being very much of an outsider the consciousness brought
him a sense of comradeship and happiness.

It was fortunate, however, that his altruism had detained him no
longer for before he reached the spot where the dogs were to be
quartered he heard a chorus of sharp yelps and saw what appeared to be
a dozen dogs coming across the lawn accompanied by Mrs. Crowninshield
and two of the stablemen. Some of the pack were being led, while
others, wild with joy at finding themselves unconfined, leaped and
capered wildly about their mistress. A great police dog, straining at
the leash, gave Walter a thrill of mingled admiration and timidity. He
was a huge creature with mot