her, to love
and to play with; to see his tricks every day, to teach him to know her and
to run to her when she called. If she was given the choice of the Whole
world on this sweet birthday morning, it seemed to her nothing could be so
desirable as this live creature, this playmate, this prince among dogs.

When she looked up the man in the checked suit had disappeared. She glanced
at her father and mother. They were watching her smilingly and she
understood that they had known.

She looked around a little further and saw Mr. Evringham seated, his hand
on the collie's neck, while the wagging, feathery tail expressed great
contentment in the touch of a good friend.

At the time the story of the golden dog had so captivated Jewel's
imagination, the broker began his search for one in real life. He had
already been thinking that a dog would be a good companion for the fearless
child's solitary hours in the woods. As soon as the collie was found, he
directed that all the ordinary tricks should be taught it, and every day
until he left New York he visited the creature, who remembered him so well
that on the collie's arrival late last evening, he had feared its joyous
barking out at the barn would waken Jewel.

She rose to her knees now, and, putting her arms around the dog's neck,
pressed her radiant face against him.

Topaz pulled back, but Mr. Evringham patted him, and in an instant he was
freed; for his little mistress jumped up and, climbing into her
grandfather's lap, rested her head against his breast.

"Grandpa," she said, slowly and fervently, "I wonder if you do know how
much I love you!"

Mr. Evringham patted the collie's head, then took Jewel's hand and placed
it with his own on the sleek forehead. The golden eyes met his
attentively.

"You're to take care of her, Topaz. Do you understand?" he asked.

The feathery tail waved harder.

Jewel gazed at the dog. "If anything could be too good to be true, he'd be
it," she said slowly.

Mr. Evringham's pleasure showed in his usually impassive face.

"Well, isn't it a good thing then that nothing is?" he replied, and he
kissed her.

CHAPTER XVIII

TRUE DELIGHT

When evening came and put a period to that memorable birthday, Topaz was a
dog of experiences. If he was a happy discovery to Jewel, she was none the
less one to him. He was delighted to romp in the fields, where his coat
vied with the goldenrod; or to scamper up and down the beach, barki