ho had been
listening to all that passed, and seemed amused at Dick's gratitude.

"Oh, yes, ma'am--at least only Pat and me. He is my little dog, you
know."

Then with sudden recollection he turned hurriedly and looked for his
faithful follower. But there was no Pat in sight, and flushing
painfully, he cried, "Oh, he's left behind. I must run back at once,
or he'll be lost in the fair."

And scarcely waiting to lift his old cap to the ladies, he darted back
towards the town. Thrusting the new half-crown deep into his pocket,
he sped on, calling Pat and whistling for him in vain.

"Maybe he dropped asleep from tiredness, and I'll find him by the steps
again."

But there was no trace of the little dog there, and Dick felt very
unlike Lionheart as he searched for his lost companion, and asked all
the passers by if they had seen him. But all the people seemed intent
on their own pleasure, and for an hour Dick walked up and down without
any tidings of Pat.

Then a mischievous looking urchin playing marbles looked up as Dick
passed and said mysteriously, "I know about your dog, but I shan't tell
for nothing. Give me a penny, for a ride on the gallopin' horses."
Dick put a penny into the grimy hand, and the boy said in a loud
whisper, "A girl had him while you was holding the horse--'ticed him
off with a piece of meat. I see her."

"What was she like?" cried Dick eagerly, "and which way did she go?"

"Down the Market Place, and she was belonging to one of the shows. She
was bigger'n you, and she had a yellow scarf on and eardrops."

The girl on the caravan whose master had wanted Pat! Dick had the clue
now, but how could he recover his treasure?

Shutting his eyes for a moment he prayed to his Heavenly Father for
help, and then began another tour of the shows.

There were dogs in plenty, ugly and lean-looking curs lying on the
straw under the waggons or loafing around the shops in search of
plunder, but none at all like Pat.

Again and again as he passed he called and whistled, but there was no
answering bark. Suddenly he saw the girl just inside a gaily painted
show while her father stood on the steps and called out, "Walk up,
ladies and gentlemen! Walk up and see the smallest dwarf in the world
with his performing happy family, dogs and cats and birds, all living
together. Only 2d., for the greatest wonder of the age."

Without a moment's hesitation, Dick ran forward and said to the girl,
"What h