按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
across the wide road at a speed that made it look like tawny blur。
Chum's mad leap carried him to the baby just as the car's fender hung
above her。 A slashing grip of his teeth in the shoulder of her white dress
and a lightning heave of his mighty neck and shouldersand the little form
was hurtling through the air and into the weed…filled wayside ditch。
In practically the same instant Chum's body whizzed into the air again。
But this time by no impetus of its own。 The high…powered car's fender had
struck it fair； and had tossed it into the ditch as though the dog had been a
heap of rags。
Therehuddled and lifelesssprawled the beautiful collie。 The car put
on an extra spurt of speed and disappeared round the next turn。
Olive was on her feet before Dorcas's flying steps could reach her。
Unhurt but vastly indignant； the baby opened her mouth to make way for a
series of howls。 Then； her eye falling on the inert dog； she ran over to
Chum and began to cry out to him to come to life again。
〃No use of that； kid！〃 interposed Link； kneeling beside the collie he
loved and smoothing the soiled and rumpled fur。 〃It's easier to drop out of
life than what it is to come back to it again。 Well；〃 he went on harshly；
turning to the weeping Dorcas； 〃the question has answered itself； you see。
No need now to tell me to get rid of him。 He's saved me the bother。 Like
he was always saving me bother。 That being Chum's way。〃
Something in his throat impeded his fierce speech。 And he bent over
the dog again； his rough hands smoothing the pitifully still body with
loving tenderness。 Dorcas； weeping hysterically； fell on her knees beside
Chum and put her arms about the huddled shape。 She seemed to be trying
to say something； her lips close to one of the furry little ears。
〃No use！〃 broke in Ferris； his voice as grating as a file's。 〃He can't hear
you now。 No good to tell him you hate dogs； or that you're glad you've
saw the last of him。 Even if he was alive； he wouldn't understand that。
72
… Page 73…
HIS DOG
He'd never been spoke to that way。〃
〃Don't！ Oh； don't！〃 sobbed the girl。 〃Oh； I'm so〃
〃If you're crying for Chum；〃 went on the grating voice； 〃there's no
need to。 He was only just a dog。 He didn't know any better but to get his
life smashed out'n him； so somebody else could go on living。 All he asked
was to be with me and work for me and love me。 After you said he
couldn't keep on doing that； there ain't any good in your crying for him。 It
must be niceif you'll only stop crying long enough to think of itto know
he's out of your way。 And I'M out of it too！〃 he went on in a gust of fury。
〃S'pose you two just toddle on； now； and leave me to take him home。 I got
the right to that； anyhow。〃
He stooped to pick up the dog； and he winked with much rapidity to
hold back an annoying mist which came between him and Chum。 His
mouth corners； too； were twitching in a way that shamed him。 He had a
babyish yearning to bury his face in his dead friend's fur； and cry。
〃DON'T！〃 Dorcas was wailing。 〃Oh； you can't punish me any worse
than I'm〃
Her sob…broken voice scaled high and swelled out into a cry of stark
astonishment。 Slowly Chum was lifting his splendid head and blinking
stupidly about him！
The fender had smitten the collie just below the shoulder； in a mass of
fur…armored muscles。 In falling into the wayside ditch his skull had come
into sharp contact with a rock。 Knocked senseless by the concussion； he
had lain as dead； for the best part of five minutes。 After which he had
come slowly to his sensesbewildered； bruised and sore； but otherwise no
worse for the accident。
He came to himself to find a weeping woman clutching him
stranglingly round the neck； while she tried to kiss his dust…smeared head。
Chum did not care at all for this treatment； especially from a
comparative stranger。 But he saw his adored master looking so idiotically
happyover that or something elsethat the dog forbore to protest。
〃If you really wanted him put out of the way so bad〃 began Link；
73
… Page 74…
HIS DOG
when he could trust himself to speak。
He got no further。 Dorcas Chatham turned on him in genuine
savageness。 The big eyes were no longer grave and patronizing。 The air of
aloofness had fallen from the girl like a discarded garment。
〃Link！〃 she blazed。 〃Link Ferris！ If you ever dare speak about getting
rid ofof MY dog；I'llI'll never speak to you again； as long asas long
as we're married！〃
THE END
74