CHAPTER IV HIS STORY

tinghisdogagain,tohidethetearshecouldnotkeepfromcomingatthethoughtofthekindfriendhehadlost. "Whatdidyoumeantodo?" "FindfatherbutIcouldn't,forhewasn'tattheridin'school,andtheytoldmehehadgoneoutWesttobuymustangsforamanwhowantedalot.SothenIwasinafix,forIcouldn'tgotofather,didn'tknowjestwherehewas,andIwouldn'tsneakbacktoSmitherstobeabused.Triedtomake'emtakemeattheridin'school,buttheydidn'twantaboy,andItravelledalongandtriedtogetwork.ButI'dhavestarvedifithadn'tbeenforSanch.IlefthimtiedupwhenIranoff,forfearthey'dsayIstolehim.He'saveryvaluabledog,ma'am,thebesttrickdogIeversee,andthey'dwanthimbackmorethantheywouldme.Hebelongstofather,andIhatedtoleavehimbutIdid.Ihookeditonedarknight,andneverthoughtI'dseehimag'in.Nextmornin'Iwaseatin'breakfastinabarnmilesaway,anddreadfullonesome,whenhecametearin'in,allmudandwet,withagreatpieceofropedraggin'.He'dgnaweditandcomeafterme,andwouldn'tgobackorbelostandI'llneverleavehimagain,willI,dearoldfeller?" Sanchohadlistenedtothisportionofthetalewithintenseinterest,andwhenBenspoketohimhestoodstraightup,putbothpawsontheboy'sshoulders,lickedhisfacewithaworldofdumbaffectioninhisyelloweyes,andgavealittlewhinewhichsaidasplainlyaswords,— "Cheerup,littlemasterfathersmayvanishandfriendsdie,butIneverwilldesertyou." Benhuggedhimcloseandsmiledoverhiscurly,whiteheadatthelittlegirls,whoclappedtheirhandsatthepleasingtableau,andthenwenttopatandfondlethegoodcreature,assuringhimthattheyentirelyforgavethetheftofthecakeandthenewdinner-pail.InspiredbytheseendearmentsandcertainprivatesignalsgivenbyBen,Sanchosuddenlyburstawaytoperformallhisbestanticswithunusualgraceanddexterity. BabandBettydancedabouttheroomwithrapture,whileMrs.Mossdeclaredshewasalm