much intrigued by the beauty of
the dye on Higham's fingers; and squirming with embarrassed
self-importance at the man's flattering tone. "I'll help out, all
right. Only,--"

"Here's the notion," said Higham, coming out of momentary
self-communion. "And if you ever spill it, your mail will be sent to
you at the hosp't'l, for a spell. You saw that big dark sable collie I
had you steer into Stall Five? It cost me another two dollars to get
Abrams to let me have the use of that stall. The idea come to me, in a
jolt, first crack of thunder I heard. Well, I'm due to 'get' that dog
and the mucker who owns him, too. Them and I had a run-in, once; and I
been honing for a chance to square things, ever since. I've seen 'em at
shows and I've asked folks about 'em, too. He sets more store by that
dog than he'd set by most humans. He's pleased as Punch, every time the
collie hauls down a cup at one of these neighborhood shows. Well, that
dog ain't going to be fit to go to another show, for a year. He ain't
going to be fit to look at, for that long. He's going to be a laughing
stock. His owners won't brag any more about him, neither. They'll be
glad enough to keep him out of sight."

The boy, listening with ever-widening eyes, chanced to shift his gaze
to the big bowl of new-mixed dye. And a light broke on him.

"You--you're aimin' to soak him with that stuff?" he whispered, in awe
at such combined courage and genius.

"Uh-uh," assented Higham. "I don't know what color the crimson stuff
will turn the dark part of his coat. But whatever color it is, it'll be
as funny as a box of three-tailed snakes. I've put a glass of ammonia
into the dye, to make it 'set' quicker. It--"

"Gee, but you're a wonder!" sighed the worshiping boy. "D'ye s'pose
I'll ever git to be as smart as you are?"

"It all depends on how you make use of your brains," returned Higham,
complacently. "But I was some smarter than you to begin with. I--"

"But--"

Higham went on, more briskly:

"I've got this bag to put over his head when I open the stall door.
That'll put him out of the biting business, till it's peeled away from
his jaws, after he's got a real good rubbing. But he'll likely wriggle,
a lot. And I'll need you to sit on his head. Likewise to carry this
bowl and the sponge, while I'm opening the door and getting the bag
over his head. Are you game?"

"I sure am!" breathed the enraptured boy.

"Come 'long, then. The stuff's ready; and we don't w