striking snake.
His hand closed on the handle of a traveling bag, among the heap of
luggage. Never slackening his pace, the negro gave a fierce yank at his
plunder, to hoist it over the closed door.

In that tourist-ridden city, bag-stealing offered much profit. In the
rare chance of detection when he was at work, the boy had only to plead
over-zeal in trying to earn an honest dime by helping lift the luggage
to the sidewalk.

It was a pretty bit of theft; and it betokened long and careful
practice. Thus,--from the thief's standpoint,--it was almost a pity the
brilliant effort was wasted. For wasted it was.

This young negro prided himself on his powers of speed and of silence,
in plying his trade. And, today, though he proceeded to excel in the
first of these qualities, he disgraced himself most woefully as
regarded the second.

For he jerked his hand out of the tonneau far faster than he had thrust
it in. As he did so, he woke the echoes with the most blood-curdling
screech his leathern lungs could compass.

As his dusky fingers had closed on the bag, something viselike and
relentless had fastened upon those same expert fingers; breaking two of
them, and rending the flesh of the lower hand.

Lad, in rising to his feet, after his pleasant nap, at the slowing of
the car, had been aware of that predatory hand; as it groped for the
bag. Now, from puppyhood, Lad had been taught to regard everything in
the car as under his own careful guardianship. Hence, he lunged forward
and sank his terrible white teeth deep into the groping fingers.

By main force the youth tore free. With a second screech, he reeled
back from the unseen peril which had assailed him. But Lad would not
have it so.

There was a harsh-breathed growl, from down in the tonneau; and, on the
instant, a tawny giant shape came catapulting over the top of the shut
door and hurled itself upon the staggering negro.

The Master, turning at sound of the yell, was just in time to see the
attack. The collie,--supposedly ninety miles away, and peacefully
guarding the Place,--was hurtling through the air and crashing against
the chest of a gray-faced and pop-eyed young negro. To earth went the
two; in a cloud of dust; a second before the Master's sharp call
brought Lad reluctantly away from his prey, and just as a policeman and
a score of idlers came running up.

The thief did not wait to explain. No sooner did he see the Master
catch the infuriated dog by