ld
have done such a wantonly destructive thing. No other animal has been
here. The dog was seen entering and leaving this room. And my work of
six months is not only destroyed by him, but many of the very best
pieces in my glass-and-porcelain cabinet."

"But--"

"I consented to stay on at Daylight Park, only on the solemn assurance
of the Governors that no animal should be allowed again within the Park
precincts. I detest animals. Particularly dogs. And now I see my
dislike is not mere prejudice. May I ask what the owners and--and the
harborer--of the cur mean to do about this outrage? Notice, please,
that I am speaking with studied moderation, in asking this vital
question. I--"

"It is my fault,--or rather, it is a mistake,--that Lad is in the
Park," spoke up the Master. "Mr. Harmon is wholly innocent in the
matter. I can testify to that. If there is any fine or other penalty in
connection with my dog's being here, I'm ready to settle for it. But if
you expect me to believe that Laddie did all this weird damage to your
manuscript and your collection and your room,--why, that's absurd!
Utterly absurd! Lad, never in his life,--"

"The courts will think otherwise!" blazed Garretse, losing a fraction
of his hard-held selfmastery. "And the case shall go through every
court in the land, since you persist in this idiotic denial of a proven
fact. I warn you, I shall--Look there!" he broke off, furiously,
leveling a shakily vehement forefinger at Lad. "Watch him! He's
prowling around, even now, in search of more things to injure. He--"

The author finished his sentence by catching up a heavy metal
paperweight and drawing it back as if for a throw. His muscles flexed.
The Mistress moved, as by accident, between the raging man and the dog.

The Master, for the moment, lacked presence of mind to do even that
much for his canine chum's safety. He was too much taken up in glaring
unbelievingly at Lad.

The sedate collie, after following the bevy of excited humans upstairs,
had stood gravely, just inside the threshold; looking with keen
interest from one to the other of the gesticulating and noisy group.
Then, as a sharp whiff of that same baffling scent assailed his nose,
he began a new tour of the room.

The odor was fresher than before. And Lad's curiosity was roused to the
full. He sniffed to right and left, exploring the floor rubbish with
inquiring muzzle, and circling the despoiled writing desk.

It was then that