it very tactfully
indeed, leading up to it in true feminine fashion by means of a
cunningly devised series of levels which would have been the despair of
a mining engineer. Having paved the way she remarked carelessly:

"John Iglehart was at the store to-day, father says. He's crazy about
that big collie of yours."

Instantly Link was full of glad interest. It had been a sorrow to him
that Dorcas did not like dogs. She had explained her dislike--purely on
general principles--early in their acquaintance, and had told him of
its origin. Link was certain she would come to love Chum, on intimate
acquaintance. In the interim he did not seek to force her liking by
bringing the collie to the Chatham house when he called.

Link did not believe in crossing a bridge until he came to it. There
would be plenty of time for Dorcas to make friends with Chum in the
long and happy days to come. Yet, now, he rejoiced that she herself
should have been the first to broach the subject.

"Father says John is wild about Chum," went on the girl unconcernedly;
adding, "By the way, John asked father to tell you he'd be glad to pay
you $100 for the dog. It's a splendid offer, isn't it! Think of all the
things we can get for the house with $100, Link! Why, it seems almost
providential, doesn't it? Father says John is in earnest about it too.
He--"

"In earnest, hey!" snapped Ferris, finding his voice after an instant
of utter amazement. "In EARNEST! Well, that's real grand of him, ain't
it! I'd be in earnest, too, if I was to bid ten cents for the best farm
in Passaic County. But the feller who owned the farm wouldn't be in
earnest. He'd be taking it as a fine joke. Like I do, when Johnny
Iglehart has the nerve to offer $100 for a dog that wouldn't be worth a
cent less'n $600--even if he was for sale. Why, that collie of mine--"

"If he is worth $600," suggested Dorcas icily, "you'd better not lose
any time before you find someone who will pay that for him. He's no use
to us. And $600 is too much money to carry on four legs. He--"

"No use to us?" echoed Link. "Why, Chum's worth the pay of a hired man
to me, besides all the fondness I've got for him! He handles the sheep,
and he--"

"So you've told me," interposed Dorcas with no show of interest. "I
remember the first few times you came to see me you didn't talk of
anything else, hardly, except that dog. Everybody says the same thing.
It's a joke all through Hampton, the silly way you'