yearlin's. But apart from that, you sure done grand.
You can lop off an hour a day of my work if I c'n send you reg'lar for
the critters. That ought to be worth the price of your keep, by itself.
Now if I c'n learn you how to milk an' maybe how to mow--well,
'twouldn't be a hull lot queerer'n the stunts you done to-day!"

It was perhaps a week later that Link Ferris received his quarterly
check from the Paterson Vegetable Market. These checks hitherto had
been the brightest spots in Link's routine. Not only did the money for
his hard-raised farm products mean a replenishing of the always scant
larder and an easing of the chronic fiscal strain between himself and
the Hampton general store's proprietor, but sometimes enough spare cash
was left over to allow Ferris to get very satisfactorily drunk.

Since Chum's advent, the old gnawing of loneliness had not goaded Link
to the Hampton tavern. As a consequence, he had a dollar or two more on
hand than was usual at such times. This wealth was swelled still
further by the fact that a boost in vegetable prices had fattened his
quarterly check beyond its wonted size.

All this and his long abstinence seemed to call for a real celebration.
And Link looked forward with a thrill of merry anticipation to the
coming of night.

As soon as he could clear away his evening chores and swallow some
supper he fared forth to the village. This was going to be one of those
nights to date time from. Not a miserable half-jag, stopped in
mid-career by lack of funds and of credit--a nipped-in-the-bud debauch,
such as so often had sent him home cranky and unsatisfied and railing
against poverty. No, this was going to be the real thing--a record
performance, even for these pre-prohibition times.

Ferris fed the collie and shut him into the kitchen, pending his own
return from Hampton. If Link were going to become blissfully and
helplessly drunk, as he had every hope of being, someone might take
advantage of his condition to steal his precious dog. Therefore Chum
was best left safe at home. This Link explained very carefully to the
interestedly listening collie. And Chum, with head and brush a-droop,
walked meekly into the kitchen at his master's behest.

Link set off for the village, happy in the feeling that his home was so
well guarded and that he would find a loving friend waiting to welcome
him on his return. What with ready money and a real friend and the
prospect of getting whole-souled