, and that Chum himself had somehow had a share in
making him so. Hence the dog's former gloomy pacing changed to a series
of ecstatic little dance steps, and he kept thrusting his cold muzzle
into the cup of Ferris's palm.

Again Bench 65 was surrounded by an admiring clump of spectators. Chum
and Link vied each other in their icy aloofness toward these admirers.
But with a difference.

Chum was unaffectedly bothered by so much unwelcome attention from
strangers. Ferris, on the other hand, reveled in the knowledge that his
beloved pet was the center of more adulation than was any other dog in
all the section.

Class after class went to be judged. Link was sorry he had not spent
more money and entered Chum in every class. The initial victory had
gone to his head. He had not known he could be so serenely happy. After
a while, he started up at the attendant's droning announcement of,

"Winners' Class, Male Scotch Collies! Numbers 62, 65, 68,70, 73!"

Again Link and Chum set out for the ring. Link's glee had merged into
an all-consuming nervousness, comparable only to a maiden hunter's
"buck ague." Chum, once more sensing Ferris's state of mind, lost his
own glad buoyancy and paced solemnly alongside, peering worriedly up
into Link's face at every few steps.

All five entrants filed into the ring and began their parade. Leighton,
in view of the importance of this crowning event, did not single out
any one dog, as before, to stand to one side; nor did he gate any. He
gave owners and spectators their full due, by a thorough inspection of
all five contestants. But as a result of his examination, he ended the
suspense by handing Link Ferris a purple rosette, whereon was blazoned
in gilt the legend, "Winners."

A salvo of handclaps greeted the eminently just decision. And Chum left
the ring, to find a score of gratulatory hands stretched forth to pat
him. Quite a little crowd escorted him back to his bench.

A dozen people picked acquaintance with Link. They asked him all sorts
of questions as to his dog. Link made monosyllabic and noncommittal
replies to all of these--even when the great Col. Cyrus Marden himself
deigned to come over to the collie section and stare at Chum,
accompanying his scrutiny with a volley or patronizing inquiries.

From the bystanders Link learned something of real interest--namely,
that one of the "specials" was a big silver cup, to be awarded to "best
collie of either sex"; and that after t