he Davenports that night, and was treated by the
children as a royal guest. He captivated their hearts from the first,
and he fully responded to their love.

At breakfast the next morning, Mr. Davenport looked up from his paper
and said:

"Well, here is a notice of Duke's loss. I do not wonder that he ran
away. This Brown who advertises is one of the hardest drinkers in
town. Poor dog, to have such a master."

"Papa, couldn't you buy Duke?" asked Beth.

"I may consider the matter. Don't set your heart on the dog, however.
He is very valuable, and Brown may not wish to part with him."

That day, at noon, Beth and Duke were frolicing near the barn.
Suddenly, without seeming cause, Duke rushed towards the house, looking
crestfallen. Beth, however, soon saw why Duke had run. She beheld a
man walking up the driveway towards her. She had grown accustomed to
Southern politeness, and resented the man's not raising his hat when he
said:

"Hello, little un. I've come after my dog. Where is he?"

Beth's heart sank. "Who are you?" she stammered.

"My name is Brown, and I've come after Duke."

"But I thought my papa was going to buy him."

The man laughed. "The old fellow did offer to buy him, but I wouldn't
sell. I told him I wouldn't take a hundred dollars for the dog. But
hurry up, little un, and get Duke for me."

Beth felt more resentful than ever. The man had dared to call her
father "old fellow," and herself "little un." Besides, he had come for
Duke. There were tears in her eyes, but she brushed them angrily away,
and declared defiantly:

"You can hunt him up for yourself. I don't know where he is."

The man swore under his breath, and muttered something about having no
use for people who tried to steal dogs. However, he moved on towards
the house.

Beth was so anxious about the outcome of his errand that she followed
at a cautious distance.

The man met Maggie at the kitchen door.

"Hello, mammy," he said. "Where is my dog Duke?"

Maggie caught sight of Beth's eyes, and intuitively felt the child's
solicitude. She was up in arms in a minute.

"Yo' needn't mammy me; I ain't yo'r mammy; and what's more if I cotch
yo' takin' any dog from here, I'se gwineter give yo' the worst frailin'
yo' ever had. So yo' jes' bettah be skeedadlin'."

At this instant, Mrs. Davenport came to the door.

"If you wish Duke, you'll have to come into the house and get him.
He's hiding behind the bed in