nything else to say to me. I got up and stood in
front of her, for a well-bred dog should not lie down when a lady speaks
to him. I wagged my body a little, and I would gladly have said
something to help her out of her difficulty, but I couldn't. If she had
stroked me it might have helped her; but she didn't want to touch me,
and I knew she didn't want me to touch her, so I just stood looking at
her.

"Mrs. Morris," she said, turning from me with a puzzled face, "I don't
like animals, and I can't pretend to, for they always find me out; but
can't you let that dog know that I shall feel eternally grateful to him
for saving not only our property--for that is a trifle--but my darling
daughter from fright and annoyance, and a possible injury or loss of
life?"

"I think he understands," said Mrs. Morris. "He is a very wise dog." And
smiling in great amusement, she called me to her and put my paws on her
lap. "Look at that lady, Joe. She is pleased with you for driving
Jenkins away from her house. You remember Jenkins?"

I barked angrily and limped to the window.

"How intelligent he is," said Mrs. Drury. "My husband has sent to New
York for a watchdog, and he says that from this on our house shall never
be without one. Now I must go. Your dog is happy, Mrs. Morris, and I can
do nothing for him, except to say that I shall never forget him, and I
wish he would come over occasionally to see us. Perhaps when we get our
dog he will. I shall tell my cook whenever she sees him to give him
something to eat. This is a souvenir for Laura of that dreadful night. I
feel under a deep obligation to you, so I am sure you will allow her to
accept it." Then she gave Mrs. Morris a little box and went away.

When Miss Laura came in, she opened the box, and found in it a handsome
diamond ring. On the inside of it was engraved: "Laura, in memory of
December 20th, 18--. From her grateful friend, Bessie."

The diamond was worth hundreds of dollars, and Mrs. Morris told Miss
Laura that she had rather she would not wear it then, while she was a
young girl. It was not suitable for her, and she knew Mrs. Drury did not
expect her to do so. She wished to give her a valuable present, and this
would always be worth a great deal of money.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XV

OUR JOURNEY TO RIVERDALE

Every other summer, the Morris children were sent to some place in the
country, so that they could have a chan