. Barked at him, did he? Well, I don't blame the
dog. I did some pretty tall growling myself before I discharged the man.
He's gone now for good, or bad, whichever you like."

"Do you think he threw the dog in the water?" asked Reliance coming
directly to the point.

"That's just what I do think. I shouldn't wonder if he meant to steal
him at first, and sell him, for it is a valuable dog, they tell me, but
the dog got out, and I was keeping an eye on Jeb so he couldn't make way
with the beast. I meant to take him home and advertise for his owner,
but when I came to look for him, the dog was gone, though Jeb was there.
Said, as innocent as you please, when I made inquiries, that some people
drove by and took the dog back to town where he belonged."

"Oh!" exclaimed Edna, her eyes and mouth round with surprise and
disapproval.

"Just what he said. Made it up out of whole cloth, of course, and
meantime had taken his spite out on me and the poor little dog by
throwing him overboard. How did you happen upon him?"

Reliance gave an account of the rescue and received approving nods.
"Smart girls, you two," he commented.

"Oh, I wasn't smart at all," piped up Edna. "It was all Reliance. I
couldn't have done a thing without her."

"Well," said Mr. Millikin with a smile, "you did your part, and that's
enough said. I was just going to unhitch, but there is my buggy all
ready, and I guess the quickest way to get you back to the village is to
take you there behind Dolly."

"Oh, but we can walk, thank you," protested Reliance.

"It's pretty much of a walk, and the sooner you get there the more
pleased several people will be, I for one, because I don't want Bob
Hewlett's little girl to mourn for her pet any longer than she need, and
again, because I am in a way responsible for what has happened. I'll go
get the buggy right off. You wait here; it won't take a minute." So
presently they were driving along toward home, Reliance with a horse
blanket around her which Mr. Millikin fished out from under the seat
and insisted upon her putting around her shoulders.

To say that Alcinda was overjoyed at the sight of her little pet which
she had given up for lost, would be speaking mildly. "I'll never forget
you two girls, never," she cried. "I shall thank you forever and ever,
and you, too, Mr. Millikin."

"Me? I'm partly to blame, for I ought to have discharged that
good-for-nothing scoundrel long ago, but he was a good driver, an