ile--faster, in
fact, than he had spent it so far. Still he wished that he was receiving
an income from some efforts of his own.

"Never mind, wait until my stock in the gold mine and the milk company
begins to boom," he told himself. "That is, if that milk concern doesn't
demand another assessment," he added, dubiously.

Dick walked slowly home, and, passing around the side of the house,
approached the stable. He intended taking a gallop on Rex that afternoon
and wanted the groom to have the horse in readiness. As he neared Grit's
kennel he noticed that the chain was thrown over the top of the house,
as it usually was when the dog was loose.

"Where's Grit?" he asked of Peters, the groom.

"Grit, Master Dick?" inquired the man, in great surprise. "Sure an'
didn't you send for him about an hour ago?"

"Me send for him?" repeated Dick in some alarm, for Grit, even if he was
unchained, would not stray away from the stable. He was nowhere in
sight, and Dick at once became worried.

"Sure, Master Dick," went on the groom. "About an hour ago a youngish
chap came here and said you'd sent him for Grit."

"And you let him take him?"

"Why, sure, I thought you'd sent for him, as you did once."

"Yes, but then I sent a note, Peters."

"That's so, but the young man had Grit's leash, sir; and, though the dog
was inclined to be a bit ugly, he seemed to know the leash and went
along after a bit."

"What sort of a man got him?" asked Dick, quietly, though he was much
excited over what seemed to be the theft of his pet.

"A young man, not very nice-looking, Master Dick, and smelling very
strong of the stables. In fact, that's what made Grit finally take to
him. Grit's very fond of horses and stables, sir. He'll let almost
anyone come near him as long as they've been around a barn."

"That's so. Did the man say anything, or give any name?"

"No. He just said you were going for a walk and wanted Grit to go 'long.
Said you was too busy to come and had sent the leash so's he'd have no
trouble. He didn't have--that is, not very much--barring that Grit
wanted to get hold of his leg first. But when the dog had sniffed at the
leash, probably knowin' it came from you, he was quiet enough. But I
could see the man was askeered of him, Master Dick. He walked to one
side like. Why, Master Dick, is anything wrong?"

"Wrong? I should say so! Grit's been stolen, Peters."

"You don't say so, Master Dick!" exclaimed the man, much alar