med at his
part in the matter.

"Yes, he's been stolen, and by a clever trick," went on Dick. "But I
don't blame you, Peters. I remember now, I lost the leash thong last
night. I had it on Grit and I took it off and put it in my pocket. Then
I missed it after the party, and I was too tired to look for it. Someone
must have found it, and, knowing it belonged to Grit, made up his mind
to steal him. The fellow must have known he'd come more willingly after
smelling his own leash."

"But you must have lost it somewhere around here," went on Peters.
"Someone at the party may have found it."

"If they had they would have known it was mine," answered Dick. "No, I
think someone outside found it and he stole Grit. Well, I've got to find
him, that's all. Saddle Rex, and I'll make some inquiries about town."

"But it's near dinner-time, Master Dick."

"I don't care. I can't eat if Grit is gone," and with a heavy heart Dick
waited for the horse to be saddled. He whistled shrilly his favorite
call to Grit, hoping the dog might have broken away not far from the
stable, and be in hiding somewhere, but no Grit appeared.

On the back of Rex, Dick made a hasty tour of the immediate
neighborhood, inquiring of various persons he met if they had seen the
bulldog. Grit was well known about Hamilton Corners, for he was often
seen in his master's company. But this time no one had noticed him being
led off in leash by a young man who seemed quite afraid of the brute
that was so handsome for his very ugliness.

"He's been stolen for a reward," was Mr. Hamilton's opinion when he came
home to lunch and heard Dick's woeful story. "You'll hear from him
sooner or later. Better advertise in the county papers."

Dick put in several notices that afternoon, offering to pay a reward of
a hundred dollars for the return of Grit.

"Now we'll have to wait," said the millionaire. "Never mind, Dick; if
Grit is gone you can get another dog," for Mr. Hamilton was as fond of
animals as was his son.

"There'll never be another Grit," answered Dick, sorrowfully.

Meanwhile, Grit was being led across the country fields which stretched
out back of the Hamilton mansion.

"I've got to keep off the roads," muttered the youth who had hold of the
leash. "There's too many people as knows a dorg like this. I wish I
hadn't gone into this game. It's too risky, not only at bein' caught,
but I don't like the way this dorg looks at my legs. He looks hungry."

Inde