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's 'afraid of the big kennels；'he's 'drunk。' He's any of these things； or all of them put together。 Nobody's satisfied。 Everybody has had a raw deal。 Everybody's hammer is out for the poor slob of a judge。 Well； not everybody's； of course。 There are some real sportsmen left crawling on the surface of the earth。 But the big majority pan him； all the way home； and then some of them roast him in print。 The Income Tax man is a popular favorite； compared with a dog…show judge。〃
〃But〃
〃Then； again；〃 pursued the Toy Breeds man； 〃he's got to leave his heart at home； if he doesn't want it to ache when he has to 'gate' the second…rate mutts shown by outsiders who never exhibited before and who think their pet dog ought to get every prize because he's so cunning and friendly。 I hate to〃
The Mistress came hurrying up from a careful inspection of the line of collies。 Drawing her husband aside； she whispered； excitedly
〃There's only one other collie here； whose coat can anywhere near equal Laddie's。 The rest are all in shabby summer coat。 Come across and let me show him to you。 I'mI'm afraid he has a gorgeous coat。 Not that _I_ think it's half as good as Lad's；〃 she added； loyally； as she piloted the Master between the double lines of clamorous dogs。 〃Butoh； I'm so afraid the judge may think it is！ You see； he doesn't know Laddie as we do。〃
She stopped before a bench whereon lay a pale golden sable collie； almost corn…colored； who boasted a wealth and magnificence of coat that made the Master open his eyes wide。
The dog was smaller and slighter of frame than was Lad。 Nor； in head and expression； was he Lad's equal。 But his coat was every bit as luxuriant。 Indeed； there was perhaps a shade more of it than Lad carried。
A collie's coat； as a rule； takes about seven months to grow。 Thus； each year； it comes into full bloom a little later than on the year before。 And； in course of time； it is prone to reach its climax of excellence in summer。 This was the lot of both Lad and the paler…hued dog。
〃Lochaber King；〃 read the Master； from his catalog。 〃H'm！ That's Colonel Osbourne's greatest pup。 Remember； we saw him at Westminster？ It's nip…and…tuck； between him and Lad； with a little in this dog's favor。 Tough luck！〃
〃Oh； this has been just one of those days nobody wants！〃 mourned the Mistress。 〃First； our forgetting to bring along Laddie's suitcase； though I could have sworn I saw you lift it aboard；and then the judge not being here； and now this horrid collie with his wonderful coat！ What next； I wonder？〃
Like a well…staged bit of mechanism； the reply to her rhetorical question came down to her from heaven。 It came in the shape of a thunder…roll that began far off and reverberated from mountain to mountain； then muttered itself into silence in the more distant hills。 The Mistress； like everyone else； looked skyward。
The hazy blue of the summer noon was paling to dirty gray and black。 Up from the Hudson； a fast…mounting array of dun and flame…shot clouds were butting their bullying way。 No weather…prophet was needed to tell these hillcountry folk that they were in for a thunderstorm；and for what one kennel…man described as 〃a reg'lar ol' he…one；〃 at that。
Now； under right conditions； an open…air dogshow is a thing of beauty and of joy。 At such places as Tuxedo and one or two others it is a sight to be remembered。 But in rainy weather；especially in a tumultuous thunderstorm； it has not one redeeming feature。
The Beauville Show Committee；like all experts in such matters； had taken this chance into account。 Down the aisles of benches and through the questioning and scared groups of exhibitors ran attendants and officials； shouting that the Country Club polo stables and the wide spaces under the clubhouse verandas had been fitted up for emergency quarters； where the dogs might be housed； dry and safe； until the passing of the storm。
Up to the Master hurried a club page…boy。
〃This way； sir！〃 he panted。 〃I saved a special box stall； in the first stable； for your collie。〃
〃YOU saved it？〃 queried the puzzled Master； while the Mistress began to unfasten Lad's leash。 〃How did you happen to do that？〃
〃I was told to； sir；〃 answered the boy。 〃Aa gentleman told me to； just now。 One of the of'cers of the club。 I don't know his name。 He showed me the stall； and he told me to take your dog there。〃
〃That's mighty； decent； whoever did it；〃 said the Master； whistling the freed dog to him and setting forth in the boy's wake； toward the welcoming stables。 〃I wish you knew his name。 I'd like to thank him。〃
The stable was dim…lit； at best。 Now； the gathering storm made it as dark as twilight。 The box stall to which Lad was led was almost pitch black； its shuttered window being closed。 Still； it was shelter。 Leaving the Master and the Mistress to consign Lad to his new quarters； the boy scuttled of to a harness…room。 There； an eagerly…questioning man was awaiting him。
〃Yep；〃 broke in the boy； through a volley of inquiries。 〃I done it； all right； all right； Mr。 Higham。 They're moorin' him in Stall Five； right now。 How about those two soft dollars？ Hey？〃
〃You earned 'em； O。 K。；〃 grinned Higham。 〃Here you are。 Two；count 'em； two。 And now； chase along； sonny。 I'm busy。〃
He turned to a large bowl in which he had been mixing the contents of three or four bottles。 And the boy saw his fingers were fiery red。
〃What's the matter？〃 demanded the youngster； in high excitement。 〃That's blood； ain't it？〃
〃No；〃 denied Higham。 〃Blood's light red。 This is crimson。 Remember the time we run in that joke on Daddy Price； by dipping his prize white leghorns in crimson dye； just before the Madison Square Garden Poultry Show？ Well； this is the same stuff。〃
〃Do I remember it？〃 snickered the boy。 〃He was ragin'； for fair。 Couldn't get it off； to save him。 It stayed； that color； on 'em； till they'd shed the last one of last year's crop of feathers。 Sure； I remember。 Why wouldn't I？ Didn't I git a dollar for holdin' 'em for you？ And another dollar for keepin' my mouth shut？ But what are you lottin' to do with the stuff； this time？ No chickens here； or〃
〃Nope；〃 assented Higham。 〃No chickens here。 Hold on； a second！〃
He stood； musing。 Then he spoke。
〃I was going to play a lone hand； on this；〃 he said； presently。 〃I didn't even dare let Rice in on it。 He'd be dead…sure to tell that gabby girl he's going to marry。 And it'd get all over the country in a week。 And that'd lose me my job； if the boss heard of it。 I was going to play it alone。 That's why I left Rice and Willett to put up the dogs for me。 But；I'm blest if I know how I'm to hold him and dye him at the same time。 He's as strong as an ox。 Youyou're a good； close…tongued kid； Harry。 You kept your mouth shut about Price's chickens。 Could you keep it shut；for another dollar；about this？ If you'll do that； and lend me a handHow about it？〃
〃What's the main idea？〃 asked the boy； much intrigued by the beauty of the dye on Higham's fingers； and squirming with embarrassed self…importance at the man's flattering tone。 〃I'll help out； all right。 Only；〃
〃Here's the notion；〃 said Higham； coming out of momentary self…communion。 〃And if you ever spill it； your mail will be sen