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Scent and sight presently were attracted by a feeble fluttering under a low…limbed catalpa tree in whose branches a pair of hysterical robins were screeching。 Lad paused； his tulip ears at attention； his plumed tail swaying。 Then he pushed his long muzzle through a clump of grass and emerged carrying a flapping and piping morsel between his mighty jaws。 The birds； on the limb above； redoubled their frenzied chirping； and made little futile dashes at the collie's head。
Unheeding； Lad walked back to the Mistress and laid gently at her feet the baby robin he had found。 His keen teeth had not so much as ruffled its pinfeather plumage。 Having done his share toward settling the bird's dilemma； Laddie stood back and watched in grave interest while the Mistress lifted the fluttering infant and put it back in the nest whence it had fallen。
〃That makes the fifth baby bird Laddie has brought to me in a month；〃 she commented； as she and the Master turned back toward the house。 〃To say nothing of two field mice and a broken…winged bat。 He seems to think I'll know what to do for them。〃
〃I only hope he won't happen upon a newborn rattlesnake or copperhead and bring it to you for refuge；〃 answered the Master。 〃I never saw another dog； except a trained pointer or setter； that could handle birds so tenderly。 He〃
The bumping of a badly handled rowboat； against the dock； at the foot of the lawn； a hundred yards below； checked his rambling words。 Lad； at sudden attention； by his master's side； watched the boat's occupant clamber clumsily out of his scow； then stamp along the dock and up the lawn toward the house。 The arrival was a long and lean and lank and lantern…jawed man with a set of the most fiery red whiskers ever seen outside a musical comedy。 The Master had seen him several times； in the village； and recognized him as Homer Wefers； the newly…appointed Township Head Constable。 The Mistress recognized him； too； as the vehement official whose volley of pistol…bullets had ended the sufferings of the black mongrel。 She shivered； in reminiscence； as she looked at him。 The memory he evoked was not pleasant。
〃Morning！〃 Wefers observed； curtly； as the Master； with Lad beside him； stepped forward to greet the scarlet…bearded guest。 〃I tried to get over here； last night。 But I guess it's soon enough； today。 Has he showed any signs； yet？〃 He nodded inquiringly at the impassive Lad； as he spoke。
〃'Soon enough' for what？〃 queried the puzzled Master。
〃And what sort of 'signs' are you talking about？〃
〃Soon enough to shoot that big brown collie of yours；〃 explained Wefers； with businesslike briskness。 〃And I'm asking if he's showed any signs of hydrophoby。 Has he？〃
〃Are you speaking of Laddie？〃 asked the Mistress； in dismay； as the slower…witted Master； stared and gulped。 〃Why should he show any signs of hydrophobia？ He〃
〃If he hasn't； he will；〃 rapped out the visitor。 〃Or he would； if he wasn't put out of the way。 That's what I'm here for。 But I kind of hoped maybe you folks might have done it； yourselves。 Can't be too careful； you know。 'Specially〃
〃What in blue blazes are you blithering about？〃 roared the Master； finding his voice and marshaling his startled wits。 〃Do you mean〃
〃I mean；〃 said Wefers； rebuking with a cold glare the Master's disrespectful manner； 〃I mean I'm here to shoot that big collie of yours。 He was bit by a mad dog； yesterday。 So was three other dogs over in the village。 I shot 'em all； before they had time to d'velop symptoms and things； or bite anybody。 One of 'em；〃 he added； unctuously； 〃one of 'em b'longed to that little crippled Posthanger girl。 She cried and begged； something pitiful； when I come for him。 But dooty is dooty。 So I〃
〃OH！〃
The Mistress's horrified monosyllable broke in on the smug recital。 She caught Lad protectingly by the ruff and stared in mute dread at the lanky and red…whiskered officer。 Lad； reading her voice as always； divined this nasal…toned caller had said or done something to make her unhappy。 His ruff bristled。 One corner of his lip lifted in something which looked like a smile； but which was not。 And； very far down in his throat a growl was born。
But the Master stepped in front of his wife and his dog； and confronted the constable。 Fighting for calmness； he asked：
〃Do I understand that you shot those harmless little pups just because a dog that was sick； and not rabid； happened to nip them？ And that you've come across here with an idea of doing the same thing to Lad？ Is that it？〃
〃That's the idea；〃 assented Wefers。 〃I said so； right off； as soon as I got here。 Only； you're wrong about the dog being 'sick。' He was mad。 Had rabies。 I'd ought to know。 I〃
〃How and why ought you to know？〃 demanded the Master； still battling for perfect calm； and succeeding none too well。 〃How ought you to know？ Are you a veterinary？ Have you ever made a study of dogs and of their maladies？ Have you ever read up； carefully； on the subject of rabies？ Have you read Eberhardt or Dr。 Bennett or Skinner or any of a dozen other authorities on the disease？ Have you consulted such eminent vets as Hopper and Finch； for instance？ If you have； you certainly must know that a dog； afflicted with genuine rabies； will no more turn out of his way to bite anyone than a typhoid patient will jump out of bed to chase a doctor。 I'm not saying that the bite of any sick animal （or of any sick human； for that matter） isn't more or less dangerous； unless it's carefully washed out and painted with iodine。 But that's no excuse to go around the country； shooting every dog that some sick mongrel has snapped at。 Put such dogs under observation； if necessary； and then〃
〃You talk like a fool！〃 snorted Wefers； in lofty contempt。 〃I〃
〃But I am going to keep you from acting like a fool；〃 returned the Master； his hard…held temper beginning to fray。 〃You say you've come over here to shoot my dog。 If ever anyone shoots Lad； I'll be the man to do it。 And I'll have to have lots better reason for it than〃
〃Go ahead； then！〃 vouchsafed the constable； fishing out a rusty service pistol from his coat…tail pocket。 〃Go ahead and do it yourself； then； if you'd rather。 It's all one to me； so long's it's done。〃
With sardonic politeness； he proffered the bulky weapon。 The Master caught it from his hand and flung it a hundred feet away； into the center of a clump of lilacs。
〃So much for the gun！〃 he blazed； advancing an the astounded Wefers。 〃Now； unless you want to follow it〃
〃Dear！〃 expostulated the Mistress； her sweet voice atremble。
〃I'm an of'cer of the law！〃 blustered the offended constable； in the same breath adding
〃And resisting an of'cer in the p'soot of his dooty is a misde〃
He checked himself； unconsciously turning to observe the odd actions of Lad。
As the Master had hurled the pistol far from him； the collie had sped in breakneck pursuit of it。 Thus； always； did he delight to retrieve any object the Mistress or the Master might toss for his amusement。 It was one of Laddie's favorite games； this fetching back of anything thrown。 The farther it might be flung and the more difficult its landing place； the more zest to the sport。
This time； Lad was especially glad at the diversio