Part 31 (1/2)

On the next e's population went to work For it was Labor Day

Ruloff did not believe in holidays,--either for hih he was not s, just for the sake of honoring a holiday ordained in a country for which he felt no fondness or other interest So, with Sonya tagging after him, he made his way to the Place, as usual

Now, on Labor Day, of that year, was held the annual outdoor dog-show at Hawthorne Lad, of course, was far too old to be taken to a show

And this was one of the co shows But, abnorrown upon hith and added years Thus, when he saw Bruce and Bob and Jean bathed and groomed and made ready for the show, he was sad at heart For here was one er had any share

And so he lay down in his cave, under the piano, his head between his absurdly small white forepaws; and hearkened sadly to the preparations for departure

Bruce (”Sunnybank Goldseneration Groos look plebeian and shabby That day, one h the collie classes, to Winners, with a rush; and then to win the award and cup for ”Best Dog Of Any Breed In The Show”

Bruce's son and daughter--Bobby and Jean were to win in their respective collie classes as Best Puppy and Best Novice It was to be a day of triumph for the Sunnybank Kennels Yet, somehow, it was to be a day to which the Mistress and the Master never enjoyed looking back

Into the car the three dogs were put The Mistress and the Master and the Place's superintended got aboard, and the trip to Hawthorne began

Laddie had cooers off The Mistress, looking back, had a last gli wistfully after the car She waved her hand to hied his plumed tail, once, in reply, to the salute Then, heavily, he turned back again into the house

”Dear old Laddie!” sighed the Mistress ”He used to hate to go to shows And now he hates being left behind It seems so cruel to leave hiood care of hiet a chance And we'll be back before five o'clock We can't be forever looking out for his crotchety feelings”

”We won't be 'forever' doing that,” prophesied the Mistress, unhappily

Left alone the old dog paced slowly back to his cave The day was hot

Hismore of a problem than of old it had been Also, fros that annoyed Lad At some suddenand of haainst his ribs so violently as to make him pant

Lad did not understand this And, as with , for exaue of his raarden to the lake and back, had set it to thulad to lie at peace in his beloved cave, in the cool music-room; and sleep away the hours until his deities should return fro-show He slept

And so an hour wore on; and then another and another

At the show, the Mistress developed one of her sick headaches She said nothing of it But the Master saw the black shadows grow, under her eyes; and the color go out of her face; and he noted the little pain-lines around herwas over, heto return to Hawthorne in ti of specials and of variety classes

Meanwhile, as the e slu Into his dreaot up painfully and started toward the front door

Halfway to the door, his brain cleared sufficiently for hinize the voice that had awakened hied into a run

Ruloff and Sonya had been working all rin, Lad was nowhere in sight Every ti as she dared, in hope of getting a glimpse of him

”I wonder where Laddie is,” she ventured, once, as her father was filling a basket for her to carry

”The dogs have gone to a silly show,” grunted Ruloff, piling the basket ”The superintendent told s! Pouf! No wonder the world is poor! Here, the basket is full

Ju as usual were the baskets given her to carry, now that the interfering Master and the superintendent were not here to forbid--and started laboriously for the house

Her back ached eariness Yet, in the absence of her protectors, she dared not co slowly So, up the hill, she toiled; at top speed Ruloff had finished filling another basket, and he prepared to follow her This co's work His lunch-pail awaited him at the barn With nobody to keep tabs on him, he resolved to steal an extra hour of time, in honor of Labor Day--at his employer's expense