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before Symonds in the oblong ring。
〃Anyhow；〃 whispered the Mistress as the Master led his stolidly
gigantic entry toward the enclosure； 〃Bruce can't get worse than a third…
prize yellow ribbon。 We ought to be a little proud of that。 There are only
three entries in his class。〃
But even that bit of barren pride was denied the awkward youngster's
sponsor。 As the three pups entered the enclosure。 the judge's half…shut eyes
rested on Bruceat first idly； then in real amazement。 Crossing to the
Master； before giving the signal for the first maneuvers； he said in tired
disgust
〃Please take your measly St。 Bernard monstrosity out of the ring。 This
is a class for collies； not for freaks。 I refuse to judge that pup as a collie。〃
〃He's a thoroughbred；〃 crossly protested the Master。 〃I have his
certified pedigree。 There's no better blood in〃
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Bruce
〃I don't care what his ancestors were；〃 snapped the judge。 〃He's a
throw…back to the dinosaur or the Great Auk。 And I won't judge him as a
collie。 Take him out of the ring。 You're delaying the others。〃
A judge's decision is final。 Red with angry shame and suppressing an
unworthy desire to kick the luckless Bruce； the Master led the pup back to
his allotted bench。 Bruce trotted cheerily along with a maddening air of
having done something to be proud of。 Deaf to the Mistress's sympathy
and to her timidly voiced protests； the Master scrawled on an envelope…
back the words 〃For Sale。 Name Your Own Price；〃 and pinned it on the
edge of the bench。
〃Here endeth the first lesson in collie…raising； so far as The Place is
concerned；〃 he decreed； stalking back to the ringside to watch the rest of
the judging。
The Mistress lingered behind； to bestow a furtive consolatory pat upon
the disqualified Bruce。 Then she joined her husband beside the ring。
It was probably by accident that her skirt brushed sharply against the
bench…edge as she wentknocking the 〃For Sale〃 sign down into the litter
of straw below。
But a well…meaning fellow…exhibitor； across the aisle； saw the bit of
paper flutter floorward。 This good soul rescued it from the straw and
pinned it back in place。
（The world is full of helpful folk。 That is perhaps one reason why the
Millennium's date is still so indefinite。）
An hour later； a man touched the Master on the arm。
〃That dog of your； on Bench 48；〃 began the stranger； 〃the big pup with
the 'For Sale' sign on his bench。 What do you want for him？〃
The Mistress was several feet away； talking to the superintendent of
the show。 Guiltily； yet gratefully； the Master led the would… be purchaser
back to the benches； without attracting his wife's notice。
A few minutes afterward he returned to where she and the
superintendent were chatting。
〃Well；〃 said the Master； trying to steel himself against his wife's
possible disappointment； 〃I found a buyer for Brucea Dr。 Halding； from
New York。 He likes the pup。 Says Bruce looks as if he was strong and had
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lots of endurance。 I wonder if he wants him for a sledge…dog。 He paid me
fifteen dollars for him； and it was a mighty good bargain。 I was lucky to
get more than a nickel for such a cur。〃
The Master shot forth this speech in almost a single rapid breath。 Then；
before his wife could reply；and without daring to look into her troubled
eyes；he discovered an acquaintance on the far side of the ring and
bustled off to speak to him。 The Master； you see； was a husband； not a
hero。
The Mistress turned a worried gaze on the superintendent。
〃It was best； I suppose；〃 she said bravely。 〃We agreed he must be sold；
if the judge decided he was not any good。 But I'm sorry。 For I'm fond of
him。 I'm sorry he is going to live in New York； too。 A big city is no place
for a big dog。 I hope this Dr。 Halding will be nice to the poor puppy。〃
〃Dr。WHO？〃 sharply queried the superintendent； who had not caught
the name when the Master had spoken it in his rapid…fire speech。 〃Dr。
Halding？ Of New York？ Huh！
〃You needn't worry about the effect of city life on your dog；〃 he went
on with venomous bitterness。 〃The pup won't have a very long spell of it。
If I had my way； that man Halding would be barred from every dog…show
and stuck in jail。 It's an old trick of his； to buy up thoroughbreds； cheap； at
shows。 The bigger and the stronger they are； the more he pays for them。
He seems to think pedigreed dogs are better for his filthy purposes than
street curs。 They have a higher nervous organism； I suppose。 The swine！〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked the Mistress； puzzled by his vehemence。
〃I don't〃
〃You must have heard of Halding and his so…called 'research work；'〃
the superintendent went on。 〃He is one of the most notorious
vivisectionists in〃
The superintendent got no further。 He was talking to empty air。 The
Mistress had fled。 Her determined small figure made a tumbled wake
through the crowd as she sped toward Bruce's bench。 The puppy was no
longer there。 In another second the Mistress was at the door of the
building。
A line of parked cars was stretched across the opposite side of the
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village street。 Into one of these cars a large and loose… jointed man was
lifting a large and loose…jointed dog。 The dog did not like his treatment；
and was struggling pathetically in vain awkwardness to get free。
〃Bruce！〃 called the Mistress； fiercely； as she dashed across the street。
The puppy heard the familiar voice and howled for release。 Dr。
Halding struck him roughly over the head and scrambled into the machine
with him； reaching with his one disengaged hand for the self…starter button。
Before he could touch it； the Mistress was on the running…board of the car。
As she ran； she had opened her wristbag。 Now； flinging on the
runabout's seat a ten and a five…dollar bill； she demanded
〃Give me my dog！ There is the money you paid for him！〃
〃He isn't for sale；〃 grinned the Doctor。 〃Stand clear； please。 I'm
starting。〃
〃You're doing nothing of the sort；〃 was the hot reply。 〃You'll give back
my dog！ Do you understand？〃
For answer Halding reached again toward his self…starter。 A renewed
struggle from the whimpering puppy frustrated his aim and forced him to
devote both hands to the subduing of Bruce。 The dog was making frantic
writhings to get to the Mistress。 She caught his furry ruff and raged on；
sick with anger
〃I know who you are and what you want this poor frightened puppy
for。 You shan't have him！ There seems to be no law to prevent human
devils from strapping helpless dogs to a table and torturing them to death
in the unholy name of science。 But if there isn't a corner waiting for them；
below； it's only because Hades can't be made hot enough to punish such
men as they ought to be punished！ You're not going to torture Bruce。
There's your money。 Let go of him。〃
〃You talk like all silly； sloppy sentimentalists！〃 scoffed the Doctor； his
slight German accent becoming more noticeable as he continued： 〃A
woman can't have the intellect to understand our services to humanity。 We…
…〃
〃Neither have half the real doctors！〃 she flashed。 〃Fully half of them
deny that vivisection ever helped humanity。 And half the remainder say
they are in doubt。 They can't point to a single definite case where it has
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been of use。 Alienists say it's a distinct form of mental perversion；the
craving to torture dumb animals to death and to make scientific notes of
their sufferings。〃
〃Pah！〃 he sniffed。 〃I〃
She hurried on
〃If humanity can't be helped without cutting live dogs and kittens to
shreds； in slow agony