bruce-第5节
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denied the Mistress。 〃And even if she happens to be a 'second；'
that's no sign her puppies will be seconds。 See how pretty and
loving and wise she is。 DO keep her！〃
Which of course settled the matter。
Up the lawn； from his morning swim in the lake； strolled a great
mahogany…and…white collie。 At sight of Lass he lowered his head
for a charge。 He was king of The Place's dogs； this mighty
thoroughbred； Sunnybank Lad。 And he did not welcome canine
intruders。
But he halted midway in his dash toward the puppy who frisked
forth so gayly to meet him。 For he recognized her as a female。
And man is the only animal that will molest the female of his
species。
The fiercely silent charge was changed in a trice to a coldly
civil touching of noses； and the majestic wagging of a plumy
tail。 After which； side by side； the two colliesbig and little…
…old and newwalked up to the veranda； to be petted by the
humans who had so amusedly watched their encounter。
〃See！〃 exclaimed the Mistress； in triumph。 〃Lad has accepted her。
He vouches for her。 That ought to be enough for any one！〃
Thus it was that Lass found a home。
As she never yet had been taught to know her name； she learned
readily to respond to the title of 〃Princess。〃 And for several
months life went on evenly and happily for her。
Indeed； life was always wondrous pleasant； there at The Place；
for humans and for animals alike。 A fire…blue lake bordered the
grounds on two sides。 Behind stretched the forest。 And on every
side arose the soft green mountains； hemming in and brooding over
The Place as though they loved it。 In the winter evenings there
was the huge library hearth with its blaze and warmth； and a
disreputable fur rug in front of it that might have been ordained
expressly for tired dogs to drowse on。 And there were the
Mistress and the Master。 Especially the Mistress！ The Mistress
somehow had a way of making all the world seem worth while。
Then； of a morning； when Lass was just eleven months old； two
things happened。
The Mistress and the Master went down to her kennel after
breakfast。 Lass did not run forth to greet them as usual。 She lay
still； wagging her tail in feeble welcome as they drew near。 But
she did not get up。
Crowding close to her tawny side was a tiny； shapeless creature
that looked more like a fat blind rat than like anything else。 It
was a ten…hour…old collie pupa male； and yellowish brown of
hue。
〃That's the climax！〃 complained the Master； breaking in on the
Mistress's rhapsodies。 〃Here we've been planning to start a
kennel of home…bred collies！ And see what results we get！ One
solitary puppy！ Not once in ten times are there less than six in
a collie…litter。 Sometimes there are a dozen。 And here the dog
you wheedled me into keeping has just one！ I expected at least
seven。〃
〃If it's a freak to be the only puppy in a litter；〃 answered the
Mistress； refusing to part with her enthusiasm over the miracle；
〃then this one ought to bring us luck。 Let's call him 'Bruce。'
You remember； the original Bruce won because of the mystic
number； seven。 This Bruce has got to make up to us for the seven
puppies that weren't born。 See how proud she is of him！ Isn't she
a sweet little mother？〃
The second of the morning's events was a visit from the foreman
of the Rothsay Kennels； who motored across to The Place； intent
on clearing up a mystery。
〃The Boss found a collie yesterday； tied in the front yard of a
negro cabin a mile or two from our kennels；〃 he told the Master。
〃He recognized her right away as Rothsay Princess。 The negro
claims to have found her wandering around near the railroad
tracks； one night； six months ago。 Now； what's the answer？〃
〃The answer；〃 said the Master； 〃is that your boss is mistaken。
I've had Rothsay Princess for the past six months。 And she's the
last dog I'll ever get from the Rothsay Kennels。 I was stung；
good and plenty； on that deal。
〃My wife wanted to keep her； or I'd have made a kick in the
courts for having to pay two hundred dollars for a cheeky； apple…
…domed； prick eared〃
〃Prick…eared！〃 exclaimed the foreman； aghast at the volleyed
sacrilege。 〃Rothsay Princess has the best ears of any pup we've
bred since Champion Rothsay Chief。 Not a flaw in that pup。 She〃
〃Not a flaw； hey！〃 sniffed the Master。 〃Come down to the kennel
and take a look at her。 She has as many flaws as a street…cur has
fleas。〃
He led the way to the kennel。 At sight of the stranger Lass
growled and showed her teeth。 For a collie mother will let nobody
but proven friends come near to her newborn brood。
The foreman stared at the hostile young mother for a half…minute；
whistling bewilderedly between his teeth。 Then he laughed aloud。
〃That's no more Rothsay Princess than I am！〃 he declared。 〃I know
who she IS； though。 I'd remember that funny mask among a million。
That's Rothsay Lass！ Though how she got HERE！
〃We couldn't have shipped her by mistake； either；〃 he went on；
confused。 〃For we'd sold her； that same day； to a kid in our
town。 I ought to know。 Because the kid kept on pestering us every
day for a month afterward； to find if she had come back to us。 He
said she ran away in the night。 He still comes around； once a
week or so； to ask。 A spindly； weak； sick…looking little chap； he
is。 I don't get the point of this thing； from any angle。 But we
run our kennels on the square。 And I can promise the boss'll
either send back your check or send Rothsay Princess to you and
take Lass back。〃
Two days later； while all The Place was still mulling over the
mystery； a letter came for the Master from Lass's home town。 It
was signed 〃Edw'd Hazen；〃 and it was written on the cheap
stationery of his employer's bottling works。 It read：
Dear Sir：
〃Six months ago； my son bought a dog from the Rothsay Kennels。 It
was a she…dog； and his ma and I didn't want one around。 So I put
it aboard a freight…car on the sly。 My boy went sick over losing
his dog。 He has never rightly got over it； but he peaks and mopes
and gets thinner all the time。 If I had known how hard he was
going to take it； I would of cut off my hand before I would of
done such a thing。 And my wife feels just like I do about it。 We
would both of us have given a hundred dollars to get the dog back
for him； when we saw how bad he felt。 But it was too late。
Somehow or other it is most generally too late when a rotten
thing has been done。
〃To…day he went again to the Rothsay Kennels to ask if she had
come back。 He has always been hoping she would。 And they told him
you have her。 Now； sir； I am a poor man； but if one hundred
dollars will make you sell me that dog； I'll send it to you in a
money order by return mail。 It will be worth ten times that much；
to my wife and me； to have Dick happy again。 I inclose a stamp。
Will you let me know？〃
Six weeks afterward The Place's car brought Dick Hazen across to
receive his long…lost pet。
The boy was thinner and shakier and whiter than when he had gone
to sleep with his cherished puppy curled against his narrow
chest。 But there was a light in his eyes and an eagerness in his
heart that had not been there in many a long week。
Lass was on the veranda to welcome him。 And as Dick scrambled out
of the car and ran to pick her up； she came more than half…way to
meet him。 With a flurry of fast…pattering steps and a bark of
eager welcome； she flung herself upon her long…vanished master。
For a highbred collie does not forget。 And at first glimpse of
the boy Lass remembered him。
Dick caught her up in his armsa harder feat than of yore；
because of her greater weight and his own sapped strength；and
hugged her tight to his breast。 Winking very fast indeed to
disperse tears that had no place in the eyes of a self…contained
man of twelve； he sputtered rapturously：
〃I KNEW I'd find you； LassieI knew it all the time；even the
times when I was deadsure I wouldn't！ Gee； but you've grown；
though！ And you're beautifuler than ever。 Isn't she； Miss？〃 he
demanded； turning to the Mistress with instinctive knowledge that
here at least he would find confirmation。 〃Indeed she is！〃 the
Mistress assured him。
〃And see how glad she is to be with you again！ She〃
〃And Dad says she can stay with me； for keeps！〃 exulted Dick。 〃He
says he'll put a new lock on the cellar door； so she can't ever
push out again； the way she did； last time。 But I guess she's had
her lesson in going out for walks at night and not being able to
find her way back。 She and I are going to have the dandiest times
together； that ever happened。 Aren't we； Lass？ Is that her little
boy？〃 he broke off； in eager curiosity； as the Master appeared
from the kennels； carrying Bruce。
The puppy was set down on the veranda floor for Dick's
inspection。
〃He's cunning； isn't he？ Kind of like a Teddy Bear；the sor
