Once in a while, the Mistress or the Master stopped playing, during the romps with the flannel doll.

And Laddie had long since hit on a trick for reviving their interest.

He employed this ruse now.
As the man stood, puzzled and scared, something brushed very lightly,-even coquettishly,--against his knuckles.

He started in nervous fright.

An instant later, the same thing brushed his knuckles again, this time more insistently.