"He'll grow up, soon, and--" "And if only the courteous burglars will wait till he's a couple of years old," suggested the Master, "he--" Set gently on the floor by the Mistress, Laddie had crossed to where the Master stood.

The man, glancing down, met the puppy's gaze.

For an instant he scowled at the miniature watchdog, so ludicrously different from the ferocious brute he had expected.

Then,--for some queer reason,--he stooped and ran his hand roughly over the tawny coat, letting it rest at last on the shapely head that did not flinch or wriggle at his touch.
"All right," he decreed.

"Let him stay.