and playing him out. Come here, General Jackson."
The animal rose and yapped, backing playfully
away. "Don't you hear me? Come right
here." The dog, sensitive to the growing menace in
the voice, moved still further away. "C'mon here,
damn you," Gordon shot out. The dog grew stubborn,
and refused to move forward; and Gordon, his
anger thoroughly aroused, picked up a large stone
and threw it with all his force, missing General Jackson
by a narrow margin.

"It seems to me," Lettice observed in a studiously
detached voice, "I wouldn't throw stones at a dog
I had paid two hundred dollars for."

Gordon was momentarily disconcerted. He had
not intended to tell Lettice how much the General
had cost. And yet, he reflected, since the village
knew, with Sim Caley's wife in the house, it had
been folly to hope to keep it from her.

"It's his pedigree," he explained lamely; "champion
stock, imported." His temper again slowly
got the better of his wisdom. "What if I did pay
two hundred dollars for him?" he demanded; "it's
harmless, ain't it? I'd a sight better do that than
some other things I might mention."

"I only said," she repeated impersonally, "that
I would not throw stones at a dog that had cost so
much money."

"You're getting on the money now, are you?

[[172]]

p171 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p172w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p173

v?