Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-01

A dog man would have classified
| March merely as a. we'll trained collie
of high type, with all true collie's
| brain and pluck and gentleness and
humor. But to Nesta he seemed the
embodiment of everything marvellous.
| Her first careless fondness for him
grew TO devotion. lie was her in
separable comrade. indoors and out;
her guard and chum. The lonely girls
heart expanded under his compa Mon
ship. Her hard-acquired youthful Bit
terness softened strangely under his
splendid normally. She ceased for
| days at a time to brood morbidly over
her loss of money and position.
ONE morning in early Summer
Nesta and March were swinging
along the river road, the dog trottinS
some yards ahead. cloud of dust
heralded a motor car chugging labori-
ousEy toward them down the stretch
of unsurfaced byway. AS always, the
sight of the distant car made March
drop back to his mistress side
Nesta drew to one side of the road
to avoid the OnComing motors dust
The car lurched onward over rut and
bulge. 1t was passing the girl and the
collie when its passenger, "a stout man
on the rear seat, called to the chauffeur
to stop.
BY the time the machine was at 1,
standstill he had jumped out onto the
road and was hurrying back toward
NeSta
A glance told her that the stout in.
truder was nobody she knew. So, with
only the mildest curiosity, she awaited
him. But as the man came closer
March growled softly, far down in his
throat, and took a warning step for,
ward. The man stopped with ludi-
crous suddenness. Apparently he was
enough OF a dog expert TO read the
quiet menace Alright. He stood there
in silence for an instant, studying
every line and aspect of the collie.
Then, lifting his hat In gesture when
held only the most rudimentary civil
ity. he demanded of Nesta
What dog is that"
1t is my dog" she made answer,
voice and eye level in spite of a sink
ing in her heart.
For months she hid had an unde-
fined fear lest March's owner might
some day appear and claim him. 1t
seemed impossible that the possessor
of such q marvellous chum would not
scour the whole world in search Of
him.
He is mine,'' she repeated, turning
away as if to continue her walk
"One minute, please" he said. step
ping after her and then hating with
great suddenness as March spun about
and faced him with louder growl and
a show of eye-teeth Late last Win
ter | was driving along this road, on
my way home from New Haven. We
had a blowout. Vie road then, as it
is now. | left a valuable collie dog in
the tonneau while | got out to help my
chauffeur. The dog slipped his collar
and jumped out after me. / didn't see
him do it; but l found the collar and
leash when I got aboard. / suppose
he wandered off and you found him
Yes, that's the dog"
For moment Nesta was tempted to
run, calling March after her. But she
stood her ground.
You are mistaken" she said care
lessly. This is my dog l am sorry
you lost yours, but
HE wasn't mine." corrected the
stout man. IF he had been, he
wouldn't have run away from me-
wouldn't have had to tie him in the
car. That kind of collie sticks by his
master. He
IF you don't even claim he is
yours began Nesta in polite con.
tempt, as she made as though to turn
away once more, T."
HE belongs to a cousin of NINE"
said the man. MY cousin bought
him from an English kennel. and had
him sent to handler to take on a
circuit OF the American shows. He'd
won his championship in England
before he came to this country. Won
1t at Is months. He completed his
American championship at the New
Haven show this year. He is Inter
national Champion Harrowgate Peer
less. His kennel name is Squire. My
cousin paid $4,000 for him in
England. His American champion
ship makes him worth an easy $4,000.
This dog here is one of the greatest
collies on either side of the Atlantic.
He
This dog Of mine?" queried Nesta
innocently. I'm glad you like him.
But l thought you were talking about
an English collie that
Same dog!'' snapped the man an
noyedly Il can take oath to that
saw him at the Madison Square
Garden show-Westminste you
KNOWN February and again at New
Haven. ! made close study of him
both times. My cousin had to go to