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Link's face at every few steps。
All five entrants filed into the ring and began their parade。 Leighton； in
view of the importance of this crowning event； did not single out any one
dog； as before； to stand to one side； nor did he gate any。 He gave owners
and spectators their full due； by a thorough inspection of all five
contestants。 But as a result of his examination； he ended the suspense by
handing Link Ferris a purple rosette； whereon was blazoned in gilt the
legend； 〃Winners。〃
A salvo of handclaps greeted the eminently just decision。 And Chum
left the ring； to find a score of gratulatory hands stretched forth to pat him。
Quite a little crowd escorted him back to his bench。
A dozen people picked acquaintance with Link。 They asked him all
sorts of questions as to his dog。 Link made monosyllabic and
noncommittal replies to all of theseeven when the great Col。 Cyrus
Marden himself deigned to come over to the collie section and stare at
Chum； accompanying his scrutiny with a volley or patronizing inquiries。
From the bystanders Link learned something of real interestnamely；
that one of the 〃specials〃 was a big silver cup； to be awarded to 〃best
collie of either sex〃； and that after the females should have been； judged；
the winning female and Chum must appear in the ring together to compete
for this trophy。
Sure enough； in less than thirty minutes Chum was summoned to the
ring。 There； awaiting him； was a dainty and temperamental merle； of the
Tazewell strain。 Exquisite and high…bred as was this female competitor；
Judge Leighton wasted little time on the examination before giving Ferris
a tricolored ribbon； whose possession entitled him to one of the
shimmering silver mugs in the near…by trophy case。
After receiving full assurance that the big cup should be his at the
close of the show； Link returned to Chum's bench in ecstasy and sat down
beside his tired dog； with one arm thrown lovingly round the collie's ruff。
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Chum nestled against his triumphant master； as Link fondled his bunch of
ribbons and went over； mentally； every move of his triumphal morning。
The milling and changing groups of spectators in front of Bench 65
did not dwindle。 Indeed； as the morning went on； they increased。 People
kept coming back to the bench and bringing others with them。 Some of
these people whispered together。 Some merely stared and went away。
Some asked Ferris carefully worded questions； to which the shyly happy
mountaineer replied with sheepish grunts。
The long period of judging came at last to an end。 And the 〃Best Dog
in Show〃 special was called。
Into the ring Ferris escorted Chum； amid a multitude of fellow winners；
representing one male or female of every breed exhibited。 Leighton and
another judge stood in the ring's center； and around them billowed the
heterogeneous array。 The two went at their Gargantuan task with an expert
swiftness。 Mercilessly； dog after dog was weeded out and gated。 At last；
Chum and two others were all remaining of the many which had thronged
the ring。 The spectators were banked； five deep and breathless； round the
ropes。
The two judges went into brief executive session in one corner。 Then
Leighton crossed to Link； for the fourth time that day； and gave him the
gaudy rosette which proclaimed Chum 〃best dog in the show。〃 A roar of
applause went up。 Link felt dizzyand numb。 Then； with a gasp of rapture；
he stooped and gathered the bored Chum in his long arms； in a bearlike；
ecstatic hug。
〃We done it； Chummie！〃 he chortled。 〃WE DONE IT！〃
Still in a daze； he followed the steward to the trophy case； where he
received not only the shining silver cup； but a 〃sovereign purse；〃 wherein
were ensconced ten ten…dollar gold pieces。
It was all a dreama wonder dream from which presently he must
awaken。 Link was certain of that。 But while the golden dream lasted； he
knew the nameless joys of paradise。
Chum close at his side； he made his way through the congratulating
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crowd toward the outer gate of the country club grounds。 He had almost
reached the wicket when someone touched him； with unnecessary
firmness； on the shoulder。
Not relishing the familiarity； Link turned a scowling visage on the
interrupter of his triumphal homeward progress。 At his elbow stood a
stockily…built man； dressed with severe plainness。
〃You're Lincoln Ferris？〃 queried the stranger； more as if stating
aggressively a fact than making an inquiry。
〃Yep；〃 said Link； cross at this annoying break…in upon his trance of
happiness。 〃What d'j' want？〃 he added。
〃Please step back to the clubhouse a minute with me；〃 returned the
stranger； civilly enough； but with the same bossy firmness in his tone that
had jarred Ferris in his touch。 〃One or two people want to speak to you。
Bring along your dog。〃
Link glowered。 He fancied he knew what was in store。 Some of the
ultra select had gathered in the holy interior of the clubhouse and wanted
a private view of Chum； unsullied by the noisy presence of the crowd
outside。 They would talk patronizingly to Link； and perhaps even try to
coax him into selling Chum。 The thought decided Ferris。
〃I'm goin' home！〃 he said roughly。
〃You're coming with me；〃 contradicted the man in that same quiet
voice； but slipping his muscular arm into Link's。
With his other hand he shifted the lapel of his coat； displaying a police
badge on its reverse。 Still avoiding any outward appearance of force； he
turned about； with his arm locked in Ferris's and started toward the
clubhouse。
〃Here！〃 expostulated poor Link； with all a true mountaineer's horror of
the police。 〃What's all this？ I ain't broke no law！ I〃
An ugly growl from Chum punctuated his scared plea。 Noting the
terror in his master's tone and the grip of the stranger on Link's arm； Chum
had spun round to face the two。
The collie's eyes were fixed grimly upon the plainclothes man's
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temptingly thick throat。 One corner of Chum's upper lip was curled back；
displaying a businesslike if snowy fang。 His head was lowered。 Deep in
his furry throat a succession of legato growls were born。
The plain…clothes man knew much about dogs。 He knew； for example；
that when a dog holds his head high and barks there is no special danger to
be feared from him。 But he also knew that when a dog lowers his head and
growls； showing his eyetooth； he means business。
And the man shrank from the menace。 One hand crept back
instinctively toward his hip pocket。
Link saw the purely involuntary gesture； and he shook in his boots。 It
was thus a Hampton constable had once reached back when a stray cur
snapped at him。 And that constable had completed the movement by
drawing a pistol and shooting the cur。 Perhaps this non…uniformed stranger
meant to do the same thing。
〃Hold on！〃 begged Link； intervening between the man and the dog。
〃I'll go along with you peaceful。 Quit； Chum！ It's all right！〃
The dog still looked undecided。 He did not like this new note in his
god's voice。 But he obeyed the injunction； and fell into step at Link's side
as usual。 Ferris suffered himself to be piloted； unresisting； through the
tattered remnant of the crowd and up the clubhouse steps。
There his conductor led him through the sacred portals and down a
wide hallway to the door of a committee room。 Throwing open the door；
he ushered in his captive and the dog； entering behind them and reclosing
the heavy door。
In the room； round a table； sat several personsall men except one。
The exception was the girl whose col