“I want my dog,” she said angrily.

“O Beth, only like me again, and I’ll promise never to feed the ’gator as long as I live.”

She was too grieved over the loss of Fritz to accept any such promise.  Harvey would have searched with her for Fritz, but she was so hurt that she wished to be alone.  In fact, she was very cool towards him for many a day thereafter.

A week passed; then two, and nothing was heard of Fritz.  The feeling grew with Beth that the ’gator really had made way with her pet.  She grieved more and more as time passed and nothing was heard of her dog.  At first, she was inclined to be very bitter towards Harvey, but she could not hold a grudge long against any one.  Then, as she acknowledged, she was not sure the ’gator had eaten Fritz.

One day, about three weeks after the loss of Fritz, Harvey walked into the Davenports’ house, leading a handsome, big black dog.  The minute that the dog saw Beth, he bounded away from Harvey, and up to her.  He licked her hand, and was altogether so affectionate that he won her heart immediately.

“Oh, what a beautiful fellow.  Where did you get him?  Is he yours, Harvey?”

The boy’s eyes were very bright as he answered: 

“Well, I guess so.  I’ll tell you how I happened to get him, and then you can judge for yourself.  I was in town day before yesterday, and, while walking along Bay Street, I felt something licking my hand.  I looked around, and saw this dog.  I had several errands that morning and the dog followed me every place.  I simply couldn’t get rid of him.  Then I made inquiries to find out who owned him.  For a long time nobody seemed to know anything about him.  Finally I met a man down by the market who said he had seen him come off a Spanish vessel that was in port that morning.  I asked the man where the vessel was, and he said it had sailed.  Then I asked him what I ought to do about the dog, and he replied that he supposed I might as well keep him.  After that, I went to father and told him about the dog and asked what I should do.  He said he would advertise it, and then if nobody answered, I might do what I liked with him.  We have heard nothing so far of an owner, so it begins to look as if the dog was mine.”

“Why haven’t you told me before?  You have had it two whole days.”

“Well, Beth, I didn’t want you to know about it until I was sure he was mine.  Besides, I’m going to give him away.”

Beth’s eyes opened wide with astonishment.

“Going to give this lovely dog away!  Don’t you like him?”

“Yes, but I like the person I’m going to give him to better.”

“You must be awfully fond of that person, then.”  Beth was ashamed to think that she was a little jealous and tried not to show it by her manner.

“I am.  Guess to whom I am going to give him.”

“I can’t.”

“To the only nice girl I know, and her name is Beth Davenport.”