“No, no.  I want to know if Gift cares for me as much as I think he does.  You must try him.”

Beth was growing nervous over the situation.  Somehow, she realized that the love of Gift meant more to the man before her than almost anything in his life.  If the dog failed him at this point it might have a very disastrous effect.

“Come, come; do as I say,” cried Brown with somewhat of his original curtness of manner.

Beth did not dare refuse, but trembled for the result.  She arose.  Duke wagged his tail in delight that she was going.

“Come on, Gift.”  He paid no heed, but his master saw that she was not calling as if she really wanted the dog.

“Call as if you meant it.”

She saw that she could not fool him.  She felt compelled to act under his direction, but it seemed the irony of fate that once she had unwittingly taken his dog from him, and that now she should be made to try again when neither of them wished the dog to leave him.  Tears were in her eyes, but she clapped her hands as if ready for a frolic.  “Come on, Gift; come on.”  Duke also barked an invitation.  Gift leaped down the steps and was by their side in an instant.

“Oh, please call him back, or let me come back.”

“Go on.  Don’t you dare let him see that you don’t want him.  If he follows you home, I never want to see any of you again.  Both dogs then are yours forever,” growled Gift’s owner.

Tears now blinded poor Beth so that she could hardly see to open the gate.  Duke did not wait for it to be opened, but leaped over the fence.  Gift hesitated about following.  He was perfectly able to make the jump, but he evidently thought of his master for the first time.  He looked back undecided what to do.

“Oh, if he only would call him,” but Brown stood as if turned to stone.  Suddenly Gift ran back to his side.  Beth never felt more grateful.

“Call him.  I am not sure of him yet,” cried Brown in a strange voice.

“It’s cruel to the dog and to me,” thought Beth.  She now held the gate open.  “Come, Gift.”  Again Duke barked.

“I’m ashamed of you, Duke Davenport, for tempting your own son,” thought Beth.

Gift looked up at his master as if for a word of instruction.  He received no word or sign in reply.  Then Gift made a slight move as if to follow Beth, but suddenly turned and licked his master’s hand.  Next, he settled down on the porch for a sleep as if the matter were settled once and forever.

Beth now expected to see Mr. Brown show some emotion, but he simply called, “Missy, come back.”

She would have thought that she had overestimated his feelings in the matter if she had not caught sight of tears in his eyes when she returned.

“Gift is the best friend I have,” he said quietly when Beth was reseated.  “Do you know he helps keep me from saloons.  If he is with me and I start in one, he growls.  Now, what favor do you want to ask of me?”