Toward men--except those he had learned to look on as friends--
the collie always comported himself with a courteous aloofness
But he had seemed to regard every woman as something to be
humored and guarded and to be treated with the same cordial
friendliness that he bestowed on their children--which is the way
of the best type of collie. Yet Bruce had actually snarled at
this woman who had chirped to him from the steps of the church!
And he showed every sign of following up the challenge by still
more drastic measures.

"Bruce!" called Mahan sharply. "BRUCE! Shame! Come over here!
Come, NOW!"

At the Sergeant's vehement summons Bruce turned reluctantly away
from the foot of the church steps and came across the street
toward the estaminet. He came slowly. Midway he halted and looked
back over his shoulder at the nurse, his fangs glinting once more
in a snarl. At a second and more emphatic call from Mahan the dog
continued his progress.

The nurse had started back in alarm at the collie's angry
demonstration. Now, gathering up her work, she retreated into the
church.

"I'm sorry, Miss!" Mahan shouted after her. "I never saw him that
way, before, when a lady spoke to him. If it was any dog but old
Bruce, I'd give him a whaling for acting like that to you. I'm
dead-sure he didn't mean any harm."

"Oh, I was going in, anyway," replied the nurse, from the