it's done."

With sardonic politeness, he proffered the bulky weapon. The
Master caught it from his hand and flung it a hundred feet away,
into the center of a clump of lilacs.

"So much for the gun!" he blazed, advancing an the astounded
Wefers. "Now, unless you want to follow it--"

"Dear!" expostulated the Mistress, her sweet voice atremble.

"I'm an of'cer of the law!" blustered the offended constable; in
the same breath adding

"And resisting an of'cer in the p'soot of his dooty is a misde--"

He checked himself, unconsciously turning to observe the odd
actions of Lad.

As the Master had hurled the pistol far from him, the collie had
sped in breakneck pursuit of it. Thus, always, did he delight to
retrieve any object the Mistress or the Master might toss for his
amusement. It was one of Laddie's favorite games, this fetching
back of anything thrown. The farther it might be flung and the
more difficult its landing place, the more zest to the sport.

This time, Lad was especially glad at the diversion. From the
voices of these deities of his, Lad had gathered that the Master
was furiously angry and that the Mistress was correspondingly
unhappy. Also, that the lanky and red-bearded visitor was