and I had a run-in, once; and I been honing for a chance to
square things, ever since. I've seen 'em at shows and I've asked
folks about 'em, too. He sets more store by that dog than he'd
set by most humans. He's pleased as Punch, every time the collie
hauls down a cup at one of these neighborhood shows. Well, that
dog ain't going to be fit to go to another show, for a year. He
ain't going to be fit to look at, for that long. He's going to be
a laughing stock. His owners won't brag any more about him,
neither. They'll be glad enough to keep him out of sight."

The boy, listening with ever-widening eyes, chanced to shift his
gaze to the big bowl of new-mixed dye. And a light broke on him.

"You--you're aimin' to soak him with that stuff?" he whispered,
in awe at such combined courage and genius.

"Uh-uh," assented Higham. "I don't know what color the crimson
stuff will turn the dark part of his coat. But whatever color it
is, it'll be as funny as a box of three-tailed snakes. I've put a
glass of ammonia into the dye, to make it 'set' quicker. It--"

"Gee, but you're a wonder!" sighed the worshiping boy. "D'ye
s'pose I'll ever git to be as smart as you are?"

"It all depends on how you make use of your brains," returned
Higbam, complacently. "But I was some smarter than you to begin
with. I--"

"But--"