"What d'j' you pay for him?" insisted Link, his voice harsh and
unconsciously domineering as a vague new hope dawned on his
troubled mind.

"I paid six hundred dollars," answered Gault shortly, in
annoyance at the boor's manner.

"Good!" approved Link, "That gives us suthin' to go on. I'll pay
you six hundred dollars fer him back. This hundred dollars in
gold an' this yer silver cup an' seven dollars more I got with
me--to bind the bargain. An' a second mortgage on my farm fer the
rest. Fer as much of the rest," he amended, "as I ain't got ready
cash for."

In his stark earnestness, Link's rough voice sounded more
hectoring and unpleasant than before. Gault, unused to such talk
from the alleged "peasantry," resolved to cut short the haggling.

"Sell for six hundred a dog that's cleaned up 'best in the
show?'" he rasped. "No, thank you. Leighton says Cavalier will go
far. One man, ten minutes ago, offered me a thousand for him."

"A thousan'?" repeated Ferris, scared at the magnitude of the
sum--then, rallying, he asked:

"What WILL you let me have him fer, then? Set a price, can't
you?"

"The dog is not for sale," curtly replied Gault, busying himself