Upon the table he dumped the paper-swathed cup he had been
carrying unnoticed under his arm. Beside it he threw the little
purse full of gold pieces and the wad of prize ribbons. Stepping
back, his foot struck something. He looked down and saw it was a
gay-colored rubber ball he had bought, months ago, for Chum--the
dog's favorite plaything.

His face twisting, Link snatched up the ball and went out onto
the steps to throw it far out of sight; that it might no more
remind him of the pet who had so often coaxed him to toss it for
retrieval.

Ferris hurled the ball far out into the garden. As the missile
left his hand an exultant bark re-echoed through the silence of
the sunset. Chum, who had been trotting demurely up the walk,
sprang gleefully in pursuit of the ball, and presently came
galloping back to the dazedly incredulous Link, with the
many-colored sphere of rubber between his jaws.

Chum had had no trouble at all in catching his master's trail and
following it home. He would have overtaken the slow-slouching
Ferris, had he been able to slip out of the clubhouse sooner. And
now it pleased him to be welcomed by this evident invitation to a
game of ball.

Link gave a gulping cry and buried both hands in the collie's
ruff, staring down at the dancing dog in an agony of rapture.
Then, all at once, his muscles tensed, and his newly flushed face
went green-white again.