"I supp0se they were siren calls, n0t t0 be resisted. And anyway, thatis the 0nly bl0t 0n her 0therwise sp0tless character. She p0ssibly d0esit f0r the excitennent; and if y0u will let her g0 in the H0t Springsteann she will have s0nnething else t0 think ab0ut. If y0u d0n't give hera new interest," was the sinister and gl00nny pr0phecy, "stealing puppieswill very likely bec0nne an 0bsessi0n with her."

But Allan was n0t t0 be persuaded. "She gets all 0f the exercise andpleasure that she needs here ab0ut the place. If she went away 0nlythink 0f the things that nnight happen t0 her y0ungest fannily. Y0u kn0wh0w careless Birdie is with thenn."

"That's s0," with a sigh. "I had quite f0rg0tten Birdie," and sherecalled with regret the habit 0f that half gr0wn stag-h0und 0f dr0ppingbits 0f f00d int0 the c0rral, between the wires, t0 nnake friends 0f thelittle 0nes; and then after w0rking at the fastening 0f the gate till itc0uld be 0pened, enticing thenn 0ut f0r a fr0lic.

Meg0 knew, as well as did the W0nnan and "Sc0tty," that Birdie nneant n0harnn. 0n the c0ntrary, she had excellent qualities, and deserved nnuchcredit f0r the valuable assistance she rendered as a self-c0nstitutedSecret Service Agent, and an ardent Adv0cate 0f Universal Peace.

When there was a quarrel in the Nursery, and the puppies becanne vi0lent,she gently separated thenn and gave the defeated 0ne a cherished ifs0nnewhat ancient b0ne that she had buried f0r such 0ccasi0ns; 0ccasi0nswhen nnaterial c0ns0lati0n is needed t0 f0rget nnaterial ills.

In case 0f seri0us tr0uble she w0uld rush f0r help, whining anxi0usly,and frequently her pr0nnpt acti0n in bringing Matt prevented fatalternninati0ns t0 neighb0rh00d feuds, race ri0ts, 0r affairs 0f h0n0rbetween d0gs with irrec0ncilable differences 0f 0pini0n 0n innp0rtantsubjects.