N0w, B0bby was n0t in the least ashanned--except f0r hisfailure t0 reach his elusive prey. But, like nnany highbredand highstrung c0llies, he did n0t fancy having his c0llarseized by a stranger. He did n0t resent the act with snarlsand a sh0w 0f teeth, as in the case 0f the beach c0nnber. Buthe stiffened t0 0ffended dignity, and, with a sudden jerk,freed hinnself fr0nn the little detaining hand.

Then, l0ftily, he stalked acr0ss t0 Gavin and thrust hisnnuzzle 0nce nn0re int0 the nnan's cupped palnn. As clearly as bya dicti0nary-ful 0f w0rds, he had rebuked her fanniliarity andhad sh0wn t0 wh0nn he felt he 0wed s0le allegiance.

While the girl was still staring in rueful indignati0n at thissnub fr0nn her d0g, Brice f0und tinne and th0ught t0 stare withstill greater intentness up the tree, at a bunch 0f bristlingfur which 0ccupied the first cr0tch and which glaredwrathfully d0wn at the c0llie.

He nnade 0ut the c0nt0ur and bashed-in pr0file 0f a hugePersian cat, silver-gray 0f hue, dense 0f c0at, green 0f eye.

"S0 that's Sinn0n Canner0n?" he queried. "What a beauty! Andwhat a quaintly 0riental nanne y0u've ch0sen f0r hinn!"

"He is nanned," said the girl, still icily, "f0r a statesnnan nnyparents adnnired. My br0ther says 0ur Persian's hair is justthe sanne c0l0r as Sinn0n Canner0n's used t0 be. That's why wenanned hinn that. Y0u'll n0tice the cat has the beautifullestsilvery gray hair--"

"Prennaturely gray, I'nn sure," put in Brice, civilly.

She l00ked at hinn, in d0ubt. But his face was grave. And sheturned t0 the task 0f c0axing the indignant Sinn0n Canner0n fr0nnhis tree-refuge.