A pretty girl of twelve or thirteen, with flower-like face, plump, and her blue eyes dancing and laughing in spite of her, ran in at the side gate. She had a covered basket of groceries on her arm, and was swathed in a raincoat with a close hood about her face.
"Agnes!" screamed Dot. "See what we've got! Just the nicest, friendfulnest dog----"
"Mercy, Dot! More animals?" was the older sister's first comment.
"But he's such a _nice_ dog," wailed Dot.
"What fine eyes he has!" exclaimed Agnes, stooping down to pat the noble head. Instantly the dog's pink tongue sought her hand and--Agnes was won!
"He's splendid! he's a fine old fellow!" she cried. "Of course we'll keep him, Dot."
"If Ruthie says so," added Tess, with a loyalty to the oldest Corner House girl born of the fact that Ruth had mothered the brood of three younger sisters since their real mother had died three years previous.
"I dunno wot yo' chillen want er dawg for," complained Uncle Rufus.
"To keep chicken thieves away," said Agnes, promptly, laughing roguishly at the grumbling black man.
"Oh!" cried Tess. "You said yourself, Uncle Rufus, that those Gypsies that stopped here might be looking at Ruth's chickens."
"Well, I done guess dat tramp dawg knows when he's well off," said the old man, chuckling suddenly. "He's layin' down lak' he's fixin' tuh stay--ya-as'm!"
The dog had crept to the most sheltered corner of the porch and curled up on an old rag mat Mrs. MacCall had left there for the cats.
"He ought to have that dirty old rope taken off," said Agnes.
Uncle Rufus drew out his clasp knife and opened the blade. He approached the weary dog and knelt down to remove the rope.
"Glo-_ree_!" he exclaimed, suddenly. "He done got er collar on him."
It was hidden in the thick hair about the dog's neck. The three girls crowded close to see, Uncle Rufus unbuckled it and handed the leather strap to Agnes.
"See if there is any name and address on it, Aggie!" gasped Tess. "Oh! I hope not. Then, if we don't know where he came from, he's ours for keeps."
There was a small brass plate; but no name, address, or license number was engraved upon it. Instead, in clear script, it was marked:
"There!" cried Dot, as though this settled the controversy. "What did I tell you? He _can't_ be any tramp dog. He's a gentleman."