THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



the condition that should any one claim them, 

 he would refer them to me. 



I expected just two big dogs that would do 

 for watchmen around the building, so my 

 astonishment was great when Victor and 

 Victoria arrived. They were perfectly well- 

 broken, well-behaved dogs, and what was much 

 more to their credit, evinced a desire to be 

 friendly with the cats. We soon realized that 

 Victoria required special care and attention. 

 Being rather nervous about the possible 

 dfficulties which might arise, Mr. Fred was sent 

 to the city to confer with a canine doctor, whose 

 cautions and suggestions were so many and 

 alarming that we decided to send Victoria up to 

 his place for a time. 



But it was another case of " man pro- 

 poses " two days later she refused to leave 

 the box stall in which it had seemed best to 

 keep her at night. Her eyes showed signs of 

 trouble, and she declined the ordinary break- 

 fast, so some warm milk was fetched, and she 

 was coaxed into drinking it. 



358 



