"Your horrid old 'gator—it—has eaten—my Fritz."
"I don't believe it."
"My dog's gone and——"
"I'm very sorry, Beth, that Fritz is gone; but I don't believe the 'gator ate him."
"No, you're not sorry. You were just going to feed that horrid beast, and after it had eaten my Fritz, too."
"I didn't know about Fritz; but please don't blame me, Beth, even if the 'gator did eat him." He tried to take her hand, but she pulled it away.
"I want my dog," she said angrily.
"O Beth, only like me again, and I'll promise never to feed the 'gator as long as I live."
She was too grieved over the loss of Fritz to accept any such promise. Harvey would have searched with her for Fritz, but she was so hurt that she wished to be alone. In fact, she was very cool towards him for many a day thereafter.
A week passed; then two, and nothing was heard of Fritz. The feeling grew with Beth that the 'gator really had made way with her pet. She grieved more and more as time passed and nothing was heard of her dog. At first, she was inclined to be very bitter towards Harvey, but she could not hold a grudge long against any one. Then, as she acknowledged, she was not sure the 'gator had eaten Fritz.