“I took him for a debt,” was the reply. “A Frenchman, who had trained this trick dog, owed me some money for fish and for boat hire. I had about given up all hope of ever getting my money, for the Frenchman said he was so poor he thought he could not pay for a long time. Then he asked me if I had children and if they loved animals. And when I said I had, and when I told him, Bunny and Sue, how fond you were of your dog Splash, when you had him, and how you liked your Shetland pony, Toby, the man asked me to take this trick dog in place of the money he owed me.”
“And you did,” said Bunny.
“Yes, I did,” admitted Mr. Brown. “It was the only way to get anything from the poor Frenchman. So I had him bring the dog to the dock this afternoon, and then he showed me how to make him go through some of his tricks. Then I telephoned to you about the surprise.”
“It’s a lovely surprise,” said Sue.
“Who brought the dog up from the dock?” Bunny asked.
“I left him for Bunker Blue to bring,” explained Mr. Brown. “And when that old man, who inquired about the circus, rang the bell, I thought that was Bunker. But he came a little later. And now, do you like your new trick dog?”
“Oh, I love him!” cried Sue.
“So do I!” declared Bunny. “May I pat him?” he asked.
“Oh, yes, the dog is quite friendly and tame,” said Mr. Brown, and soon Bunny Brown and his sister Sue had made friends with their new pet given up by the poor Frenchman in payment of his debt.
“What’s his name?” asked Bunny, as he took the cap off the dog’s head in order to see the animal better.