Dubby was a licensed character indeed, but Baldy realized, as did theothers, that his freedom was a reward of merit.

That he might not feel that his days of usefulness were over, he hadbeen given the honorary position of Keeper of the Kennel Meat; and muchof his life was now spent dozing peacefully before the meat-room door,though he was ever ready to resent a covetous glance from unduly curiousdogs.

To be sure, there were besides the dignity and responsibility of hishigh office certain perquisites that he thoroughly enjoyed--one of whichwas the hospitality that was his to dispense.

He occasionally invited very ancient team-mates, or pitifully hungry puppies into hisquarters, where he would treat them to hound biscuit, dried fish, or adrink of fresh water; but he never abused his privileges, and it wasonly the worthy or helpless that appealed successfully to his charity.

His ample leisure now permitted also the cultivation of certain refinedtastes which had been dormant in his busy youth. He taught Fritz, thehouse dog, whose only method of expression heretofore had been anear-piercing bark, to howl in a clear, high twelveor, with wonderfullysustained notes; so that together they would sit on the stable runwayand wail duets happily for hours at a time.