bruce-第9章
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（The world is full of helpful folk。 That is perhaps one reason
why the Millennium's date is still so indefinite。）
An hour later； a man touched the Master on the arm。
〃That dog of your； on Bench 48；〃 began the stranger； 〃the big pup
with the 'For Sale' sign on his bench。 What do you want for him？〃
The Mistress was several feet away； talking to the superintendent
of the show。 Guiltily； yet gratefully； the Master led the would…
be purchaser back to the benches； without attracting his wife's
notice。
A few minutes afterward he returned to where she and the
superintendent were chatting。
〃Well；〃 said the Master； trying to steel himself against his
wife's possible disappointment； 〃I found a buyer for Brucea Dr。
Halding； from New York。 He likes the pup。 Says Bruce looks as if
he was strong and had lots of endurance。 I wonder if he wants him
for a sledge…dog。 He paid me fifteen dollars for him； and it was
a mighty good bargain。 I was lucky to get more than a nickel for
such a cur。〃
The Master shot forth this speech in almost a single rapid
breath。 Then； before his wife could reply；and without daring to
look into her troubled eyes；he discovered an acquaintance on
the far side of the ring and bustled off to speak to him。 The
Master； you see； was a husband； not a hero。
The Mistress turned a worried gaze on the superintendent。
〃It was best； I suppose；〃 she said bravely。 〃We agreed he must be
sold； if the judge decided he was not any good。 But I'm sorry。
For I'm fond of him。 I'm sorry he is going to live in New York；
too。 A big city is no place for a big dog。 I hope this Dr。
Halding will be nice to the poor puppy。〃
〃Dr。WHO？〃 sharply queried the superintendent； who had not
caught the name when the Master had spoken it in his rapid…fire
speech。 〃Dr。 Halding？ Of New York？ Huh！
〃You needn't worry about the effect of city life on your dog；〃 he
went on with venomous bitterness。 〃The pup won't have a very long
spell of it。 If I had my way； that man Halding would be barred
from every dog…show and stuck in jail。 It's an old trick of his；
to buy up thoroughbreds； cheap； at shows。 The bigger and the
stronger they are； the more he pays for them。 He seems to think
pedigreed dogs are better for his filthy purposes than street
curs。 They have a higher nervous organism； I suppose。 The swine！〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked the Mistress； puzzled by his vehemence。
〃I don't〃
〃You must have heard of Halding and his so…called 'research
work；'〃 the superintendent went on。 〃He is one of the most
notorious vivisectionists in〃
The superintendent got no further。 He was talking to empty air。
The Mistress had fled。 Her determined small figure made a tumbled
wake through the crowd as she sped toward Bruce's bench。 The
puppy was no longer there。 In another second the Mistress was at
the door of the building。
A line of parked cars was stretched across the opposite side of
the village street。 Into one of these cars a large and loose…
jointed man was lifting a large and loose…jointed dog。 The dog
did not like his treatment； and was struggling pathetically in
vain awkwardness to get free。
〃Bruce！〃 called the Mistress； fiercely； as she dashed across the
street。
The puppy heard the familiar voice and howled for release。 Dr。
Halding struck him roughly over the head and scrambled into the
machine with him； reaching with his one disengaged hand for the
self…starter button。 Before he could touch it； the Mistress was
on the running…board of the car。
As she ran； she had opened her wristbag。 Now； flinging on the
runabout's seat a ten and a five…dollar bill； she demanded
〃Give me my dog！ There is the money you paid for him！〃
〃He isn't for sale；〃 grinned the Doctor。 〃Stand clear； please。
I'm starting。〃
〃You're doing nothing of the sort；〃 was the hot reply。 〃You'll
give back my dog！ Do you understand？〃
For answer Halding reached again toward his self…starter。 A
renewed struggle from the whimpering puppy frustrated his aim and
forced him to devote both hands to the subduing of Bruce。 The dog
was making frantic writhings to get to the Mistress。 She caught
his furry ruff and raged on； sick with anger
〃I know who you are and what you want this poor frightened puppy
for。 You shan't have him！ There seems to be no law to prevent
human devils from strapping helpless dogs to a table and
torturing them to death in the unholy name of science。 But if
there isn't a corner waiting for them； below； it's only because
Hades can't be made hot enough to punish such men as they ought
to be punished！ You're not going to torture Bruce。 There's your
money。 Let go of him。〃
〃You talk like all silly； sloppy sentimentalists！〃 scoffed the
Doctor； his slight German accent becoming more noticeable as he
continued： 〃A woman can't have the intellect to understand our
services to humanity。 We〃
〃Neither have half the real doctors！〃 she flashed。 〃Fully half of
them deny that vivisection ever helped humanity。 And half the
remainder say they are in doubt。 They can't point to a single
definite case where it has been of use。 Alienists say it's a
distinct form of mental perversion；the craving to torture dumb
animals to death and to make scientific notes of their
sufferings。〃
〃Pah！〃 he sniffed。 〃I〃
She hurried on
〃If humanity can't be helped without cutting live dogs and
kittens to shreds； in slow agonythen so much the worse for
humanity！ If you vivisectors would be content to practice on one
anotheror on condemned murderers；instead of on friendly and
innocent dogs； there'd be no complaint from any one。 But leave
our pets alone。 Let go of my puppy！〃
By way of response the Doctor grunted in lofty contempt。 At the
same time he tucked the wriggling dog under his right arm；
holding him thus momentarily safe； and pressed the self…starter
button。
There was a subdued whir。 A move of Halding's foot and a release
of the brake； and the car started forward。
〃Stand clear！〃 he ordered。 〃I'm going。〃
The jolt of the sudden start was too much for the Mistress's
balance on the running…board。 Back she toppled。 Only by luck did
she land on her feet instead of her head； upon the greasy
pavement of the street。
But she sprang forward again； with a little cry of indignant
dismay； and reached desperately into the moving car for Bruce；
calling him eagerly by name。
Dr。 Halding was steering with his left hand； while his viselike
right arm still encircled the protesting collie。 As the Mistress
ran alongside and grasped frantically for her doomed pet； he let
go of Bruce for an instant； to fend off her handor perhaps to
thrust her away from the peril of the fast…moving mud…guards。 At
the Mistress's cryand at the brief letup of pressure caused by
the Doctor's menacing gesture toward the unhappy womanBruce's
long…sleeping soul awoke。 He answered the cry and the man's blow
at his deity in the immemorial fashion of all dogs whose human
gods are threatened。
There was a snarling wild…beast growl； the first that ever had
come from the clownlike puppy's throat；and Bruce flung his
unwieldy young body straight for the vivisector's throat。
Halding； with a vicious fist…lunge； sent the pup to the floor of
the car in a crumpled heap； but not before the curving white
eyeteeth had slashed the side of the man's throat in an ugly
flesh…wound that drove its way dangerously close to the jugular。
Half stunned by the blow； and with the breath knocked out of him；
Bruce none the less gathered himself together with lightning
speed and launched his bulk once more for Halding's throat。
This time he missed his markfor several things happened all at
once。
At the dog's first onslaught； Halding's foot had swung forward；
along with his fist； in an instinctive kick。 The kick did not
reach Bruce。 But it landed； full and effectively； on th
