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Show 27 "Maybe they got bad livers," Cap pursed his lips in speculation. "Pop says people with the grouch on like that sometimes have bad innards that make 'em that way." Without saying so, Josh was thinking as they went down the steps that Cap's father must have a whole stomach full of bad intestines, then. He was one of the surliest, grouchiest men Josh knew. A half hour later they had still found no trace of Chinook. Glumly they turned toward home. Maybe Mr. Keebler already had him. If so, they were too late. On the other hand, perhaps by now the dog had gone home and was sleeping in his own yard. Anyway, he wasn't in the park, and they didn't know where else to look. Trudging along, his hands in his pockets, Josh felt terrible. It was beginning to look hopeless. With all the trouble of this celebration week, Chinook would never be able to show his face in town again. Josh knew that to have to be tied on a chain would kill the spirit of his dog. A dog on a chain was like a bird without wings. It was no way to live. Running away to the mountains was probably the only way left now. As they walked along, Josh thought of leaving his mother and sister. Of course, it would be fun not to have anyone telling you what to do. You wouldn't have to wash or take a bath or hang up your clothes. You wouldn't even have to eat at regular times if you didn't want to. Maybe Cap was right. They could be free as eagles up there in the mountains, living alone. With a shrug of his shoulders he made a sour face. It wouldn't work. He knew he would miss his family something terrible. But maybe |