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Show 15 of course. Do you have a dog?" Swallowing, Josh shook his head. At home he had only a few cents, and he knew his mother was having a hard time paying the bills right now. "No-but I sure want one!" he blurted anyway. The man rubbed the back of his neck, tipping his hat forward as he calculated. "Have you got twenty dollars?" Josh's heart sank. He hung his head. "No. Not twenty." There was silence. "How about ten then?" Josh glanced desperately about him. He knew he didn't have ten or even five dollars. But somewhere he should be able. . . . "Hey, I got twenty-eight dozen eggs here!" he shouted. "I'll trade them for that puppy!" A look of pain crossed the man's weathered face. He leaned over and looked at the egg cartons, then studied the boy who was reaching through the wire to caress the pup. "Whew!" the man puffed out his cheeks and blew. "Twenty-eight dozen eggs!" He sighed, defeated. "They'll keep, I guess. All right, you load the eggs on the truck floor there and I'll get the pup. But remember, this dog is never to be claimed as one of Olson's malamutes. He's a throwback. Remember that." With a •whoopee," Josh pulled the egg wagon next to the truck and in two minutes held the armload of affectionate fluff against his cheek. That was how Chinook had joined the O'Tosh family, much to the surprise of Mrs. O'Tosh. |