the roll to the banker。 The old man turned deathly pale； fumbled
it open； then his color came back。 〃Thank God！〃 he gasped； and
then went speeding to his Board meeting； master of the situation。
Little Arnaux had saved him。
The banker wanted to buy the Homer； feeling in a vague way that
he ought to honor and cherish him； but Billy was very clear about
it。 〃What's the good？ You can't buy a Homer's heart。 You could
keep him a prisoner； that's all； but nothing on earth could make
him forsake the old loft where he was hatched。〃 So Arnaux stayed
at 2ll West Nineteenth Street。 But the banker did not forget。
There is in our country a class of miscreants who think a flying
Pigeon is fair game； because it is probably far from home； or
they shoot him because it is hard to fix the crime。 Many a noble
Homer； speeding with a life or death message； has been shot down
by one of these wretches and remorselessly made into a pot…pie。
Arnaux's brother Arnolf； with three fine records on his wings；
was thus murdered in the act of bearing a hasty summons for the
doctor。 As he fell dying at the gunner's feet； his superb wings
spread out displayed his list of victories。 The silver badge on
his leg was there； and the gunner was smitten with remorse。 He
had the message sent on； he returned the dead bird to the Homing
Club； saying that he 〃found it。〃 The owner came to see him； the
gunner broke down under cross…examination； and was forced to
admit that he himself had shot the Homer； but did so in behalf of
a poor sick neighbor who craved a pigeon…pie。
There were tears in the wrath of the pigeon…man。 〃My bird； my
beautiful Arnolf； twenty times has he brought vital messages；
three times has he made records； twice has he saved human lives；
and you'd shoot him for a pot…pie。 I could punish you under the
law； but I have no heart for such a poor revenge。 I only ask you
this； if ever again you have a sick neighbor who wants a
pigeon…pie； come； we'll freely supply him with pie…breed squabs；
but if you have a trace of manhood about you； you will never；
never again shoot； or allow others to shoot； our noble and
priceless messengers。〃
This took place while the banker was in touch with the loft；
while his heart was warm for the Pigeons。 He was a man of
influence； and the Pigeon Protective legislation at Albany was
the immediate fruit of Arnaux's exploit。
IV
Billy had never liked the Corner…box Blue （2600 C）；
notwithstanding the fact that he still continued in the ranks of
the Silver Badge； Billy believed he was poor stuff。 The steamer
incident seemed to prove him coward； he certainly was a bully。
One morning when Billy went in there was a row； two Pigeons； a
large and a small； alternately clinching and sparring all over
the floor； feathers flying； dust and commotion everywhere。 As
soon as they were separated Billy found that the little one was
Arnaux and the big one was the Corner…box Blue。 Arnaux had made a
good fight； but was overmatched； for the Big Blue was half as
heavy again。
Soon it was very clear what they had fought overa pretty little
lady Pigeon of the bluest Homing blood。 The Big Blue cock had
kept up a state of bad feeling by his bullying； but it was the
Little Lady that had made them close in mortal combat。 Billy had
no authority to wring the Big Blue's neck； but he interfered as
far as he could in behalf of his favorite Arnaux。
Pigeon marriages are arranged somewhat like those of mankind。
Propinquity is the first thing： force the pair together for a
time and let nature take its course。 So Billy locked Arnaux and
the Little Lady up together in a separate apartment for two
weeks； and to make doubly sure he locked Big Blue up with an
Available Lady in another apartment for two weeks。
Things turned out just as was expected。 The Little Lady
surrendered to Arnaux and the Available Lady to the Big Blue。 Two
nests were begun and everything shaped for a 〃lived happily ever
after。〃 But the Big Blue was very big and handsome。 He could blow
out his crop and strut in the sun and make rainbows
all round his neck in a way that might turn the heart of the
staidest Homerine。
Arnaux； though sturdily built； was small and except for his
brilliant eyes； not especially good…looking。 Moreover； he was
often away on important business； and the Big Blue had nothing to
do but stay around the loft and display his unlettered wings。
It is the custom of moralists to point to the lower animals； and
especially to the Pigeon； for examples of love and constancy； and
properly so； but； alas there are exceptions。 Vice is not by any
means limited to the human race。
Arnaux's wife had been deeply impressed with the Big Blue； at the
outset； and at length while her spouse was absent the dreadful
thing took place。
Arnaux returned from Boston one day to find that the Big Blue；
while he retained his own Available Lady in the corner…box； had
also annexed the box and wife that belonged to himself； and a
desperate battle followed。 The only spectators were the two
wives； but they maintained an indifferent aloofness。 Arnaux
fought with his famous wings； but they were none the better
weapons because they now bore twenty records。 His beak and feet
were small； as became his blood； and his stout little heart could
not make up for his lack of weight。 The battle went against him。
His wife sat unconcernedly in the nest； as though it were not her
affair； and Arnaux might have been killed but for the timely
arrival of Billy。 He was angry enough to wring the Blue bird's
neck； but the bully escaped from the loft in time。 Billy took
tender care of Arnaux for a few days。 At the end of a week he was
well again； and in ten days he was once more on the road。
Meanwhile he had evidently forgiven his faithless wife； for；
without any apparent feeling； he took up his nesting as before。
That month he made two new records。 He brought a message ten
miles in eight minutes； and he came from Boston in four hours。
Every moment of the way he had been impelled by the
master…passion of home…love。 But it was a poor home…coming if his
wife figured at all in his thoughts； for he found her again
flirting with the Big Blue cock。 Tired as he was； the duel was
renewed； and again would have been to a finish but for Billy's
interference。 He separated the fighters； then shut the Blue cock
up in a coop； determined to get rid of him in some way。 Meanwhile
the 〃Any Age Sweepstakes〃 handicap from Chicago to New York was
on； a race of nine hundred miles。 Arnaux had been entered six
months before。 His forfeit…money was up； and notwithstanding his
domestic complications； his friends felt that he must not fail to
appear。
The birds were sent by train to Chicago； to be liberated at
intervals there according to their handicap； and last of the
start was Arnaux。 They lost no time； and outside of Chicago
several of these prime Flyers joined by common impulse into a
racing flock that went through air on the same invisible track。 A
Homer may make a straight line when following his general sense
of direction； but when following a familiar back track he sticks
to the well…remembered landmarks。 Most of the birds had been
trained by way of Columbus and Buffalo。 Arnaux knew the Columbus
route； but also he knew that by Detroit； and after leaving Lake
Michigan； he took the straight line for Detroit。 Thus he caught
up on his handicap and had the advantage of many miles。 Detroit；
Buffalo； Rochester； with their familiar towers and chimneys；
faded behind him； and Syracuse was near at hand。 It was now late
afternoon； six hundred miles in twelve hours he had flown and was
undoubtedly leading the race； but the usual thirst of the Flyer
had attacked him。 Skimming over the city roofs； he saw a loft of
Pigeons； and descending from his high course in two or three
great circles； he followed the ingoing Birds to the loft and
drank greedily at the water…trough； as he had often done before；
and as every pigeon…lover hospitably expects the messengers to
do。 The owner of the loft was there and noted the strange Bird。
He stepped quietly to where he could inspect him。 One of his own
Pigeons made momentary opposition to the stranger； and Arnaux；
sparring sidewise with an open wing in Pigeon style； displayed
the long array of printed records。 The man was a fancier。 His
interest was aroused； he pulled the string that shut the flying
door； and in a few minutes Arnaux was his prisoner。
The robber spread the much…inscribed wings； read record after
record； and glancing at the silver badgeit should have been
goldhe read his nameArnaux； then exclaimed： 〃Arnaux！ Arnaux！
Oh； I've heard of you； you little beauty； and it's glad I am to
trap you。〃 He snipped the message from his tail； unrolled it； and
read： 〃Arnaux left Chicago this morning at 4 A。M。； scratched in
the Any Age Sweepstakes for New York。〃
〃Six hundred miles in twelve hours！ By the powers； that's a
record…breaker。〃 And the pigeon…stealer gently； almost
reverently； put the fluttering Bird safely into a padded cage。
〃Well；〃 he added； 〃I know it's no use trying to make you stay；
but I can breed from you and have some of your strain。〃
So Arnaux was shut up in a large and comfortable loft with
several other prisoners。 The man； though a thief； was a lover of
Homers； he gave his captive everything that could insure his
comfort and safety。 For three months he left him in that loft。 At
first Arnaux did nothing all day but walk up and down the wire
screen； looking high and low for means of escape； but in the
fourth month he seemed to have abandoned the attempt； and the
watchful jailer began the second part of his scheme。 He
introduced a coy young lady Pigeon。 But it did not seem to
answer； Arnaux was not even civil to her。 After a time the jailer
removed the female； and Arnaux was left in solitary confinement
for a month。 Now a different female was brought in； but with no
better luck； and thus it went onfor a year different charmers
were introduced。 Arnaux either violently repelled them or was
scornfully indifferent； and at times the old longing to get away；
came back with twofold power； so that he darted up and down the
wire front or dashed with all his for