CHAPTER I A MYSTERIOUS DOG

ct. "Neverminddon'tlet'sfightbeforethechildren.Doyouknow,Masaysshewillletusplayinthecoach-housenexttimeitrains,andkeepthekeyifwewantto." "Oh,goody!that'sbecausewetoldherhowwefoundthelittlewindowunderthewoodbine,anddidn'ttrytogoin,thoughwemighthavejustaseasyasnot,"criedBetty,appeasedatonce,for,afteratenyears'acquaintance,shehadgrownusedtoBab'spepperytemper. "Isupposethecoachwillbealldustandratsandspiders,butIdon'tcare.Youandthedollscanbethepassengers,andIshallsitupinfrontdrive." "Youalwaysdo.Ishalllikeridingbetterthanbeinghorseallthetime,withthatoldwoodenbitinmymouth,andyoujerkingmyarmsoff,"saidpoorBetty,whowastiredofbeinghorsecontinually. "Iguesswe'dbettergoandgetthewaternow,"suggestedBab,feelingthatitwasnotsafetoencouragehersisterinsuchcomplaints. "Itisnotmanypeoplewhowoulddaretoleavetheirchildrenallalonewithsuchalovelycake,andknowtheywouldn'tpickatit,"saidBettyproudly,astheytrottedawaytothespring,eachwithalittletinpailinherhand. Alas,forthefaithofthesetooconfidingmammas!Theyweregoneaboutfiveminutes,andwhentheyreturnedasightmettheirastonishedeyeswhichproducedasimultaneousshriekofhorror.Flatupontheirfaceslaythefourteendolls,andthecake,thecherishedcake,wasgone. Foraninstantthelittlegirlscouldonlystandmotionless,gazingatthedreadfulscene.ThenBabcastherwater-pailwildlyaway,and,doublingupherfist,criedoutfiercely,— "ItwasthatSally!Shesaidshe'dpaymeforslappingherwhenshepinchedlittleMaryAnn,andnowshehas.I'llgiveittoher!Yourunthatway.I'llrunthis.Quick!quick!" Awaytheywent,Babracingstraighton,andbewilderedBettyturningobedientlyroundtotrotintheoppositedirectionasfastasshecould,withthewatersplashingalloverherassheran,forshehadforgottentoputdownherpail.Roundthehousetheywent,andmetwithacrashatthebackdoor,butnosignofthethiefappeared. "Inthelane!"shoutedBab. "Downbythespring!"pantedBettyandofftheywentagain,onetoscrambleupapileofstonesandlookoverthewallintotheavenue,theothertoscampertothespottheyhadjustleft.Still,nothingappearedbutthedandelions'innocentfaceslookingupatBab,andabrownbirdscaredfromhisbathinthespringbyBetty'shastyapproach. Backtheyrushed,butonlytomeetanewscare,whichmadethembothcry"Ow!"andflyintotheporchforrefuge. Astrangedogwassittingcalmlyamongtheruinsofthefeast,lickinghislipsafterbaselyeatingupthelastpoorbitsofbun,whenhehadboltedthecake,basket,andall,apparently. "Oh,thehorridthing!"criedBab,longingtogivebattle,butafraid,forthedogwasapeculiaraswellasadishonestanimal. "HelookslikeourChinapoodle,doesn'the?"whisperedBetty,makingherselfassmallaspossiblebehindhermorevaliantsister. Hecertainlydidfor,thoughmuchla