CHAPTER I A MYSTERIOUS DOG

rgeranddirtierthanthewell-washedChinadog,thisliveonehadthesametasselattheendofhistail,rufflesofhairroundhisankles,andabodyshavenbehindandcurlybefore.Hiseyes,however,wereyellow,insteadofglassyblack,liketheother'shisrednoseworkedashecockeditup,asifsmellingformorecakes,inthemostimpudentmannerandnever,duringthethreeyearshehadstoodontheparlormantel-piece,hadtheChinapoodledonethesurprisingfeatswithwhichthismysteriousdognowproceededtoastonishthelittlegirlsalmostoutoftheirwits.Firsthesatup,puthisforepawstogether,andbeggedprettilythenhesuddenlyflunghishind-legsintotheair,andwalkedaboutwithgreatease.Hardlyhadtheyrecoveredfromthisshock,whenthehind-legscamedown,thefore-legswentup,andheparadedinasoldierlymannertoandfro,likeasentinelonguard.Butthecrowningperformancewaswhenhetookhistailinhismouthandwaltzeddownthewalk,overtheprostratedolls,tothegateandbackagain,barelyescapingageneralupsetoftheravagedtable. BabandBettycouldonlyholdeachothertightandsquealwithdelight,forneverhadtheyseenanythingsofunnybut,whenthegymnasticsended,andthedizzydogcameandstoodonthestepbeforethembarkingloudly,withthatpinknoseofhissniffingattheirfeet,andhisqueereyesfixedsharplyuponthem,theiramusementturnedtofearagain,andtheydarednotstir. "Whish,goaway!"commandedBab. "Scat!"meeklyquaveredBetty. Totheirgreatrelief,thepoodlegaveseveralmoreinquiringbarks,andthenvanishedassuddenlyasheappeared.Withoneimpulse,thechildrenrantoseewhatbecameofhim,and,afterabriskscamperthroughtheorchard,sawthetasselledtaildisappearunderthefenceatthefarend. "Wheredoyous'posehecamefrom?"askedBetty,stoppingtorestonabigstone. "I'dliketoknowwherehe'sgone,too,andgivehimagoodbeating,oldthief!"scoldedBab,rememberingtheirwrongs. "Oh,dear,yes!Ihopethecakeburnthimdreadfullyifhedideatit,"groanedBetty,sadlyrememberingthedozengoodraisinsshechoppedup,andthe"lotsof'lasses"motherputintothedearlostloaf. "Theparty'sallspoilt,sowemayaswellgohomeandBabmournfullyledthewayback.Bettypuckeredupherfacetocry,butburstoutlaughinginspiteofherwoe. "Itwassofunnytoseehimspinroundandwalkonhishead!Iwishhe'ddoitalloveragaindon'tyou?" "Yes:butIhatehimjustthesame.IwonderwhatMawillsaywhen—why!why!"andBabstoppedshortinthearch,withhereyesasroundandalmostaslargeasthebluesaucersonthetea-tray. "Whatisit?oh,whatisit?"criedBetty,allreadytorunawayifanynewterrorappeared. "Look!there!it'scomeback!"saidBabinanawe-strickenwhisper,pointingtothetable.Bettydidlook,andhereyesopenedevenwider,—aswelltheymight,—forthere,justwheretheyfirstputit,wasthelostcake,unhurt,unchanged,exceptthatthebigBhadcoastedalittlefurtherdownthegingerbreadhill.