Part 8 (1/2)

”Oh, make him come back with it! Make him come back!” cried Flossie.

”Something has happened!” exclaimed Bert, running around to the side of the house, followed by Nan.

CHAPTER VI

SCHOOL DAYS

Bert saw his sister and her playmate, Alice Boyd, standing on the porch, looking very much frightened. Alice had her doll held tightly in her arms, but Flossie's doll could not be seen.

”What's the matter?” Bert asked.

”It's a dog! A strange dog!” cried Flossie. ”Oh, dear! He----”

”Did he bite you?” Nan asked quickly. ”If he did----”

”No, he didn't bite me,” answered the little girl. ”But he ran up on the porch and took my best doll away in his mouth. Now he's gone around to the back yard, and I'm afraid he'll bite her. I called to him to come back, but he wouldn't.”

”Was it some dog Snap was playing with?” asked Bert.

”No, it was a new dog. I'd never seen him before. Oh, dear! He'll bite my doll!”

”It won't hurt her to be bitten a little,” said Bert with a laugh. ”You can't hurt dolls.”

”You can so!” sobbed Flossie, who was crying real tears now. ”And I don't want my best doll bitten.”

”Don't laugh at her, Bert,” said Nan in a low voice. ”Try to get her doll back for her.”

”I will,” promised Bert. ”Which way did the dog go, Flossie? Tell me.”

”He went around back of the house.”

”Maybe he thought your doll was a bone, and he's going to bury it,” Bert said. ”Was she a thin doll, Flossie; thin like a bone?”

”No, she wasn't! She was a nice fat doll, with red cheeks! And I want her back. Oh dear!”

”I'll get her for you,” Bert said again.

”I'm glad the dog didn't take my doll,” broke in Alice. ”I'll let you play with mine, Flossie.”

”Thank you, but I--I want my own dear doll!” and Flossie sobbed harder than before.

”Never mind, Brother Bert will get her from the dog,” said Nan. ”Don't cry.”

”I--I can't help it,” Flossie said, though she did try to stop crying.

Bert ran around the corner of the house. Then he laughed so loudly that Nan knew it must be all right and she said:

”Come on, Flossie and Alice. We'll go and see what Bert has found.”