Part 12 (1/2)

”Ef yo' done walks on de varnished floors when dey's not dry, yo' all will stick fast an' yo' can't get loose.”

”That's right,” laughed the children's mother. ”You will have to keep out of the parlor while the floors are drying.”

The Bobbsey twins watched the painter put the varnish on the floor. The varnish was like a clear, amber paint and made the floor almost as s.h.i.+ny as gla.s.s, so it looked like new.

”There!” exclaimed the painter when he had finished. ”Now don't walk on the floor until morning. Then the varnish will be dry and hard, and you won't stick fast. Don't any of you go in.”

”We won't,” promised the twins. Then they had to study their lessons for school the next day, and, for a time, they forgot about the newly varnished floor.

It was after supper that Flossie asked if Nan could not pop a little corn to eat.

”Yes,” answered Mother Bobbsey. ”A little popped corn will not be harmful, I think. I'll get the popper.”

Nan sh.e.l.led some of the white kernels of corn into the wire popper, and shook it over the stove. Pretty soon: Pop! Pop! Poppity-pop-pop! was heard, and the small kernels burst into big ones, as white as snow.

Nan was just pouring the popped corn out into a dish when there sounded through the house a loud:

”Meaou!”

”What's that?” asked Flossie.

”It sounded like Snoop,” said Bert.

”It is Snoop!” declared Freddie.

”Meaou!” was cried again, and in such a queer way that the children knew their cat was in some kind of trouble.

”Snoop! Where are you?” called Nan.

”Meaou! Meaou!” came the answer.

”She's down cellar and wants to come up,” Bert said.

But when the cellar door was opened no cat popped up, as Snoop always did if she happened to be shut down there. Then they heard her crying voice again.

”Oh, I know where she is!” exclaimed Mother Bobbsey.

”Where?” asked the children.

”In the parlor--on the newly varnished floor! That's what makes her voice sound so funny--it's the empty room.”

”Well, if Snoop is in the parlor she's stuck fast! That's what's the matter!” cried Bert.

”Oh! oh!” exclaimed Freddie. ”Our cat caught fast!”

”Poor Snoop!” wailed Flossie.

”We must help her!” Nan said.