Part 3 (1/2)

”They could hardly have stolen him,” Mr. Bobbsey reflected, ”and the conductor is sure not one of those boys went in another car, for they all left the train at Ramsley's.”

”I don't care!” cried Freddie, aloud, ”I'll just have every one of them arrested when we get to Auntie's. I knowed they had Snoop in their boxes.”

How Snoop could be ”in boxes” and how the boys could be found at Auntie's were two much mixed points, but no one bothered Freddie about such trifles in his present grief.

”Why doan you call dat kitty cat?” suggested Dinah, for all this time no one had thought of that.

”I couldn't,” answered Freddie, ”'cause he ain't here to call.” And he went on crying.

”Snoop! Snoop! Snoop Cat!” called Dinah, but there was no familiar ”me-ow” to answer her.

”Now, Freddie boy,” she insisted, ”if dat cat is alibe he will answer if youse call him, so just you stop a-sniffing and come along. Dere's a good chile,” and she patted him in her old way. ”Come wit Dinah and we will find Snoop.”

With a faint heart the little fellow started to call, beginning at the front door and walking slowly along toward the rear.

”Stoop down now and den,” ordered Dinah, ”cause he might be hiding, you know.”

Freddie had reached the rear door and he stopped.

”Now jist gib one more good call” said Dinah, and Freddie did.

”Snoop! Snoop!” he called.

”Me-ow,” came a faint answer.

”Oh, I heard him!” cried Freddie.

”So did I!” declared Dinah.

Instantly all the other Bobbseys were on the scene.

”He's somewhere down here,” said Dinah. ”Call him, Freddie!”

”Snoop! Snoop!” called the boy again.

”Me-ow--me-ow!” came a distant answer.

”In the stove!” declared Bert, jerking open the door of the stove, which, of course, was not used in summer, and bringing out the poor, frightened, little cat.

CHAPTER III

RAILROAD TENNIS

”Oh, poor little Snoop!” whispered Freddie, right into his kitten's ear. ”I'm so glad I got you back again!”

”So are we all,” said a kind lady pa.s.senger who had been in the searching party. ”You have had quite some trouble for a small boy, with two animals to take care of.”

Everybody seemed pleased that the mischievous boys' pranks had not hurt the cat, for Snoop was safe enough in the stove, only, of course, it was very dark and close in there, and Snoop thought he surely was deserted by all his good friends. Perhaps he expected Freddie would find him, at any rate he immediately started in to ”purr-rr,” in a cat's way of talking, when Freddie took him in his arms, and fondled him.