diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:53:18 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:53:18 -0700 |
| commit | 0e1d6e0101b04ffecb6855308f21a1a07f155481 (patch) | |
| tree | f0d8ecf98af4323e4a06a5dbcb0adae7418aa500 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 18421-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 551430 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 18421-h/18421-h.htm | 6523 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 18421-h/images/1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 117689 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 18421-h/images/14.jpg | bin | 0 -> 113832 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 18421-h/images/180.jpg | bin | 0 -> 110336 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 18421-h/images/206.jpg | bin | 0 -> 112165 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 18421.txt | 6397 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 18421.zip | bin | 0 -> 89961 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
11 files changed, 12936 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18421-h.zip b/18421-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..77bc6ba --- /dev/null +++ b/18421-h.zip diff --git a/18421-h/18421-h.htm b/18421-h/18421-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..49e05bf --- /dev/null +++ b/18421-h/18421-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6523 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store, by Laura Lee Hope + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + .right {text-align: right;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store, by +Laura Lee Hope + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store + +Author: Laura Lee Hope + +Illustrator: Walter S. Rogers + +Release Date: May 19, 2006 [EBook #18421] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + + + + +<h1>BUNNY BROWN<br />AND HIS SISTER SUE<br />KEEPING STORE</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>LAURA LEE HOPE</h2> + +<div class="center">AUTHOR OF<br /> +THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES, THE BOBBSEY<br /> +TWINS SERIES, THE SIX LITTLE<br /> +BUNKERS SERIES, MAKE<br /> +BELIEVE STORIES,<br /> +ETC.</div> + +<h3>ILLUSTRATED BY<br /> +WALTER S. ROGERS</h3> + +<div class="center"><br /><br /><br /><br />NEW YORK<br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP<br /> +PUBLISHERS</div> + +<div class="center"><br /><br />Made in the United States of America +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>BOOKS</h2> + +<h2>BY LAURA LEE HOPE</h2> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<div class='center'>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.</div> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<div class='center'><b>THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES</b></div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Bunny Brown Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><b>THE BOBBSEY TWINS SERIES</b></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Bobbsey Twins Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN WASHINGTON</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><b>THE SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES</b><br /> +<br /> +(Eight Titles)<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>MAKE BELIEVE STORIES</b><br /> +<br /> +(Ten Titles)<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<b>OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES</b><br /> +<br /> +(Twelve Titles)<br /></div> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<div class="center"><b>GROSSET & DUNLAP</b><br /> +PUBLISHERS NEW YORK</div> + + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<div class="center">Copyright, 1922, by<br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP<br /> +Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 251px;"> +<img src="images/1.jpg" width="251" height="400" alt="BUNNY GOT THE BOX OF BAKING POWDER." title="BUNNY GOT THE BOX OF BAKING POWDER." /> +</div> + +<div class='center'>BUNNY GOT THE BOX OF BAKING POWDER.<br /> +<i>Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store. Frontispiece</i>—(<a href='#Page_49'><i>Page</i> 49</a>)</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">chapter</span></td><td align='left'></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Grand Crash</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Feeding the Alligators</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_14'>14</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Something in a Desk</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_24'>24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Corner Store</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_34'>34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A New Pupil</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_44'>44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Busy Buzzer</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_53'>53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Barn Store</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_65'>65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In a Hole</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_75'>75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Up a Ladder</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_87'>87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Legacy</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_96'>96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Last Day</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_108'>108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Watering the Garden</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_117'>117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Helping Mrs. Golden</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_129'>129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cross Man</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_138'>138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Broken Window</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_147'>147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Little Storekeepers</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_161'>161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Two Letters</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_169'>169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bunny has an Idea</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_178'>178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Window Display</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_184'>184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In the Flour Barrel</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_194'>194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Sue Couldn't Stop It</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_205'>205</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Shower of Boxes</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_214'>214</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Pony Express</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_222'>222</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bad News</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_233'>233</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Good News</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_242'>242</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS<br />SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>A GRAND CRASH</h3> + + +<p>Patter, patter, patter came the rain drops, not only on the roof, but +all over, out of doors, splashing here and there, making little +fountains in every mud puddle.</p> + +<p>Bunny Brown and his sister Sue stood with their faces pressed against +the windows, looking out into the summer storm.</p> + +<p>"I can make my nose flatter'n you can!" suddenly exclaimed Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you cannot!" disputed Sue. "Look at mine!"</p> + +<p>She thrust her nose against the pane of glass so hard that it almost +cracked—I mean the glass nearly cracked.</p> + +<p>"Look at that, Bunny Brown!" exclaimed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> Sue. "Isn't my nose flatter'n +yours? Look at it!"</p> + +<p>"How can I look at your nose when I'm looking at mine?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>He, too, had pushed his nose against the glass of his window, the +children standing in the dining room where two large windows gave them a +good view of things outside.</p> + +<p>"You must look at my nose to see if it's flatter'n yours!" insisted Sue. +"Else how you going to know who beats?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I can make mine a flatter nose than yours!" declared Bunny. "You +look at mine first and then I'll look at yours."</p> + +<p>This seemed a fair way of playing the game, Sue thought. She left her +window and went over to her brother's side. The rain seemed to come down +harder than ever. If the children had any idea of being allowed to go +out and play in it, even with rubber boots and rain coats, they had +about given up that plan. Mrs. Brown had been begged, more than once, to +let Bunny and Sue go out, but she had shaken her head with a gentle +smile. And when their <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>mother smiled that way the children knew she +meant what she said.</p> + +<p>"Now, go ahead, Bunny Brown!" called Sue. "Let's see you make a flat +nose!"</p> + +<p>Bunny drew his face back from the window. His little nose was quite +white where he had pressed it—white because he had kept nearly all the +blood from flowing into it. But soon his little "smeller," as sometimes +Bunny's father called his nose, began to get red again. Bunny began to +rub it.</p> + +<p>"What you doing?" Sue wanted to know, thinking her brother might not be +playing fair in this little game.</p> + +<p>"I'm rubbing my nose," Bunny answered.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know. But what for?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause it's cold. If I'm going to make my nose flatter'n yours I have +to warm it a little. The glass is cold!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is a little cold," agreed Sue. "Well, go ahead now; let's see +you flat your nose!"</p> + +<p>Bunny took a long breath. He then pressed his nose so hard against the +glass that tears came into his eyes. But he didn't want Sue to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>see +them. And he wouldn't admit that he was crying, which he really wasn't +doing.</p> + +<p>"Look at me now! Look at me!" cried Bunny, talking as though he had a +very bad cold in his head.</p> + +<p>Sue took a look.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is flat!" she agreed. "But I can flatter mine more'n that! You +watch me!"</p> + +<p>Sue ran to her window. She made up her mind to beat her brother at this +game. Closing her teeth firmly, as she always did when she was going to +jump rope more times than some other girl, Sue fairly banged her nose +against the window pane.</p> + +<p>Her little nose certainly flattened out, but whether more so than +Bunny's was never discovered. For Sue banged herself harder than she had +meant to, and a moment later she gave a cry of pain, turned away from +the window, and burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Mrs. Brown, hurrying in from the next room: +"Who's hurt?"</p> + +<p>Sue was crying so hard that she could not answer, and Bunny was too +surprised to say <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>anything for the moment. Mrs. Brown looked at the two +children. She saw Sue holding her nose in one hand, while Bunny's nose +was turning from white to red as the blood came back into it.</p> + +<p>"Have you children been bumping noses again?" she asked. This was a game +Bunny and Sue sometimes played, though they had been told not to.</p> + +<p>"No, Mother; we weren't 'zactly banging noses," explained Bunny. "We +were just seeing who could make the flattest one on the window, and Sue +bumped her nose too hard. I didn't do anything!"</p> + +<p>"No, it—it wasn't Bun—Bunny's fault!" sobbed Sue. "I did it myself! I +was trying to—to flatter my nose more'n his!"</p> + +<p>"You shouldn't play such games," said Mother Brown. "I'm sorry, Sue! Let +me see! Is your nose bleeding?" and she gently took the little girl's +hand down.</p> + +<p>"Is—is—it?" asked Sue herself, stopping her sobs long enough to find +out if anything more than a bump had taken place.</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't bleeding," said Mrs. Brown.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> "Now be good children. You +can't go out in the rain, so don't ask it. Play something else, can't +you?"</p> + +<p>"Could we play store?" asked Bunny, with a sudden idea. It was not +altogether new, as often before, on other rainy days, he and Sue had +done this.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, let's keep store!" cried Sue, forgetting all about her bumped +nose.</p> + +<p>"That will be nice," said Mother Brown. "Tell Mary to let you have some +things with which to play store. You may play in the kitchen, as Mary is +working upstairs now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, now we'll have fun!" cried Sue, clapping her hands.</p> + +<p>"Could we have Splash in?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>"The dog? Why do you want him?" asked Mrs. Brown.</p> + +<p>"We could tie a basket around his neck," explained Bunny, "and he could +be the grocery delivery dog!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" laughed Sue.</p> + +<p>"No," said Mother Brown, with a gentle shake of her head, "you can't +have Splash in now. He has been splashing through mud <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>puddles and he'd +soil the clean kitchen floor. Play store without Splash."</p> + +<p>There was one nice thing about Bunny Brown and his sister Sue. If they +couldn't have one thing they did very well with something else. So now +Bunny said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, all right! We can take turns sending the things out ourselves, +Sue."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and we'll take turns tending store," added Sue. "'Cause I don't +want to be doing the buying all the while."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we'll take turns," agreed Bunny.</p> + +<p>Soon the children were in the kitchen, keeping store with different +things from the pantry that Mary, the cook, gave them to play with. +Unopened boxes of cinnamon, cloves and other spices; some cakes of soap +in their wrappers just as they had come from the real store, a few nuts, +some coffee beans, other beans, dried peas and a bunch of vegetables +made up most of the things with which the children played. After they +had finished their fun everything could be put back in the pantry.</p> + +<p>Bunny tore some old newspapers into <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>squares to use in wrapping the +"groceries." Mary also gave the children bits of string for tying +bundles.</p> + +<p>The store counter was the ironing board placed across the seats of two +chairs in front of a table, and on the table back of this ironing board +counter the different things to sell were placed.</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do for money?" asked Bunny, when the "store" was +almost ready to open.</p> + +<p>"I'll give you some buttons," said his mother.</p> + +<p>Bunny was given a handful of flat buttons of different sizes and colors +to use for change. He placed them in his cash box. Sue also had other +buttons to use as money in buying groceries.</p> + +<p>"Now we're all ready to play," said Bunny, looking over the store. "You +must come and buy something, Sue."</p> + +<p>"Yes. And then I want to keep store," said the little girl.</p> + +<p>"All right," her brother agreed.</p> + +<p>Bunny took his place behind the counter <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>and waited. Sue went out into +the hall, paused a moment, and then, with a little basket over her arm, +came walking in, as much like a grown-up lady as she could manage.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Mrs. Snifkins!" exclaimed Bunny. He always called Sue +"Mrs. Snifkins" when they kept store.</p> + +<p>"Oh, good morning, Mr. Huntley," Sue replied. She always called her +brother "Mr. Huntley," when they kept store. Perhaps this was because he +used to pretend to hunt for things on the make-believe shelves.</p> + +<p>"What can I do for you this morning, Mrs. Snifkins?" asked Bunny, +rubbing his hands as he had seen Mr. Gordon, the real grocer, do.</p> + +<p>"I want some prunes, some coffee, some eggs, some sugar, some salt, some +butter, some——" ordered Sue all in one breath.</p> + +<p>"Stop! Stop! Wait a minute!" cried Bunny. "I can't remember all that! +Now what did you say first?"</p> + +<p>"Prunes," replied Sue.</p> + +<p>There were some real prunes among the things the children were playing +store with, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>and Bunny wrapped a few of these in a paper.</p> + +<p>"Now some sugar," Sue ordered.</p> + +<p>As real sugar was rather messy if it spilled on the floor, Bunny had +some bird gravel, which was almost as good, and he pretended to weigh +some of this out on an old castor that was the make-believe scales. Some +real coffee beans were also wrapped up for Sue, and then for eggs Bunny +used empty thread spools.</p> + +<p>"Will that be all to-day, Mrs. Snifkins?" asked Grocer Huntley, when Sue +had put the things in her basket.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's all," Sue answered, placing two large black buttons on the +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'ironing-board'">ironing board</ins> counter and getting back in change a small white button.</p> + +<p>Sue went out with her "groceries," and soon came back for more. After +her third trip, by which time she had bought nearly everything in the +store, she said:</p> + +<p>"Now I want to be storekeeper."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Bunny.</p> + +<p>Sue brought back the things she had pretended to buy, they were put on +the shelves <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>again, and Bunny became a purchaser while Sue waited on +him.</p> + +<p>Outside it still rained hard, as Bunny saw when he looked from the +window. But it was fun in the house, keeping store. The children kept on +taking turns, first one being the keeper of the store and then the +other, until Bunny suddenly had a new idea.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know what we can do!" cried the little boy.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"We'll play hardware store," Bunny said. "I'm tired of having a grocery. +We'll keep hammers and nails and things like that."</p> + +<p>"I think a grocery is more fun," said Sue.</p> + +<p>"Nope! A hardware store is better," Bunny insisted. "I'll sell you +washboilers, basins, tin pans and things like that, and knives and +forks. We can have ever so many more of those things than we can have +groceries."</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe we can," Sue agreed, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"I'll make a high-up shelf, like those in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>hardware store down +town," went on Bunny. "I'll have things high up on the shelf, and I'll +climb up on a ladder to get 'em, as they do down town."</p> + +<p>"What you going to climb up on?" Sue asked.</p> + +<p>"The stepladder."</p> + +<p>"What you going to make a high shelf of?" Sue inquired.</p> + +<p>"There's another ironing board down in the laundry," Bunny answered. +"And I can get the washboiler and a lot of things. I'll put the other +ironing board away up there, across the top of the two doors."</p> + +<p>"That'll be awful high," said Sue, looking to where Bunny pointed. The +pantry door and the one leading from the kitchen into the hall were +close together on one side of the room. By opening these doors half way +a board could be placed across their tops, making a high shelf. This was +soon done, and on this shelf the big tin washboiler was placed, and also +some tin pans from the pantry. Bunny climbed up on the stepladder to put +the shelf and things in place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>Other articles for a hardware play-store were placed on the lower +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'ironing-board'">ironing board</ins> shelf, and then Bunny was ready for "Mrs. Snifkins" to +come again. Sue had her button money all ready, the store was in order, +and new fun was about to begin, when Mary, coming suddenly in from the +hall and not knowing what the children were doing, pushed wider open the +hall door.</p> + +<p>Instantly there was a grand crash! Down came the upper shelf from the +tops of the doors. Down came the washboiler and a lot of tin pans. My, +what a racket there was!</p> + +<p>And, worst of all, Bunny Brown himself was hidden from sight in that +mess of ironing board, washboiler, and other things!</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh! Oh!" cried Sister Sue, dropping her basket and her button +money, which rolled all over the floor. "Oh, dear!"</p> + +<p>"Bless and save us!" cried Mary, the cook. "What has happened?"</p> + +<p>Bunny Brown said nothing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS</h3> + + +<p>Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.</p> + +<p>"What has happened?" she asked. "What was that crash?"</p> + +<p>It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had +caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound. On the floor, over and +around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller +board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many +bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.</p> + +<p>"Where's Bunny?" asked Mrs. Brown.</p> + +<p>Well might she ask that, for Sue's brother was not in sight, nor had he +uttered a word since the accident.</p> + +<p>"He—he's under there I—I guess," faltered Sue. She was not quite sure +where Bunny <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>had gone when that terrible crash came.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see his legs! I'll pull him out, Ma'am," offered Mary. "Oh, I +hope nothing has happened to him!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brown hurried to assist Mary in digging Bunny from under the +wreckage of his hardware store. And while they are doing that I will beg +a moment's time from those of you who have never before read any of +these books, to tell you something of the two children who are to have +some queer adventures in this present volume.</p> + +<p>Bunny Brown and his sister Sue are well known to many of you children. +Bunny and his sister lived with their father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. +Walter Brown, in the town of Bellemere, on Sandport Bay, near the ocean. +Mr. Brown kept a boat and fish dock, and one of his helpers was Bunker +Blue, a young man who was very fond of Bunny and Sue.</p> + +<p>In the Brown home were also Uncle Tad, who was Mr. Brown's relative, and +Mary, the good-natured cook. There was also Splash, a big dog. And I +might mention Toby, a Shetland pony. There were other pets to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>whom I +will introduce you from time to time. Toby had been away from the Brown +children for a while, but was now back again.</p> + +<p>In the village were many friends of Bunny and Sue. Mrs. Redden, who kept +a candy store, was a very special sort of friend, and she gave the +biggest penny's worth of sweets for miles around. Mr. Gordon, as I have +told you, kept a real grocery store, and then there was Mr. Jed Winkler, +an old sailor who owned a parrot and a monkey named Wango. Mr. Winkler's +sister, Miss Euphemia, did not like either Polly or Wango.</p> + +<p>Charlie Star, George Watson, Mary Watson, Sadie West, Helen Newton, +Harry Bentley, and fat Bobbie Boomer were all friends of the Brown +children.</p> + +<p>Now that you know the names of most of the characters who are to appear +in this book, I might mention some of the other volumes. The first one +was called "Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue," and told of their +adventures around home. Then they went to Grandpa's farm, they played +circus, they visited Aunt Lu in her city home, they went to "Camp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +Rest-a-While," and then they went to the Big Woods. After that they had +exciting adventures on an auto tour, and you can imagine what joy was +theirs when they were given a Shetland pony, that was named Toby.</p> + +<p>Bunny Brown and his sister were always thinking up new ideas, and when +they wanted to give a show few doubted but what they would succeed. They +did, and made a goodly sum for a home for the blind. One of the trips +the Browns made was to Christmas Tree Cove, and in the book of that name +you will find their adventures set forth. They also made a winter trip +to the South, and they had not long been back from that when the things +happened that I have just told you about—the grand crash in the +make-believe hardware store.</p> + +<p>With the help of Mary and Mrs. Brown, Bunny was pulled from beneath the +wreckage. At first the little boy could hardly speak, and his mother, no +less than Mary and Sue, was beginning to get frightened. But suddenly +with a gasp Bunny found his voice, and his first question was:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did you get hurt, Sue?"</p> + +<p>"No," she answered. "But I guess you did."</p> + +<p>"Only a little crack on the head," Bunny replied, rubbing the place that +hurt. "But who knocked down my high shelf? Did Splash get in and wag his +tail?"</p> + +<p>Sometimes the big dog did this with funny results.</p> + +<p>"I guess I knocked down your shelf, Bunny," said Mary. "I'm sorry, but I +didn't know you had a board on top of the doors."</p> + +<p>"Did you have that, Bunny?" asked his mother.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, I—I guess I did," Bunny had to admit. "It was a high shelf for +our hardware store. I had the washboiler up there!"</p> + +<p>"No wonder there was a crash!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "It's a wonder you +weren't hurt!"</p> + +<p>"I guess the big ironing board fell on the stepladder first, and stayed +there, and the rest of the things didn't hit Bunny because he was under +the board," explained Mary.</p> + +<p>And that is about how it happened. Bunny was under a sort of arch formed +by the step<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>ladder and the two ironing boards, and so was saved from +being hit on the head by the heavy things. One of the overturned chairs, +however, had struck him in the stomach, and this had rather knocked his +breath out, which made him unable to talk for a little while.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad it was no worse than this," said Mrs. Brown. "Mercy +sakes, though, the kitchen is a sight!"</p> + +<p>"I don't mind! I'll clean it up," offered good-natured Mary. "The +children have to play something in the house when it rains out of +doors."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Mrs. Brown. "But they could have kept on playing grocery +store. They didn't need to make a high shelf and put the big washboiler +up on it to fall down when the door was moved the least bit!"</p> + +<p>"I did that," confessed Bunny, anxious that Sue should not be blamed for +what was not her fault. "I didn't know anybody would push the door."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's a mercy it was no worse," remarked his mother. "And now, +after you have helped Mary pick up the things, go on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>with your playing. +Can't you play grocery instead of hardware store, Bunny, my dear?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, hardware store is nicer, and we have all the things now," Bunny +replied. "But I won't make any more high shelves."</p> + +<p>The washboiler, the pans, and the scattered knives and forks were picked +up, and then Bunny and Sue went on playing, using only the low ironing +board shelf, which was made over the seats of two chairs. They took +turns keeping store and doing the buying, and had a great deal of fun.</p> + +<p>But even making believe keep a hardware store gets tiresome after a +while, especially if there are only two playing, and after a while Bunny +Brown and his sister Sue wanted something else to interest them.</p> + +<p>"'Tisn't raining quite so hard now," Sue observed, after a look from the +window.</p> + +<p>"That's right!" cried Bunny. "Oh, say! Maybe we can go out in the barn +and feed our alligators!"</p> + +<p>"That'll be fun," agreed Sue. "And I guess they're hungry; don't you, +Bunny?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess so. Let's go ask mother if we can feed 'em."</p> + +<p>"I know she'll say yes, so I'll get some scraps of meat from Mary," said +Sue.</p> + +<p>As the rain was slackening and as Mrs. Brown knew that the alligators +might need food, she told the children they could go out to the barn if +they put on their rubber boots and coats.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you afraid the alligators will bite you?" asked Mary, as she cut +up some bits of meat for the children.</p> + +<p>"Course not; we aren't afraid!" boasted Bunny. "They're only little +alligators, and they're real tame."</p> + +<p>One of the long-tailed, scaly pets given to the children by Mr. Bunn had +been brought from the South where the Browns spent part of the winter, +and later Mr. Brown had gotten some others. The alligators were kept in +a tank of water in the barn. Bunny and Sue wanted the alligators kept in +the house, but Mrs. Brown insisted that the barn was the place for pets +of that sort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>Out into the rain storm, which was now almost over, went Bunny Brown and +his sister Sue to feed the alligators. There were three or four of the +scaly creatures, and as the children drew near the tank the alligators +came crawling out of the water up on some bits of wood and stone that +made a resting place for them. For alligators cannot stay under water +all the while, as can a fish. They must come out every now and then to +get air.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look at Judy!" cried Sue, dangling a piece of meat in front of the +nose of one of the queer pets. "She's awful hungry!"</p> + +<p>"And so is Jim!" said Bunny, feeding another of the creatures. They +lifted up their long snouts, opened their mouths, and took in the pieces +of meat.</p> + +<p>"Where's Jumbo?" suddenly asked Sue. "I don't see him!"</p> + +<p>"Maybe he got out!" said Bunny, for the largest of the pet alligators +was not in sight. Not that Jumbo was very large, for though he was the +biggest in the tank he was not more than ten inches long.</p> + +<p>"Oh, here he comes!" cried Sue, as Jumbo <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>swam up from the bottom of the +tank. "I guess he was asleep."</p> + +<p>"I guess so," agreed her brother. "Here, Jumbo!" he went on. "Here's +some meat for you!"</p> + +<p>"Jumbo's getting real big," said Sue, as she watched the largest of the +pets.</p> + +<p>"And Judy is growing," added Bunny. "I wish we had had these 'gators +when we gave our show."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed his sister. "Well, maybe we can have another show. Or we +could put the alligators in a store the next time we play."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bunny. "Only maybe you couldn't wrap up a 'gator in a piece +of paper. He might bite his way out."</p> + +<p>"That's so," said Sue. "Well, we could——"</p> + +<p>But she did not finish what she was saying, for a loud barking suddenly +sounded outside the barn. At this noise Bunny and Sue started on a run +for the door.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>SOMETHING IN A DESK</h3> + + +<p>Splash, the dog, was barking loudly at something up in a tree near the +barn. Bunny and Sue could not see what it was, but it was something that +had caused Splash to get very much excited. He leaped up and down and +ran in circles about the tree, barking loudly all the while.</p> + +<p>"It's a cat!" exclaimed Sue.</p> + +<p>"Can't be a cat," Bunny answered. "Splash likes all the cats around +here."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it's a strange cat," went on Sue.</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Bunny Brown. "Here, Splash!" he called. "What you +barking at a cat for?"</p> + +<p>The only answer the dog made was to bark again.</p> + +<p>Bunny and his sister, forgetting all about their pet alligators, ran to +the foot of the tree, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>up in which was something that had caused Splash +to cease his play in another part of the yard and run toward the barn. +The rain had now stopped, and the sun was getting ready to shine.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Splash? What is it?" asked Bunny, trying to peer up among +the leaves of the tree.</p> + +<p>"I see it!" suddenly cried Sue. "It's Wango, Mr. Winkler's pet monkey!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I see it now!" called Bunny. "Here, Splash! Stop barking at +Wango!" ordered the little boy. "Don't you know he's a friend of yours? +Stop it, Splash!"</p> + +<p>Splash finally ceased barking and sat down to look eagerly up into the +tree. He would not have hurt the monkey, for the two animals were good +friends. I suppose Splash had seen the monkey leaping from the branches +of one tree into another, and, not realizing that it was his friend +Wango, had given chase. Wango was a bit frightened at first, even by the +barking of his dog friend Splash, and had taken refuge in the tree near +the barn.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come on down, Wango! Come on down!" invited Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Yes, please do," added Sue. "We won't let Splash hurt you. Don't you +bark any more, Splash!" she cried, shaking her finger at the dog.</p> + +<p>Splash whined. He really only meant to have a little fun with Wango. But +the monkey did not come down. He clung to the tree branch with his hands +and tail and looked at the children, whom he well knew, for they were +kind to him.</p> + +<p>"I know how to get him down," said Bunny. "You go into the house and get +a piece of cake for him, Sue. Take Splash with you. Then Wango won't be +afraid."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed the little girl. She was always ready to run errands +like this when she and Bunny could have fun. "Come on, Splash!" she +called, and the dog followed her, looking back once at Bunny, as if to +ask why the boy, too, was not following. But Bunny stayed near the tree +in which Wango still clung.</p> + +<p>"Mother," cried Sue, tramping into the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>house in her rubber boots, +"please may Bunny and I have some cake for Wango?"</p> + +<p>"You can't go over to Mr. Winkler's in the rain," said Mrs. Brown. +"You'd better stay out in the barn and feed your pet alligators."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but the rain is over," Sue explained. "The sun is coming out. And +Wango isn't over at his own home. He's up in one of our trees. Splash +chased him up there, I guess, and barked at him. And he won't come +down—I mean Wango won't. And will you please keep him in here till I +take him out some cake. I mean," explained Sue, half out of breath, "you +please keep Splash here in the house while I take some cake out to Bunny +to feed Wango to get him down from the tree."</p> + +<p>"My, what a lot of talk for a little girl!" laughed Mrs. Brown. "Well, I +suppose Wango has run away again from Jed. You and Bunny may take the +monkey back. Ask Mary to give you a bit of cake. I'll keep Splash in the +house."</p> + +<p>Sue got the cake, but it was rather difficult for Mrs. Brown to keep the +dog in. He was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>eager to follow Sue back to the tree again. But it would +be hard work to get Wango down, once the monkey was frightened, if +Splash kept on barking, which he was pretty sure to do. He even barked +loudly, Splash did, while he was being held in the house by Mrs. Brown.</p> + +<p>Sue ran out with the cake to Bunny, who was waiting beneath the tree.</p> + +<p>"Is Wango there yet?" the little girl wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Bunny answered. "But he's coming down a little."</p> + +<p>And the monkey came down still farther when he saw the cake, of which he +was very fond. He was soon perched on Bunny's shoulder, eating the +treat, Sue feeding him little pieces one at a time.</p> + +<p>"Let's take him back to Mr. Winkler's house," suggested Bunny, as the +sun now came out bright and warm. "I guess the sailor will be looking +for him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess so," agreed Sue.</p> + +<p>Wango had a great habit of running away from his master's home, and, +more than once, Bunny Brown and his sister Sue had taken <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>back the +sailor's pet. This they now did again, and as they knocked at the side +door, Miss Winkler opened it.</p> + +<p>"Here's your monkey back," said Bunny, after the first greetings.</p> + +<p>"Huh! 'Tisn't <i>my</i> monkey!" declared Miss Winkler. "It's Jed's! I +shouldn't ever worry if it never came home! Still, that isn't saying +it's your fault, Bunny and Sue. I know you mean to be kind, and Jed will +thank you, even if I don't. Wango, you rascal, why don't you stay away +when you run off? I don't want you around! What with the poll +parrot——"</p> + +<p>"Polly wants a cracker! Polly wants a cracker!" shrieked the green bird.</p> + +<p>"A fire cracker's what you ought to have!" sniffed Miss Winkler, who did +not like the two pets her sailor brother had brought back with him from +one of his voyages.</p> + +<p>"Cracker! Cracker! Put the kettle on the fire! Polly wants a cracker!" +yelled the bird, and Wango began to chatter, the two of them making such +a racket that Miss Winkler held her hands over her ears while Bunny and +Sue could not help laughing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Stop it! Stop it!" yelled the maiden lady, and finally the monkey and +the parrot grew quiet.</p> + +<p>"Put Wango in his cage, Sue, if you please," said Miss Winkler. "And +I'll tell Jed, when he comes home, how good you were to bring Wango +back—not that I want the creature, though. Well, it's cleared off, I'm +glad to see. And now maybe you two will have a piece of cake for +yourselves. I won't give Wango any, though!"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, I could eat a bit," said Bunny, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I like it, too," added Sue.</p> + +<p>The children were soon having a lunch of cake and milk. Though Miss +Winkler was a bit fussy over her brother's pets, yet she had a good +heart, and she liked Bunny and Sue.</p> + +<p>Through the little mud puddles, left after the rain, Bunny and Sue +splashed their way back home. Their mother saw them coming, and, as +Splash was making a great fuss at being kept in the house, she let the +dog out. He ran to meet the children.</p> + +<p>"What'll we do now?" asked Bunny, when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>they had told their mother about +taking Wango home.</p> + +<p>"Let's go down and wade in the brook," proposed Sue. "We have our boots +on, and we won't have 'em on to-morrow. We'll have to go to school then, +anyhow. So let's go wade in the brook now."</p> + +<p>"All right!" agreed Bunny. "And we'll sail boats!"</p> + +<p>With their dog, the children were soon splashing in the shallow brook, +made a bit higher on account of the rain. They found some boards and +made a raft, on which they pushed themselves about the wider part of the +brook. Splash climbed on the raft with them, and the children pretended +they were Robinson Crusoe on a voyage.</p> + +<p>"Well, we had a lot of fun to-day," sighed Bunny in contentment, as he +and Sue were going to bed that night. "Lots of fun!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed his sister. "And to-morrow we have to go to school."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," Bunny remarked, "maybe we'll have fun there." The children +had been kept at home on account of the heavy rain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We won't have any fun like the hardware store shelf falling down on +you," laughed Sue, as she remembered the queer accident.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't want anything like that," said Bunny. "Once is enough."</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the children were ready for school. But, almost +at the last minute, Bunny could not find his large pencil box.</p> + +<p>"Where did you have it last?" his mother asked him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I remember! I saw it in the barn!" exclaimed Sue.</p> + +<p>"That's right—we were playing school there day before yesterday," said +Bunny. "I'll get it!"</p> + +<p>He ran to the barn, got the pencil box, thrust it into his bag with his +books, and trotted along with Sue.</p> + +<p>Having to hunt for his pencil box at almost the last moment nearly made +Bunny and Sue late for school. But they slipped into their seats just as +the last bell was ringing. After the morning exercises, Bunny placed his +pencil box and the books he did not need to use right <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>away in his desk +and went to his reading class.</p> + +<p>It was when Bunny was doing his turn at reading up near the front +platform that Sadie West, who sat in the seat next to Bunny, gave a +sudden little cry.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Sadie?" asked Miss Bradley, the teacher.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh, if you please, Teacher, there's something in Bunny Brown's desk +making faces at me!" exclaimed Sadie.</p> + +<p>"Something making faces at you? What do you mean, Sadie?" asked Miss +Bradley in surprise. "What is it?"</p> + +<p>"It—it's a—a mouse!" cried the little girl.</p> + +<p>"A mouse?" repeated the teacher.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm! A mouse in Bunny Brown's desk!" and Sadie screamed.</p> + +<p>At this some of the other children screamed, and there was much noise +and confusion in the schoolroom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE CORNER STORE</h3> + + +<p>"Quiet, children! Quiet!" ordered Miss Bradley. "This is school, not the +playground at recess. Now, Sadie," she went on, as soon as there was a +little quiet in the room, "tell me again, and be careful what you say. +What did you see?"</p> + +<p>"Please, teacher, I saw a mouse in Bunny Brown's desk, and he made a +face at me. I mean the mouse made a face at me—not Bunny!" Sadie made +haste to explain, for she saw Bunny look at her when she made the +statement about his desk and the mouse.</p> + +<p>Sadie had left her seat beside Bunny's desk, and was now up front.</p> + +<p>"How many other girls saw the mouse in Bunny's desk?" asked Miss +Bradley.</p> + +<p>No one answered.</p> + +<p>"Raise your hands if you are afraid to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>speak," said the teacher, with a +smile. She was beginning to believe that Sadie had imagined it all, or +else that an edge of a book had looked like a mouse.</p> + +<p>None of the girls raised her hands except Sadie West.</p> + +<p>"Did any boy see the mouse?" Miss Bradley next asked.</p> + +<p>"No, but I wish I had!" exclaimed Charlie Star. "If I'd see it I'd grab +it!"</p> + +<p>The other pupils giggled on hearing this.</p> + +<p>"Quiet, children! Quiet!" begged the teacher again.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure, Sadie, that you saw a mouse in Bunny Brown's desk?" asked +Miss Bradley.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, I'm sure I did," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Bunny, did you bring a mouse to school?" Miss Bradley next asked. "I +mean a pet mouse, for I know you and Sue have many pets. Did you bring a +mouse to school, Bunny?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Teacher! I wouldn't do such a thing!" Bunny declared very +earnestly.</p> + +<p>"I didn't believe you would," said Miss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> Bradley, with a kind smile. "I +think Sadie must be mistaken. But still, to quiet her—and all of you," +she added, looking at the pupils, "I will look in Bunny's desk. I am +quite sure I will find nothing more than a book or a piece of paper that +may have moved, making Sadie think it was a mouse."</p> + +<p>Miss Bradley went to Bunny's desk. All the desks in the room were of the +sort with a lid that raised up and down on hinges, like the cover of a +box. As Miss Bradley came near Bunny's desk she noticed that the top was +raised a little way, leaving a crack of an opening. Bunny had put one of +his books in hurriedly, and the desk lid rested on this.</p> + +<p>As the teacher raised the desk lid and looked in, the room was very +quiet. Some of the girls almost held their breaths. One of them covered +her eyes with her hands, lest she might, by accident, see the mouse.</p> + +<p>Sadie West leaned forward eagerly, anxious, in a way, that a mouse +should be found, for that would make her story true, and she was sure, +in her own mind, that she had seen a mouse. Bunny, too, looked eagerly +at Miss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> Bradley, and so did Sue, from the other side of the room.</p> + +<p>"Grab a book, everybody!" said Charlie Star in a hoarse whisper to the +other boys. "Grab a book, and if the mouse runs out we'll bang him!"</p> + +<p>Charlie was an active little chap, almost as lively as Bunny Brown +himself.</p> + +<p>Miss Bradley heard what Charlie said and, with the desk lid half raised, +she said:</p> + +<p>"No, boys! No throwing of books, if you please! Should there be a mouse +in the desk I can call the janitor to get it out."</p> + +<p>"Oh, let me get it out!" begged Bunny.</p> + +<p>There was no time to say more, for now Miss Bradley had Bunny's desk lid +fully raised. She looked inside for a moment, then with a queer look on +her face she closed the desk again and moved away.</p> + +<p>"Did you see it, Teacher? Did you see the little mouse—same as I did?" +eagerly asked Sadie.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Miss Bradley. "There isn't a mouse in the desk, but there +is a little alligator!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Alligator!" cried the girls—that is, all but Sue.</p> + +<p>"Alligator!" shouted the boys.</p> + +<p>"Let's see it!" cried Charlie Star.</p> + +<p>"Quiet, children! Quiet!" ordered Miss Bradley. Then, turning to Bunny +she asked: "Did you bring that little alligator to school?"</p> + +<p>"No'm," Bunny answered.</p> + +<p>"Is it yours?" went on Miss Bradley.</p> + +<p>"Well, I have some pet alligators home," Bunny admitted. "Half of 'em's +Sue's. We got one of 'em down South, and Daddy bought the rest. But I +didn't bring any to school. If you let me look I can tell if it's mine +or Sue's."</p> + +<p>"I'll help!" offered Charlie Star. "I know Bunny's alligators, too!"</p> + +<p>"No, let Bunny manage his own pets," said the teacher. "Come here, +Bunny, and see what really is in your desk. I can't understand how an +alligator would get in there if you didn't bring it."</p> + +<p>Bunny opened his desk cover, the other boys wishing they had his chance +to "show off" this way right in the school room. Bunny looked inside and +then laughed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "it's Judy, the littlest alligator. She won't hurt +anybody."</p> + +<p>"But how did it get to school?" asked Miss Bradley.</p> + +<p>"It's in my big pencil box," Bunny answered. "I brought my pencil box to +school this morning, but I didn't open it and——"</p> + +<p>"Teacher! Teacher! I know!" exclaimed Sue, raising her hand to show that +she had something to tell.</p> + +<p>"Well, how did it happen?" asked Miss Bradley.</p> + +<p>"If you please, Teacher," said the little girl, "Bunny's pencil box was +out in the barn where we keep the alligators. He left it there when we +played school the other day. This morning Bunny couldn't find his pencil +box, but it was out in the barn. He brought it in from there and we came +to school."</p> + +<p>"And I guess," said Bunny, finishing the story his sister had started, +"that Judy climbed into my pencil box in the night and went to sleep +there and I didn't see her."</p> + +<p>This seemed to be as good an explanation as any, and was probably the +way it had hap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>pened. Anyhow there was the little alligator in the +pencil box inside Bunny's desk. The scaly creature had crawled in and +then out, and when Bunny went up to recite the little creature had +thrust its snout out beneath the partly raised lid. It was this that +Sadie West had seen and thought was a mouse.</p> + +<p>"Well, Bunny," said Miss Bradley, "I know it wasn't your fault, so we'll +say nothing more about it. Only, after this, please look in your pencil +boxes before you bring them to school."</p> + +<p>"I will," promised Sue's brother.</p> + +<p>"And now I'll excuse you from class while you take your alligator home," +went on Miss Bradley.</p> + +<p>"I can help him, Miss Bradley, if he wants me to," offered Charlie Star. +"I know a lot about alligators."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you," replied the teacher with a smile. "This alligator is so +little I think Bunny can manage it alone. Now we will go on with our +lessons!"</p> + +<p>There was something like a sigh of disappointment among the children. +For they had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>all welcomed the happening, since it gave them a sort of +recess. But now they must pay attention to their books.</p> + +<p>Bunny shut Judy up in his pencil box, as the easiest way of carrying the +little alligator, and soon he was on his way home with his pet.</p> + +<p>"Why, Bunny! what's the matter?" his mother asked, as he came into the +house. "Why are you home?"</p> + +<p>"I had to bring back one of the alligators," he explained.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha!" laughed Uncle Tad. "Like Mary's lamb, the alligator followed +you to school one day, did it, Bunny?"</p> + +<p>"She didn't 'zactly follow me," Bunny explained, as he took his pet out +to the tank in the barn. "I carried Judy in my pencil box, but I didn't +know it."</p> + +<p>Bunny went back to school and finished his lessons. And all the +remainder of the day, when the pupils had a chance to speak, they talked +of nothing but Sadie West, the "mouse" and Bunny's pet alligator. It was +very exciting, all together.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>When Bunny and Sue reached home that afternoon they found their mother +on the steps waiting for them.</p> + +<p>"I'll take your books," she told the children, "and I want you to go to +the store for me. Mary started to bake a cake and found, at the last +moment, she was out of baking powder. I want you to go for a box. You +needn't go all the way to the big store. Stop at the little one on the +corner—Mrs. Golden's, you know. She sometimes has the kind I want. Go +to the corner store and get the baking powder."</p> + +<p>"All right!" exclaimed Bunny, and he and Sue hurried off. They knew +where Mrs. Sarah Golden's little corner store was located—just a few +blocks from their home, much nearer than the big store where Mrs. Brown +generally traded. Bunny and Sue had been in Mrs. Golden's store before, +but not often, as it was rather out of the way, and such a small place +that Mrs. Brown was afraid things would not be as fresh as at the larger +grocery. Besides groceries, Mrs. Golden also kept "notions"—that is, +pins, thread, hooks and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>eyes, and things like that. She also had candy +and a few toys for sale.</p> + +<p>"Her store isn't much bigger than our play store was, is it?" asked +Bunny of Sue, as they reached Mrs. Golden's.</p> + +<p>"Not much," agreed Sue. "Didn't we have fun when we played store?"</p> + +<p>"Lots!" agreed Bunny. "And didn't the boiler make a big racket when it +fell down?"</p> + +<p>He and Sue laughed at remembering this, but their laughs died away as +they entered the little corner store and heard groans coming from behind +one of the counters. Groans and sighs greeted the children as they +opened the door. No one was in sight.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bunny!" exclaimed Sue, frightened, "what you s'pose has happened?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>A NEW PUPIL</h3> + + +<p>Though Bunny Brown and his sister Sue had not often bought things in +Mrs. Golden's store, they knew the woman who kept the place, and she +knew them, for she often called them by name as they passed when she was +out in front. But now Mrs. Golden was not in sight, though the groans +that came from behind one of the counters seemed to tell that she was +there.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bunny, I'm afraid!" whispered Sue, standing in the opened door with +her brother. "Don't let's go in!"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Bunny asked.</p> + +<p>"'Cause maybe burglars have been here and maybe they've hurt Mrs. +Golden!"</p> + +<p>"Well, if they have, then we've got to help her," decided Bunny. "But +burglars don't <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>come in the daytime. They come only at night time."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Sue, growing bolder.</p> + +<p>And then the groans stopped and the voice of an old lady said:</p> + +<p>"Who is there, my dears? Some children, I know by your voices, but I +can't see you. Don't be afraid, but come and help me."</p> + +<p>"Where are you, and what's the matter?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>"I'm down behind the notion counter," went on the voice. "I stepped up +on a box to reach something from the shelf, and I slipped and fell. I'm +not badly hurt, thank goodness, but I'm sort of wedged in here between +the box and the wall, and I can't get up. If you can pull the box out +I'll be all right."</p> + +<p>"We'll do that!" cried Bunny, and he ran around behind the notion +counter, on the side of the store where the needles, pins, and spools of +thread were kept. Sue followed her brother.</p> + +<p>There, just as Mrs. Golden had said, they found the old lady +storekeeper. She was lying on the floor with a small packing box so +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>wedged between her back and the side wall that she could not easily get +up, especially as she was old and feeble.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's Bunny Brown and his sister Sue!" exclaimed Mrs. Golden, when +she saw the children. "I'm so glad you came in! I was hoping some one +would come in to help me. The breath was sort of knocked out of me when +I fell, and I could only grunt and groan for a few minutes."</p> + +<p>"We heard you," said Bunny.</p> + +<p>"And I thought it was burglars," added Sue.</p> + +<p>"Bless your hearts!" exclaimed Mrs. Golden. "Burglars wouldn't come to +my poor, little store. Now just pull the box out and I'll be all right."</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue tugged at the box on which Mrs. Golden had been standing +when she slipped and fell. It was hard work, but they managed to pull it +out, and then Mrs. Golden, with a few more grunts and groans, could get +up.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my poor back!" she exclaimed, as she sank into a chair outside the +counter.</p> + +<p>"Is it broken?" asked Sue anxiously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, not quite," was the answer, with a little smile. "But it's +strained, and I expect I'll be lame for a while. Philip always told me +not to stand up on things to reach the top shelves, and I guess he was +right."</p> + +<p>"Who is Philip?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Philip is my son," was the answer. "He's a grown man, and he has to go +off to work every day, though he helps me in the store as much as he +can. I wouldn't want him to know I fell. It would only worry him, and he +might make me give up my store. And I don't want to do that. I'm feeling +better now. I'll be all right in a little while. Did you want something, +my dears?" she asked, for she must not forget that she was a +storekeeper.</p> + +<p>"We wanted some baking powder," said Sue. "But we aren't in any hurry."</p> + +<p>"We are in a <i>little</i> hurry," said Bunny. "'Cause Mary's got a cake +partly made, but maybe——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have baking powder," said Mrs. Golden quickly. "And I'll be glad +to sell it to you. If I sold more things I'd make more money. Let me see +now; I'm feeling sort of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>queer in my head on account of my tumble, but +baking powder—oh, it's on one of the high shelves. I—I'm almost afraid +to reach up for it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, let me get it!" eagerly begged Bunny. "I like to climb up. I'd like +to get it! I like to keep store!"</p> + +<p>"So do I!" added Sue. "We played store the other day, and a lot of +things fell down when Mary closed the door. We had a high shelf, too."</p> + +<p>"Yes, one needs high shelves in a store," said Mrs. Golden. "But, Bunny, +do you think you can reach up and get the baking powder?" she asked. "I +can point it out to you."</p> + +<p>"Sure, I can get it!" declared the little boy. "I'd love to."</p> + +<p>"We don't want you to fall again," said Sue.</p> + +<p>"That's very kind of you," replied Mrs. Golden. "Well, the baking powder +is on the other side of my store—the grocery side. There it is," and +with a bent and trembling finger she pointed out the tin boxes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's an easy climb!" exclaimed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> Bunny, and he soon proved that it +was by clambering up and getting the box of baking powder he wanted. +Then he paid for it.</p> + +<p>The children asked Mrs. Golden if they could help her further. She said +she was feeling better and would soon be all right.</p> + +<p>"But don't climb up any more," warned Sue.</p> + +<p>"That's right," echoed Bunny. "Maybe we could help you tend store, Mrs. +Golden. I'm a good climber."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Bunny, I notice you are," said the old lady, with a smile. "And it +is very kind of you, but you see I never could tell when some one might +come in and want something from a high shelf. Unless you stayed here all +the while it wouldn't be of much use."</p> + +<p>"No, that's so," the little boy admitted. "I'd like to stay here all the +while, though. I like to keep store!"</p> + +<p>"So do I," added Sue.</p> + +<p>"But children must go to school," said Mrs. Golden, with a smile. "I'll +have to get my son Philip to put all the things on low shelves, I guess. +Then I can reach them without climb<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>ing up. Run along now, Bunny and +Sue. Your mother will be waiting for that baking powder."</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue told their mother what had happened at the store.</p> + +<p>"Poor old lady!" sighed Mrs. Brown. "She is very poor, I'm afraid. We +must buy more of our things there, Mary. It will be a help to her."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, it will," agreed the cook. "I often stop there when I want +something in a hurry. She and her son are honest and hard-working."</p> + +<p>"And I worked, too!" said Bunny. "I helped her tend store. I climbed up +and got the baking powder."</p> + +<p>"That was kind of you. But you, too, must be careful, son," his mother +told him.</p> + +<p>On their way to school the next day Bunny and Sue went past Mrs. +Golden's store to ask how she was. They found her smiling and cheerful, +little the worse for her tumble.</p> + +<p>"My son Philip is going to make me some lower shelves," she said.</p> + +<p>"Then I can help reach things down for you," exclaimed Sue, with a +smile.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, dearie," murmured Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be fun if we had a little store like that?" said Sue to +Bunny, as they hurried along, to school. "I mean a real store, with real +things to sell, and we could take in real money."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it would be lots of fun!" agreed Bunny. "But I don't s'pose it +will ever happen."</p> + +<p>However, something very like that was to happen, almost before the +children knew it.</p> + +<p>"Yes," went on Bunny, when they had almost reached the school, "it would +be dandy to have a store like Mrs. Golden's!"</p> + +<p>"Maybe you will have some day—when you grow up," replied Sue.</p> + +<p>"That's a long way <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'of'">off</ins>," sighed Bunny, as he looked down at his little, +short legs.</p> + +<p>There was nothing to disturb the school classes that morning. No pet +alligators were found in the desk of Bunny or any of the other pupils, +and neither Sadie West nor any of the other girls thought she saw a +mouse.</p> + +<p>However, something happened in the afternoon. It was a warm day, early +in summer, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>though the long vacation had not yet come. The windows were +open and the bright sun streamed in.</p> + +<p>After a period of study Miss Bradley called the first class in spelling. +Bunny and Sue were in this division, and they went up to the front seats +where Miss Bradley heard all recitations.</p> + +<p>"Sadie West, please spell church," called Miss Bradley. Sadie spelled +the word right.</p> + +<p>"Sue Brown, please spell horse," called the teacher, and Sue did not +make a miss.</p> + +<p>"Now, Bunny, it is your turn," said the teacher, with a smile. "Your +word is cracker."</p> + +<p>Bunny paused a moment.</p> + +<p>"C—r—a——" he began.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly, sounding throughout the school room, a harsh voice cried:</p> + +<p>"Cracker! Cracker! Give me a cracker!"</p> + +<p>Miss Bradley hurriedly stood up beside her chair. What pupil had thus +dared to speak aloud in school?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>A BUSY BUZZER</h3> + + +<p>Bunny, Sue and the other children were just as much surprised as was +Miss Bradley when that strange, harsh voice called out. And it needed +but a look at the faces of her pupils to show the teacher that none of +them had broken one of the rules of the classroom.</p> + +<p>Bunny still held his mouth open, for he was half way through the +spelling of the word "cracker." He was about to keep on, when once more +the voice called:</p> + +<p>"Cracker! Cracker! Polly wants a cracker!"</p> + +<p>The sound came from the cloak closet on one side of the classroom.</p> + +<p>"It's a parrot!" cried Charlie Star. "A poll parrot!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I believe it is," said Miss Bradley.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You didn't bring a parrot to school to-day, did you, Bunny?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Ma'am!" he exclaimed, so earnestly that of course Miss Bradley +believed him.</p> + +<p>"But I know whose parrot it is," said Sue, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Whose?" asked the teacher.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Winkler's! He's got a parrot and a monkey. They're always getting +loose. Maybe the monkey's in the cloakroom, too, only the monkey can't +talk like Polly," went on Sue.</p> + +<p>"Keep your seats, children!" said Miss Bradley. "I'll look in the +cloakroom. There is no need to be excited. A parrot will hurt no one, +nor a monkey, either. Keep your seats!"</p> + +<p>As she opened the cloakroom door the harsh voice again sounded more +loudly than before.</p> + +<p>"Bow! Wow! Wow!" it barked. "Cracker! Cracker! Polly wants a cracker! +Let's have a song! Ha! Ha! Ha!"</p> + +<p>Then it began what I suppose the bird thought was singing.</p> + +<p>The children laughed, and so did the teacher.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>Out of the cloakroom flew the parrot, fluttering up on the teacher's +desk. There it perched, preening its feathers with its big beak and +thick, black tongue, now and then uttering harsh squawks and making +remarks, some of which could not be understood.</p> + +<p>"Is this the parrot you meant, Sue?" asked Miss Bradley.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, that's Mr. Winkler's," answered Sue. "I can take it back to him +if you want me to. Polly knows me."</p> + +<p>"And he knows me, too!" exclaimed Bunny.</p> + +<p>"And me!" eagerly added Charlie Star. "Let me and Bunny take him home, +please?" he begged.</p> + +<p>"Is that the way to say it?" remarked the teacher, for the room was more +quiet now. "What should you have said, Charlie?"</p> + +<p>"Let Bunny and me," corrected Charlie.</p> + +<p>"That's right. Always speak of yourself last. It is more polite. Well, I +think you and Bunny may take the parrot back to Mr. Winkler," went on +the teacher. "Certainly we don't want him in our class, though he seems +a bright bird."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You ought to see Wango, the monkey, climb!" cried fat Bobbie Boomer, +and all the other children laughed. "He's great!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I think a parrot is enough for one day," remarked Miss Bradley, +with a smile. "Take Polly home, Bunny and Charlie."</p> + +<p>"Just see, Teacher, he's tame and he knows me," Bunny said, stroking +Polly's head, a caress the parrot seemed to like. Polly perched herself +on Bunny's shoulder, and then he and Charlie went out, envied by the +other pupils.</p> + +<p>"Oh that bird! Out again!" cried Miss Winkler, when Polly was restored +to her. "I declare, I'll make Jed get rid of her and Wango! They're more +bother than they're worth!"</p> + +<p>"I'll take 'em if you don't want 'em!" offered Charlie Star.</p> + +<p>"So will I!" said Bunny.</p> + +<p>But as Miss Winkler usually made this threat three or four times a week +(or every time the monkey or parrot got loose), and as Mr. Winkler had +never yet given them away, it did not seem likely that he would do so +now.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> So Bunny and Charlie had small hopes of owning either pet.</p> + +<p>The boys went back to school, passing, on their way, the store of Mrs. +Golden.</p> + +<p>"Let's go in," suggested Charlie. "I want to buy a top!"</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Bnnny'">Bunny</ins>.</p> + +<p>"Well, boys, what can I sell you to-day?" asked Mrs. Golden, coming out +from the little back room where she generally sat when there were no +customers to wait on.</p> + +<p>"Got any tops?" asked Charlie.</p> + +<p>"A few," Mrs. Golden answered, "but not many. I'm going to have a new +lot in next week. Good day, Bunny," she went on. "Did your mother like +that baking powder?"</p> + +<p>"I guess so," Bunny answered. Then he and Charlie began looking at the +tops. But the kind Charlie wanted was not in the case, and after looking +at several Charlie decided not to buy any.</p> + +<p>"Here's a tin automobile I'm selling cheap," said Mrs. Golden, taking a +red toy out from another case. "It's the last one I have, and I'll sell +it to you for what it cost me—twenty-five <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>cents. The regular price +would be fifty cents. See, I'll wind it up for you."</p> + +<p>This she did, setting it down on the floor. With a whizz and a buzz the +auto darted across the store, bringing up with a bang against the low +part of the opposite counter.</p> + +<p>"Say, that's a dandy!" exclaimed Charlie. "I'd like to own that!"</p> + +<p>"So would I!" agreed Bunny. "Only I haven't twenty-five cents."</p> + +<p>"I have!" Charlie said. "I was going to spend only ten cents for a top, +but I guess I'll buy this buzzer auto for a quarter."</p> + +<p>"It's in good order," said Mrs. Golden. "I'm not going to keep such +expensive toys after this. I'm getting too old to run a toy store as +well as groceries and notions. I'm giving up most of my toys. But this +is a good auto, Charlie."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, I'll take it," said the little boy, and he bought the auto.</p> + +<p>"You can't take it to school with you," said Bunny, as he and his chum +left Mrs. Golden's store.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can," answered Charlie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If teacher sees it she'll take it away."</p> + +<p>"Well, she won't see it. I can put it in my coat pocket." This Charlie +did, after a struggle, for the pocket was rather small and the toy auto +rather large.</p> + +<p>"It sticks out and shows," Bunny said, after the toy had been crowded +in.</p> + +<p>"I'll stuff my handkerchief over it," Charlie decided, and this was +done.</p> + +<p>Then the two boys went on to school, arriving just as it was time for +recess, so they did not have to go back to their lessons right away.</p> + +<p>"And I didn't have to spell!" laughed Bunny. "Though I did know how to +spell cracker."</p> + +<p>"Come on!" called Charlie. "We'll have some fun with my new auto! I'll +let it run around the yard."</p> + +<p>This he did to the delight of the other boys. As for the girls, they +gathered on the other side of the school yard for their own particular +recess fun.</p> + +<p>Sue, Mary Watson, Sadie West, Helen Newton and some others raced about, +playing tag and jumping rope.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I know what we can do!" suddenly cried Helen, when they were all +tired from having romped about playing tag.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"Let's go down to the end of the yard where the men are digging, and see +how big the hole is," suggested Helen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, teacher said we mustn't!" exclaimed Sadie.</p> + +<p>"Well, we won't go very close," went on Helen. "She just told us to be +careful not to fall in. But if we don't go too close we can't fall in."</p> + +<p>This seemed a safe way of looking at it, and the girls were curious to +see what the workmen had done at the far end of the school yard. The +laborers had been digging for some days, fixing water pipes, and had +made a deep trench, so deep that when a man stood down in it only his +head showed above.</p> + +<p>Just now none of the men was near the hole, all having gone away to get +other tools, and as the boys were busy playing at the other end of the +yard, or watching Charlie's auto, the girls could explore the digging by +themselves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's nothing but a hole!" said Sue, in some disappointment, as they +approached as near as they dared and looked in.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to go down in it!" exclaimed Helen, who was rather daring.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Sue. "Come back! Don't go too close!"</p> + +<p>But Helen did not heed. She went up to the very edge of the long, deep +trench, and was looking in when suddenly her feet slipped out from under +her, and down she went, sliding right into the hole!</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" screamed the other girls, and in such excited voices that Miss +Bradley came running out of the classroom and the boys crowded down to +the end of the yard.</p> + +<p>"What has happened?" asked the teacher.</p> + +<p>"Helen Newton fell into the big hole!" cried Sadie West.</p> + +<p>"Did the dirt cave in on her?" asked Miss Bradley.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, it had not. The walls of the trench were firm and solid, +and the only thing that had happened was that Helen was down <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>in the +deep trench, and could not get up by herself. She was crying now.</p> + +<p>"Don't cry," said Miss Bradley. "You're all right. We'll soon get you +out. Now you other boys and girls keep back from the edges, or you'll +cause the sides to cave in and they'll cover Helen! Keep back, Bunny, +Sue, every one!"</p> + +<p>This was good advice, and as the other children moved back away from the +trench there was less danger. Miss Bradley was just going to send one of +the boys to call the janitor when two workmen came back. They broke into +a run as they saw the crowd about their digging place, for they had told +the teacher to keep the children away from it.</p> + +<p>"There's been an accident!" said one man.</p> + +<p>But it was not so bad as he feared, and he and his companion soon lifted +Helen out on solid ground again, a rather frightened little girl, but +not in the least hurt.</p> + +<p>"I told you to stay away from that hole!" said Miss Bradley, rather +severely. "I was afraid something like this might happen. It is +fortunate it was no worse. Who started it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a moment's pause, and then Helen raised her hand. She had been +crying.</p> + +<p>"If—if you please, Teacher, I went there first," she stammered.</p> + +<p>"Well, I think your fright has been punishment enough for you," said +Miss Bradley kindly, "and we will say nothing more about it. But if any +of you go near that hole again he or she will be kept in after school. +It isn't that I mind your seeing what the workmen are doing, it is just +that it would be dangerous for even grown folks to go too near the edge +of the trench, and much more so for you little folk. So keep away from +the hole. I hope the pipes will be in this week, and the hole closed up. +Now do you all promise to keep away?" she asked. "Raise your hands!"</p> + +<p>Every hand went up, for the boys and girls were fond of their teacher +and did not want to cause her worry.</p> + +<p>It was a solemn moment, for they all felt that something dreadful might +have happened to Helen had the dirt caved in on her.</p> + +<p>"Hands down," said Miss Bradley, and down they went.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>Just then the bell rang. Recess was over, and the lines of boys and +girls marched into the schoolhouse once again.</p> + +<p>Charlie Star reached for his handkerchief, which he had again stuffed +over his toy automobile after he had crowded that toy into his pocket +when going back into school after recess. As he pulled out his +handkerchief the auto came with it and fell to the floor.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a strange buzzing sound in the room. Neither the +teacher nor the girls knew what it was, but Bunny and the boys knew it +was Charlie Star's new toy automobile which he had bought from Mrs. +Golden.</p> + +<p>With a buzz the busy auto ran from Charlie's desk straight down the +aisle toward Miss Bradley, who was standing in front of her platform.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE BARN STORE</h3> + + +<p>For a second or two Miss Bradley seemed to pay no attention to the +buzzing sound which Bunny, Charlie, and some of the other pupils heard +only too plainly. The teacher was busy thinking whether she had done +enough talking to make sure her boys and girls would not again go near +the deep hole in the school yard.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't want any of them to get hurt," thought Miss Bradley. "I had +better scare them a little now than have any of them harmed the least +bit."</p> + +<p>She was thinking what else she might say, to impress on the pupils the +danger of the hole, when she seemed to hear, for the first time, the +buzzing of Charlie's auto.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Miss Bradley.</p> + +<p>No one answered, except that, here and there in the room, a boy or girl +snickered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was one queer thing about Charlie's new toy auto. It made a great +deal of buzzing as the wheels whirred around when the wound-up spring +made them do this, but the machine itself did not go very fast. It +seemed to make a great fuss about getting anywhere, but it took its own +time in doing it.</p> + +<p>This was the reason why the auto, though it had been pulled out of +Charlie's pocket with his handkerchief and had fallen into the aisle +down which it ran, did not very soon get where Miss Bradley could see +it. She could hear the buzzing sound, but she did not know what it was.</p> + +<p>"Who is making that noise?" she asked again.</p> + +<p>No one answered, for, truth to tell, neither a boy nor a girl in the +room was causing the noise; though of course Charlie was to blame, in a +way.</p> + +<p>Miss Bradley was looking over the room, into the faces of her pupils. +The buzzing sound kept up. It seemed to be coming nearer and nearer. The +windows were open, and she thought a bee or a wasp might have flown in.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +But it would be a very large wasp or bee, indeed, which would make so +loud a buzzing sound as this.</p> + +<p>"Children——" began Miss Bradley, and then she suddenly stopped, for +something struck her on the foot. And it was right near her foot that +the buzzing noise sounded. But as she had walked a little way down from +her platform, and her foot was partly under the first desk—that of fat +Bobbie Boomer—Miss Bradley could not see what had struck her.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she cried, as she jumped back, rather startled.</p> + +<p>Charlie Star and Bunny Brown could not help laughing right out loud. +They knew what had caused all this excitement.</p> + +<p>A moment later Miss Bradley knew also. For Charlie's buzzing auto, +having struck her foot, turned aside and rolled out on the floor in +front of her teaching platform, in plain sight. There the little red toy +came to a stop, for its spring was fully unwound.</p> + +<p>Charlie and Bunny stopped their laughing suddenly as the teacher looked +down at them.</p> + +<p>"Whose is this?" asked Miss Bradley, in a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>voice she hardly ever used in +the classroom, for her pupils were generally very orderly. "Who owns +this automobile?" she asked, sternly.</p> + +<p>Timidly Charlie Star raised his hand.</p> + +<p>"If you please, Teacher, it's mine," he said. And such a weak little +voice as it was! Not at all like the loud, hearty tones Charlie used +when he called to Bunny, "first shot agates!"</p> + +<p>Miss Bradley stooped over and picked up the toy. She placed it on her +desk, and then, turning to face the children, she said:</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry about this. I thought, after what had happened to +Helen, that you were going to settle down and study your lessons. Why +did you bring this auto to school, Charlie? And why did you take it +out?"</p> + +<p>Charlie was silent a moment, and then he answered, saying:</p> + +<p>"I—I didn't exactly take it out, Miss Bradley. It came out when I took +out my handkerchief. I—I didn't mean to do it."</p> + +<p>"Very well then, you didn't," the teacher agreed, with a little smile, +for she knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> Charlie was telling the truth. "But why did you bring the +auto to school at all?"</p> + +<p>Then Charlie told of having bought the toy that morning, on his way to +school with Bunny Brown.</p> + +<p>"I didn't have time to go home with it after I bought it," he said, "so +I put it in my pocket. We played with it at recess, and I forgot and +wound it up and stuck it in my pocket. I didn't mean to let it get out +and run down the aisle."</p> + +<p>Miss Bradley wanted to smile, but she knew it would not be just the +thing to do. So she said:</p> + +<p>"Well, Charlie, I will excuse you this time. But please don't bring any +more toys into the schoolroom. And now, as we have lost much time from +our lessons, we must study extra hard to make it up. Come to me after +school, Charlie, and I'll give you back your auto."</p> + +<p>Miss Bradley put the toy in her desk for safe keeping, and went on with +the lessons. But it was rather hard for the pupils to get their minds +back on their studies, because so much had happened that day from the +time <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>the parrot had screeched "Cracker! Cracker!" in the cloakroom +until Charlie's auto fell out of his pocket and went buzzing down the +aisle to bang into the teacher's foot.</p> + +<p>However, the day came to an end at last, and then, talking and laughing, +the boys and girls ran out of doors. Charlie stayed after the others, +and walked shyly up to the desk at which Miss Bradley sat, looking over +some examination papers. The room was very still and quiet after the +noise and excitement of the children's outgoing.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Charlie. What is it?" asked Miss Bradley, as she saw him standing +near her desk.</p> + +<p>"If you please—my auto——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," and she opened her desk and handed it to him. "It is a cute +little toy," and she smiled at Charlie.</p> + +<p>"You ought to see it go!" he exclaimed eagerly, for Miss Bradley was +really a friend to her pupils, and she knew how to make kites and spin +tops almost as good as a boy.</p> + +<p>"Here! I'll show you!" Charlie went on. "It's a dandy!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>Quickly he wound up the auto and set it down on the floor. The wheels +buzzed and the little red car spun across the schoolroom floor.</p> + +<p>Bunny Brown and George Watson, waiting outside for Charlie, wondered +what was keeping their chum. They knew he had stayed in to get his +plaything.</p> + +<p>"Maybe she's going to make him stay in half an hour," suggested George.</p> + +<p>"She didn't say she was," replied Bunny. "But maybe she's giving him +a—a leshure." What Bunny meant was lecture.</p> + +<p>"Let's look in," suggested George.</p> + +<p>On tiptoes they went to a window whence they could see into the room. +There they saw Miss Bradley winding up Charlie's auto, and they heard +Charlie saying:</p> + +<p>"You try it now, Miss Bradley! See how nice it runs!"</p> + +<p>And as the surprised watchers looked on, their teacher started the toy +across the floor as Charlie had done. For, following the first showing +of his plaything, Charlie had offered to let his teacher wind it, and +she had agreed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, it is a cute toy," said the teacher, as the auto banged into a +side wall and stopped. "But we mustn't play with it in school hours."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no'm!" agreed Charlie, and then he hurried outside, where Bunny and +George were waiting for him.</p> + +<p>"Say, you ought to see!" exclaimed Charlie, half breathless. "She ran +the auto herself!"</p> + +<p>"We saw her," said Bunny.</p> + +<p>"She's a dandy teacher all right!" declared George.</p> + +<p>One Saturday morning Bunny and Sue came downstairs to breakfast at the +same hour as on other days. Usually this did not happen, for on +Saturdays they were allowed to remain in bed a little longer than on +days when they had to go to school.</p> + +<p>"Well, what does this mean?" asked Uncle Tad, who was finishing his meal +and reading the paper at the same time. "This is Saturday, isn't it? +Unless I have on the wrong glasses!" he added, as he looked at the +calendar on the wall.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's Saturday," said Bunny.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then why are you up so early?" asked Uncle Tad.</p> + +<p>"'Cause a lot of the boys and girls are coming over, and we're going to +play store out in our barn," explained Sue. "You can come and buy +something if you want to, Uncle Tad."</p> + +<p>"Thanks! Maybe I will!" chuckled the old soldier. "Are you going to sell +any inside outside cocoanuts flavored with saltmint?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"What are those?" Bunny inquired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's only joking!" declared Sue, as she saw a twinkle in the eyes +of Uncle Tad. And of course he was joking.</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe I'll look in and see what you do have to sell in your barn +store," he said, as he left the table.</p> + +<p>Bunny Brown and his sister Sue were not long in finishing their +breakfast, and then they hurried out to the barn where they were to keep +store. Bunny and Sue had found some boards and boxes out there which +would make fine shelves for a pretend store.</p> + +<p>"We'll put the shelves up before the others get here," said Bunny.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," she agreed. "But what kind of store are you going to play? Are +you going to have washboilers and tin pans?"</p> + +<p>"No, I guess not," said Bunny, after thinking about it a moment. "We'll +keep a store like Mrs. Golden's."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that will be nice," agreed Sue. "Here, Splash!" she cried. "Get +out of there! That box isn't for you to sleep in!" For the big dog had +crawled into one of the boxes that were to form the store shelves. +Splash was curling up most comfortably.</p> + +<p>"We'll use him for a delivery dog," said Bunny. "We'll tie a basket on +his neck and he can take the groceries and things to different places."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be fun!" laughed Sue, clapping her hands. "Here comes +Helen!" she cried a moment later, and then, with joyous shouts and +laughter, a number of children came <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'runing'">running</ins> into the Brown yard, ready +to play barn store.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>IN A HOLE</h3> + + +<p>"What things are you going to sell?"</p> + +<p>"Who's going to tend store?"</p> + +<p>"I want to be cashier!"</p> + +<p>These were some of the things the boys and girls shouted as they ran +into the barn where Bunny Brown and his sister Sue were waiting for them +to play store. Charlie Star, Helen Newton, fat Bobbie Boomer, Harry +Bentley, George and Mary Watson and Sadie West were among the boys and +girls who came crowding into the barn, for the day before Bunny and his +sister had invited them to spend Saturday in having fun.</p> + +<p>"We'll take turns tending store," explained Bunny, after he had shown +his playmates the shelves and boxes that were to be used for shelves.</p> + +<p>"And we're going to have our dog Splash <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>deliver things with a basket on +his neck," explained Sue.</p> + +<p>"I should think it would be more fun to hitch up your pony Toby to the +basket cart and have him to deliver things," remarked Helen.</p> + +<p>"We thought of that," replied Bunny. "But Bunker Blue has taken Toby +down to the boat dock. He has to do some errands for my father, so we +can't have Toby."</p> + +<p>As Bunny and his sister had played this game more than the others, they +were allowed to lay out the plans. Bunny showed the boys how the boards +were to be put across the boxes to make shelves, and Sue took the girls +down to the brook to gather little pebbles and the shells of fresh water +mussels which were to be used for money, as there were going to be so +many "customers" for the barn store that Mrs. Brown's buttons would not +be enough to make change.</p> + +<p>"What things are we going to sell?" asked Charlie, as he began pulling +something from his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll get stones, sand, gravel, some <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>leaves, pieces of bark, +twigs, and things like that," Bunny explained. "But what you got in your +pocket, Charlie?"</p> + +<p>"My wind-up auto. I thought maybe we could use it in the store."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it could be like a cash register. You see," Charlie went on, +"somebody's got to be the cashier just as in a big store. We'll have +different clerks, and when anybody buys anything they must pay the money +to whoever is clerk."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Bunny, who understood thus far.</p> + +<p>"Then," went on Charlie, "the clerk must put the money the customer pays +into my auto, and send it on a plank up to the cashier's desk. The +cashier will make change and send it back in the auto."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that'll be great!" cried Bunny. "And I guess you ought to be the +cashier for thinking it up, Charlie."</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe I ought, 'cause it's my auto," Charlie said. He had been +hoping for this all along. "Now I'll make myself a place to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>be +cashier," he went on, "and I'll fix up a long plank for the auto to run +back and forth on. One winding will bring it up to me and back to the +clerk."</p> + +<p>When the other children heard this plan they were much delighted. Soon +the store was ready for business. Boards had been placed across the +boxes and a tier of shelves made, the top one so high that a long box +had to be used like a <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'step-ladder'">stepladder</ins> to reach it. On the shelves were placed +different things picked up around the barn, in the yard, and in the +patch of woods not far away, or brought from the shore of the brook.</p> + +<p>Then the boys and girls divided themselves up, some were to be customers +to buy things in the store, while others were to be clerks to wait on +the customers. Charlie took his place at the end of the tier of shelves +to act as cashier. From the end of the shelves to his box ran a long +narrow plank on which the auto change-carrier was to run.</p> + +<p>Finally everything was ready, even to torn pieces of newspaper in which +the things bought were to be wrapped. Splash was on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>hand with a basket +tied to his neck to deliver the goods. And each customer had picked out +a certain part of the barn as his or her "home" where the things were to +be delivered.</p> + +<p>"All ready!" called Bunny Brown. He and Sue were to be clerks in the +store at first; afterward they would take a turn at being customers.</p> + +<p>"I want a pound of sugar!" ordered Sadie West, coming up to Bunny, +standing behind his part of the front counter.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ma'am. A pound of sugar!" repeated Bunny, scooping up some sand in +a clam shell. "Nice day, isn't it—Mrs. er—Mrs.——"</p> + +<p>"Snyder is my name," said Sadie. "I'm Mrs. Snyder and I live at 756 +Oatbin Avenue," she added, as she looked toward the part of the barn she +had picked out for her "house." It was near Toby's oat bin.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ma'am," answered Bunny. "I'll send it right over to Oatbin +Avenue."</p> + +<p>He wrapped up the sand-sugar in a piece of paper and took the black +mussel shell which Sadie handed him as her "five-dollar bill."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> Bunny +placed the shell in the automobile, and started it up the plank to where +Charlie waited. Taking out the large shell, Charlie put in two smaller +ones and a white stone. This was "change."</p> + +<p>Back whizzed the auto down the plank until it reached Bunny, who took +out the "change" and handed it to "Mrs. Snyder."</p> + +<p>"Please send my sugar right over," she ordered.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ma'am, it will go on the first delivery," Bunny answered, as he +had heard Mr. Gordon, the real grocer, often say.</p> + +<p>"Here, Splash!" called Bunny, and his dog, with the basket on his neck, +came running up, wagging his tail.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look out!" cried Sue, who was acting as a clerk next to Bunny.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" Bunny asked.</p> + +<p>"Splash is wagging his tail so hard that he'll knock down my eggs!" +complained Sue.</p> + +<p>Of course the "eggs" were only pine cones from the woods near by, but +when you are playing store you must pretend everything is real, or else +it isn't any fun.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Keep your tail still, Splash!" cried Bunny. But the dog seemed only to +wag it the harder.</p> + +<p>Splash might have knocked down all the "eggs" and done other damage in +the store had not Bunny placed Mrs. Snyder's sugar in the basket and +sent his pet to deliver the make-believe sweet stuff.</p> + +<p>And Splash delivered it very carefully, too. Sadie had gone back to her +home at "756 Oatbin Avenue" to wait for her sugar, and when it came she +took it from the basket on Splash's neck. Then the dog went back to the +barn store to run on more delivery errands.</p> + +<p>This was a sample of the way Bunny, Sue, and their friends played that +Saturday morning. Now and then they would change about, some who had +been clerks becoming customers and the customers clerks.</p> + +<p>Of course accidents happened. Splash wagged his tail so hard that he +knocked over a box of prunes, scattering them on the barn floor. Even if +the prunes were only little black stones it wasn't just the thing for +Splash to do, and Sue scolded him for it. But Splash didn't seem to +mind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>Another time, when the dog had been sent to deliver some ice-cream +(which was really some white sand from the brook) to Mrs. Leland Sayre, +who lived at 1056 Straw Terrace (Mrs. Sayre being Mary Watson), an +accident happened. Splash was on his way to Mrs. Sayre's home when he +heard another dog barking outside the barn.</p> + +<p>With a bark of greeting Splash dashed out, spilling the "ice-cream" all +over the barn floor.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! And I wanted it for a party!" said Mrs. Sayre.</p> + +<p>But of course it was all in fun.</p> + +<p>More than once the change auto ran off the plank, either on its way to +the cashier or coming back, and spilled the money all over the barn +floor. But that could not be helped.</p> + +<p>"Only it isn't good for my auto," said Charlie.</p> + +<p>"We'll put some straw down on the floor so when it falls it won't get +bent," said Bunny, and this was done.</p> + +<p>All morning the children played store in the barn, selling the things +over and over <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>again. Splash got tired of being a delivery dog after a +while, and Bobbie Boomer said he'd take his place. Bobbie was more to be +depended on than Splash, who, try as he did, would sometimes deliver +things to the wrong houses.</p> + +<p>When noon came the neighboring children were talking of going home to +lunch, but Mrs. Brown gave them all a pleasant surprise, including Bunny +and Sue, by asking all the boys and girls to remain and have something +to eat, served in the barn.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what fun!" cried Sadie West.</p> + +<p>"The best ever!" declared Charlie Star. "I'm glad I came!"</p> + +<p>Lunch over, the playing of store went on again, until first one and then +another began to tire, and it was given up. Then they put away the +planks and boxes and played tag and hide and seek until it was time for +supper, when the boys and girls went home.</p> + +<p>"We've had a lovely time!" they said to Bunny and Sue.</p> + +<p>Just before supper Mrs. Brown needed something from the store.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll go get it," offered Bunny. "I'll get it at Mrs. Golden's."</p> + +<p>"I'll go with you," said Sue, and soon they were at the little corner +grocery.</p> + +<p>"How are you to-day, Mrs. Golden?" asked Bunny, as the old woman was +getting the yeast cake he had been sent for.</p> + +<p>"Oh, pretty well," she answered, with a cheery smile on her kind but +wrinkled face. "I'd like it if I wasn't so stiff, but then we can't have +all we want in this world."</p> + +<p>"We played store in our barn to-day," said Sue, looking around at the +various shelves filled with many articles.</p> + +<p>"Did you, dearie? That was nice. I guess it's easier to play store than +it is to keep one really," said Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'd like to keep store!" declared Bunny Brown. "Only, how do you +remember where everything is?" he asked. "There's such a lot of stuff!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is," agreed Mrs. Golden. "And sometimes I forget. But I'm +getting old, I reckon. There's your yeast cake. Now run <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>along, and be +careful when you cross the street."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, we will!" promised Bunny, as he took Sue's hand.</p> + +<p>"Maybe, when vacation comes, Mrs. Golden will let us help her in her +store," said Bunny to his sister, as they neared their home.</p> + +<p>"Oh, maybe!" Sue agreed. "And it soon will be vacation, won't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bunny. "I wonder where we'll go this summer."</p> + +<p>"I wonder, too," mused Sue. "If we could stay at home and have a real +store it would be fun!"</p> + +<p>Bunny agreed to this.</p> + +<p>Several days passed. The hole in the school yard was filled up so there +was no further danger of any of the boys or girls falling in. Charlie +did not again bring his toy auto to school.</p> + +<p>But something else happened.</p> + +<p>One afternoon Charlie Star walked home with Bunny and Sue from school. +Bunny had made a new sailboat, and he wanted Charlie <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>to see it make the +first voyage down the brook which ran back of the Brown home.</p> + +<p>"May I come, too?" asked Sue, as Bunny carried his little vessel down to +the stream.</p> + +<p>"Sure, let her come," advised Charlie.</p> + +<p>"All right," called Bunny, and Sue ran along after the boys.</p> + +<p>But Bunny and Charlie were so interested in sailing the new boat that +they did not pay much attention to Sue after reaching the brook. They +watched the wind puff out the sails and Charlie was just going to ask +Bunny if he would trade the boat for the toy auto when there came a loud +scream from Sue, who had wandered off by herself.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bunny! I've falled in! I've falled in!" cried Sue.</p> + +<p>"Oh, she is in!" exclaimed Charlie, glancing upstream.</p> + +<p>"And there's a deep hole there!" shouted Bunny, darting away. "Come on, +Charlie! Help me pull Sue out of the hole!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>UP A LADDER</h3> + + +<p>Charlie Star needed no second urging. Bunny had forgotten all about his +toy ship, but Charlie gave one look and saw that it had safely blown on +shore. Then Charlie sped after his chum.</p> + +<p>"We're coming, Sue! We're coming!" cried Bunny. "Don't be afraid!"</p> + +<p>"We'll get you out!" added Charlie.</p> + +<p>The brook that ran back of the Brown house was rather deep in places, +and some of these places were near shore where the bank went steeply +down into the water. It was at one of these places that Sue had fallen +in.</p> + +<p>The little girl had been looking for "sweet-flag." This is the root of a +plant something like the cat-tail in looks—that is, it has the same +kind of long, narrow ribbon-like leaves.</p> + +<p>But while the root of the sweet-flag is <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>pleasant to gnaw, though a +trifle smarty, the root of the cat-tail is of no use—that is, as far as +Sue could tell. She wanted some sweet-flag, but not cat-tail root, and +to find out which was right she had to pull up many of the long, green +streamers. If Sue had known how to tell the difference otherwise it +would have been easier.</p> + +<p>It was in bending over to pull up some of the flag roots that she had +leaned too far, and suddenly she found herself in the water. She had +slipped off the muddy bank at a place where it was steep and the water +was deep.</p> + +<p>Luckily Sue had slipped in feet first, and now she was standing in water +over her waist, yelling for Bunny to come and help her.</p> + +<p>Breathless, the two boys reached the little girl. They could see then, +that she was in no special danger, since the water was not over her +head. If Sue had fallen in head first instead of feet first that would +have been sadly different.</p> + +<p>"Come on out! Come on out!" cried Bunny, reaching his hand toward his +sister.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I—I can't!" she answered.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Charlie asked.</p> + +<p>"'Cause I'm stuck. I'm stuck in the mud!" Sue answered.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Bunny. "Then we have to pull you out!"</p> + +<p>"That's right!" said Charlie Star. "I'll help!"</p> + +<p>"Look out you don't fall in yourselves!" warned Sue, as they held out +their hands to her. "It's awful slippery!"</p> + +<p>And the bank was, as Charlie and Bunny soon found, for Charlie nearly +slid in as Sue had done and Bunny almost followed. But by digging their +heels in the slippery mud they held on and soon they had pulled Sue out +of the hole.</p> + +<p>But, oh, in what a sad plight was the little girl!</p> + +<p>She was soaking wet to a line above her waist, and she was splashed with +water above that, some mud spots being on her face, one on the end of +her nose making her appear rather odd. Her shoes and stockings were +covered with black, mucky mud.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh, dear!" exclaimed Sue, looking down at her legs, and began to +cry.</p> + +<p>"Don't cry!" advised Charlie.</p> + +<p>"I—I can't help it!" wailed Sue. "And there's something on my nose, +too!"</p> + +<p>"It's only a blob of mud," said Bunny. "I'll wipe it off," and he did, +very kindly.</p> + +<p>"Look—look at my shoo-shooes!" sobbed Sue.</p> + +<p>"Splash 'em in the water," advised Charlie. "Sit down on the bank, Sue, +and splash your feet in the water."</p> + +<p>"What'll I do that for?" she asked, through her tears. "I'm wet enough +now!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know," said Charlie. "And you can't get any wetter by dabbling +your feet and legs in the water. But it will wash off the mud. You might +as well wash it off."</p> + +<p>"That's right," agreed Bunny. "Your legs will dry better if they are +just wet, instead of being wet and muddy, Sue. Dabble 'em in the brook."</p> + +<p>Sue thought this must be good advice, since it came from both boys. She +was about to sit <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>down near the place where she had slid into the brook, +but Charlie said:</p> + +<p>"No, not there! That water's all muddy. Come on down to a clean place."</p> + +<p>This Sue did, sitting on the grassy bank and thrusting her feet and legs +into the water up to her knees, splashing them up and down until most of +the mud was washed from her stockings and shoes.</p> + +<p>"Now we'll take you home," said Charlie.</p> + +<p>"No!" exclaimed Sue. "I don't want to go home!"</p> + +<p>"You don't want to go home?" repeated Bunny. "Why not? You have to get +dry things on, Sue! Mother won't scold you for falling into the brook +when it wasn't your fault!"</p> + +<p>"I know she won't," Sue said. "But—but—I'm not going in the house +looking all soaking wet! There's company—some ladies came to call on +mother before we went out to play—and they'll see me if I go in the +front door. I'm not going to have them laugh at me!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We'll take you in the side door then," offered Bunny.</p> + +<p>"That'll be just as bad," whimpered Sue. "They can see me from the +window."</p> + +<p>"Well, then we'll go in the back way," Charlie proposed.</p> + +<p>"No!" sobbed Sue. "If I go in the back way Mary'll see me, and she'll +say, 'bless an' save us!' and make such a fuss that mother'll come out +and it will be as bad as the front or side door!" complained the little +girl. "I don't want to go home all wet!"</p> + +<p>"But you'll have to!" insisted Bunny. "You can't stay out here till you +get dry. You must go to the house, Sue!"</p> + +<p>"Not the front way nor the side way nor the back way!" Sue declared.</p> + +<p>"Then how are you going to get in?" asked Bunny. "Do you want to go in +through the cellar?"</p> + +<p>"I'd have to come up in the kitchen," objected Sue, "and Mary would see +me just the same and she'd say, 'bless an' save us!'"</p> + +<p>"Well, but how are you going to get in?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> Bunny demanded. "There isn't +any other way."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is!" suddenly exclaimed Charlie.</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Bunny Brown.</p> + +<p>"Up the painter's ladder," went on Charlie. "They're painting the roof +of your sun parlor. And the ladder's right there. We can get Sue up the +ladder to the roof of the sun parlor, and there's a second-story window +she can get in so nobody can see her, and change her things."</p> + +<p>"Oh! A ladder!" gasped Sue, when she heard how Charlie and her brother +planned to get her into the house unseen by company. "A ladder!"</p> + +<p>"Sure!" cried Bunny. "That's the best way! Charlie and I'll help you +up."</p> + +<p>"You won't let me fall?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"Course not!" declared Charlie. "I've climbed lots of ladders!"</p> + +<p>"So have I!" boasted Bunny Brown. "And so have you, Sue Brown!"</p> + +<p>"And can't anybody see me if I go up the painter's ladder?" asked Sue, +who was feeling <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>most uncomfortable, being clammy and wet.</p> + +<p>"Nobody'll see you!" declared Charlie. "The ladder's away off on one +side of the sun parlor. Mary can't see you from the kitchen, and your +mother and the company can't see you."</p> + +<p>"Is the painter there?" Sue went on. She was asking a good many +questions and making a number of objections, I think.</p> + +<p>"No, the painter isn't there," Charlie said. "I saw him going back to +the shop after more paint when we came down here."</p> + +<p>"All right then!" sighed Sue. "Help me up the ladder!"</p> + +<p>Cautiously the children approached it. There the ladder stood, a big +one, on a long slant leading from the ground to the roof of the +one-story sun parlor. From the roof of this extension were several +windows Sue could climb into, one opening from her own room.</p> + +<p>No one was in sight, and the painter had not come back. Sue was just +starting up the ladder, with Bunny going before her and Charlie +following her, when the little girl happened to think of something +else.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"S'posin' the roof's just been painted?" she asked. "How can I walk on +it?"</p> + +<p>This was a poser for a moment until Charlie exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"If it is I'll get some boards and we can lay them down to walk on."</p> + +<p>Sue had no further excuse for not going up the ladder, and she began to +climb. She reached the top, and it was found that the painter had spread +his red mixture on only part of the roof. There was room enough to walk +on the unpainted part to her room window.</p> + +<p>She was just climbing in, with the help of the boys, when she suddenly +noticed something that made her exclaim:</p> + +<p>"Oh, look! How did that happen?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE LEGACY</h3> + + +<p>"What's the matter? What's happened?" asked Bunny Brown. "Are you going +to fall, Sue?"</p> + +<p>He was helping his sister on one side to climb in the window, and +Charlie was on the other side of the little girl.</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not going to fall," Sue answered. "But look at my dress! It's +all red paint!"</p> + +<p>And so it was! In addition to being wet and muddy her skirt was now +covered with big blotches of red paint—the same kind of paint that was +being put on the roof.</p> + +<p>"How did it happen?" went on Sue, almost ready to cry again. "I didn't +step in any paint, did I?"</p> + +<p>"Even if you did I don't see how it got on your dress," said Charlie +Star.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's some on me, too!" cried Bunny Brown. "There's some on my +pants!"</p> + +<p>"And I'm daubed just like you!" cried Charlie. "We're all three +painted!"</p> + +<p>And they were, only Sue had more of it on her dress than the boys had on +their clothes.</p> + +<p>"It must have been on the ladder," decided Charlie. "The painter man got +some of his red stuff on the ladder and we got it on us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" sighed Sue. "Now after my dress is dry and I brush the mud +off mother will see the red paint. Course I'd tell her, anyhow, but I +wish she wouldn't see it first!"</p> + +<p>However, there seemed no help for it. All three of the children had red +paint on their clothes, and paint, you know, can't be brushed off. When +it's on it stays, unless turpentine, or something like that, is used to +take it off.</p> + +<p>Sue, and the boys, too, had hoped that Mrs. Brown would not know what +had happened. It wasn't that they wanted to deceive, or fool, her, but +Sue wanted to tell of the accident at the brook in her own way and time. +She really did not want to cause her mother worry when Mrs. Brown had +company. And Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> Brown would certainly begin to ask questions when she +saw those red spots on Sue's dress.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" sighed Sue again, and she seemed about to burst into tears. +Neither Bunny nor Charlie knew what to do.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" sighed Sue for the third time.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the three children saw the upper end of the ladder—the part +that was raised up over the roof of the sun parlor. They saw this part +of the ladder moving.</p> + +<p>"Oh, somebody's coming up!" exclaimed Charlie.</p> + +<p>"Maybe it's mother!" wailed Sue. "Oh, help me get in the window! I don't +want her to see me this way!"</p> + +<p>"Mother wouldn't be coming up the ladder!" declared Bunny. "What would +she be coming up the ladder for?"</p> + +<p>"That's so!" agreed Charlie. "I guess she wouldn't."</p> + +<p>"But somebody's coming up!" declared Sue, and this was very plain to be +seen. The ladder shook more and more.</p> + +<p>Wonderingly the children watched it, and then there came into sight, +above the roof of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>the sun parlor, the head and shoulders of the +painter. He looked surprised as he saw the children, and then a cheerful +smile spread over his face as he said:</p> + +<p>"Well, you've been getting daubed up, I see!"</p> + +<p>"Ye-yes," faltered Bunny. "We got some of your paint on us!"</p> + +<p>"'Tisn't my paint!" laughed the painter. "It's your father's, Bunny. I +got this paint down at his boat dock to paint the roof of this sun +parlor. I don't mind how much of it you daub on yourselves. 'Tisn't my +paint, you know!"</p> + +<p>"But we don't want it on us!" exclaimed Sue. "Oh, I fell in the brook +and I got all muddy and now I'm all covered with paint! Oh, dear!"</p> + +<p>Sue was almost crying again, and the painter who at first had thought +the children were merely playing, now began to understand that something +was wrong.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Then the story was told, of why the boys had helped Sue climb up the +ladder to get <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>into her room so her mother and the company would not see +her in her soiled dress.</p> + +<p>"But now we're all paint!" wailed Sue.</p> + +<p>"Well, never mind!" said the good-natured painter. "I can take those +paint spots out for you, if that's all you're worrying about."</p> + +<p>"Oh, can you?" eagerly cried Sue.</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Charlie Star, who was a rather curious little chap.</p> + +<p>"Will you?" asked Bunny Brown, which was more to the point.</p> + +<p>"I can and will!" said the painter. "Wait until I get some clean rags +and my turpentine."</p> + +<p>He want back down the ladder, but soon came up again, with a can of +something with a strong, but not unpleasant smell. Bunny remembered that +smell. Once when he was little, and had a bad cold, his mother had +rubbed lard and turpentine on his chest.</p> + +<p>"This turpentine will take the paint out when it's fresh," said the +painter. "Stand still now."</p> + +<p>He wet the rag in some turpentine, which, as you know, is the juice, or +sap, of the pine <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>and other trees. It is used to mix with paint, which +it will dissolve, or melt away after a fashion. It also helps the paint +to dry more quickly when spread on a house or bridge.</p> + +<p>With the turpentine rag the painter rubbed at the red spots on Sue's +dress, and then, having taken those out, he began on Bunny and Charlie. +But the boys wanted to take out their own paint spots, and the painter +let them do it.</p> + +<p>"There you are," he finally said. "I guess they won't show now."</p> + +<p>"And my dress is nearly dry!" exclaimed Sue. "Oh, I'm so glad. Mother +won't know until I tell her. And of course I'll tell her," she quickly +added.</p> + +<p>Sue was as good as her word. After she got into her room and the boys +had climbed down the ladder to go back and play with Bunny's little +ship, Sue changed into dry clothes.</p> + +<p>Then, after the company had gone, she told her mother all that had +happened.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it couldn't be helped," said Mrs. Brown with a smile. "I mean +about falling into the brook. But it would have been just as well to +come and tell me at once, Sue, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>stead of climbing the ladder. You +might have fallen."</p> + +<p>"I didn't want the company to know about it, Mother!"</p> + +<p>"That was thoughtful of you. But if you had fallen off the ladder the +company would have known about that, and it would have been much worse +than just being seen in a wet and muddy dress."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I couldn't fall with Bunny and Charlie to help me!" declared Sue.</p> + +<p>That evening, just before supper, after Charlie Star had gone home and +Bunny and Sue were playing out in the side yard, Mary called to them, +asking:</p> + +<p>"Do you children want to run to the store for me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Bunny, and Sue inquired:</p> + +<p>"What do you want?"</p> + +<p>"A little pepper," was the answer. "I forgot that we were out and didn't +order any when the grocery boy called to-day."</p> + +<p>"We'll get it at Mrs. Golden's corner store!" said Bunny. "She keeps +pepper."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All right," Mary agreed. "Wait and I'll get you the money. We don't +charge things at her store."</p> + +<p>A little later Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, hand in hand, entered +Mrs. Golden's little store.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dears, what is it to-day?" asked the old lady, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Some pepper, if you please," answered Sue.</p> + +<p>"Red or black?" asked Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue looked at one another. This was something they had not +thought about. Which did Mary want—red or black?</p> + +<p>Seeing that the children were puzzled, Mrs. Golden said:</p> + +<p>"What is your mother going to use it for, my dears?"</p> + +<p>"Mother didn't tell us to get it," replied Bunny. "It was Mary, our +cook, who sent us after it, 'cause she forgot to get any for supper."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then it's black pepper she wants, I suppose," said Mrs. Golden. +"She wouldn't <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>want red pepper unless she were putting up pickles or +something like that. I'll give you black pepper."</p> + +<p>She started to rise from her chair, for she had been seated near the +back of the store, but seemed so old and feeble that Bunny and Sue felt +very sorry for her. When ladies got as old as Mrs. Golden seemed to be +they ought always to rest in easy chairs, Bunny thought, and not have to +get up to wait on a store.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden grunted and groaned a little as she pushed herself up from +the arms of the big chair.</p> + +<p>"Are you terrible old?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"I'm pretty old, yes, my dear," said Mrs. Golden. "But I don't mind +that. It's the stiffness and the rheumatism. It's hard for me to get +about, and the black pepper's on a high shelf, too. If my son Philip was +only here he'd reach it down for me."</p> + +<p>"Where is Philip?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's gone to the city on business. He hopes to get a little +legacy."</p> + +<p>"What's a leg-legacy?" asked Bunny. "Is it something to sell in the +store?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Bless your heart, no!" laughed Mrs. Golden. "A legacy is money, or +property, or something like that which is left to you. If some of your +rich relations die they leave money in the bank, or a house and lot, and +it comes to you. That's a legacy."</p> + +<p>"Did some of your rich relations die?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"Well, an old man, who wasn't a very close relation, died," said the +storekeeper. "There was some talk that he might leave me something, and +Philip went to the city to see about it.</p> + +<p>"But, dear, me! things are so uncertain in this world that I don't +believe I'll get anything. There's no use thinking about it. I don't +want to be disappointed, but I would like to get some money!"</p> + +<p>Poor old lady! She seemed very sad and feeble, and the children felt +sorry for her.</p> + +<p>"Let me see now," went on Mrs. Golden. "Was it salt you said you wanted, +Bunny?"</p> + +<p>"No'm, pepper—black pepper."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, black pepper! And it's on a high shelf, too. I wish Philip was +back. He'd <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>reach it down for me. I don't believe he'll get that legacy +after all. Let me see now—pepper—black pepper——"</p> + +<p>"Let me get it!" begged Bunny. "I can climb up on a high shelf!"</p> + +<p>"So can I!" cried Sue. "I went up on a ladder, after I fell in the +brook, and I got red paint on my dress!"</p> + +<p>"My, what a lot of things to happen!" murmured Mrs. Golden, as slowly +and feebly she made her way around the store to the side where she kept +the groceries.</p> + +<p>"Let me get the pepper!" begged Bunny, as he saw the old woman looking +toward a top shelf. "I can climb up."</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, if you're sure you won't fall, you may get it," said +Mrs. Golden. "I've got some sort of a thing to reach down packages and +boxes from the high shelf. My boy Philip got it for me. But I can hardly +ever find it when I want it. Be careful now, Bunny."</p> + +<p>"I will," said the little fellow, as he began to climb.</p> + +<p>Sue watched her brother, thinking over <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>what Mrs. Golden had told them +about a legacy.</p> + +<p>"If she got a lot of money," mused Sue, "she could get a big store, all +spread out flat and she wouldn't have to have any high shelves. I hope +she gets her legacy."</p> + +<p>Bunny was just reaching for the box of pepper when there was a sudden +barking of dogs outside the store and something black and furry, with a +long tail, rushed in, leaped up on the counter, and thence to the top +shelf, knocking down a lot of boxes and cans.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" screamed Sue. "Look out, Bunny!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>THE LAST DAY</h3> + + +<p>Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything. She just stood +still, looking up at Bunny. As for the little boy, he had been so +startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of +wood that held up the shelves. But he did not quite unclasp his hand, +and so he clung there. Sue was dancing up and down in her excitement.</p> + +<p>Then into the store rushed a big dog, barking and leaping about, his +eyes fixed on that scrambling object in brown fur which had sprung to +the highest shelf.</p> + +<p>"Mercy me! What's that?" cried Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"It's Wango, Mr. Winkler's monkey," Sue answered.</p> + +<p>And that is what it was.</p> + +<p>Wango had got loose—nothing new for him—<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>and had wandered out into +the street. There a strange dog, catching sight of the animal, had +chased him. Bunny and Sue knew it was a strange dog, for their own dog, +Splash, and most other dogs in the neighborhood, were used to Wango and +liked him. They seldom ran after him or barked at him. But this was a +strange dog.</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 245px;"> +<img src="images/14.jpg" width="245" height="400" alt=""GO ON OUT OF HERE!" SUE ORDERED." title=""GO ON OUT OF HERE!" SUE ORDERED." /> +</div> +<div class='center'>"GO ON OUT OF HERE!" SUE ORDERED.<br /> +<i>Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store.</i> <a href='#Page_109'><i>Page</i> 109</a></div> + +<p>"Go on out of here!" Sue ordered this dog. The animal stood looking from +her to Wango on the high shelf, barking loudly now and then. "Go on out +and let Wango alone!" Sue ordered.</p> + +<p>The dog did not seem to want to go, however, and Mrs. Golden was getting +a bit worried. She feared the monkey would leap about and knock down +many things from her shelves.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," called Bunny Brown. "I've got the pepper. I'll come +down there and make the dog sneeze with it if he doesn't go out."</p> + +<p>Bunny started to climb down, but there was no need for him to sprinkle +pepper on the dog's nose to make him sneeze. For just as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> Bunny reached +the floor in came Jed Winkler himself, looking for his pet monkey. Mr. +Winkler drove out the strange dog, closed the door, and then coaxed +Wango down from the high shelf.</p> + +<p>"Did he do any damage, Mrs. Golden?" asked the old sailor. "If my monkey +did any damage I'll pay for it."</p> + +<p>"No, he didn't do any harm," she answered. "He just startled us all a +little."</p> + +<p>"Wango's a good monkey, but he will run away," said Mr. Winkler, petting +his furry companion. "I'm glad he didn't do any damage. My sister said +he'd be sure to this time, but I'm glad he didn't."</p> + +<p>"He's a good climber," said Sue. "If you had a monkey, Mrs. Golden, he +could reach things down from the high shelves for you, when your son +goes off after leg-legacies."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid, dearie, that a monkey would be more bother than he was +worth to me, just to lift things down off high shelves," laughed the old +lady. "Wango is a lively chap, though."</p> + +<p>"What's this about a legacy?" asked Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> Winkler, for he was an old +friend of Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"I don't count much on it," she answered. "Philip has gone to see about +it. I got word that an uncle of mine had died and left some money and +property. We may get a share of it and we may not."</p> + +<p>"I hope you do!" exclaimed Mr. Winkler. "I most certainly hope you do!"</p> + +<p>So did Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, for they were getting quite fond +of Mrs. Golden, and liked to buy things at her store.</p> + +<p>When the children were on their way home with the pepper, Mr. Winkler +walking with them part of the way carrying Wango on his shoulder, Bunny +said:</p> + +<p>"When I keep a store like that I'm going to have a monkey to reach +things down off the high shelves for me."</p> + +<p>"He might get the wrong things," Sue objected.</p> + +<p>"Maybe he would first," said Bunny. "But I'd train him. It would be fun +to have a monkey in a store, wouldn't it, Sue?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Lots of fun!" agreed Sue.</p> + +<p>"My goodness, children!" laughed Mary, as they entered the kitchen with +the pepper, "it took you quite a while, and I was in a hurry. Didn't +Mrs. Golden have any pepper?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but Wango got in the store," explained Bunny. "When I keep a store +I'm going to keep a monkey, too!"</p> + +<p>"Bless and save us, what does the child mean?" murmured Mary, but she +did not stop for an answer, as she was in a hurry to get the supper on +the table.</p> + +<p>Some days after this, during which time Bunny Brown and his sister Sue +had had much fun with their playmates keeping store and doing other +things, the two children came down dressed to go to school. But they +were singing and laughing in a way they seldom did unless something +different was happening, or going to happen.</p> + +<p>"Bless and save us!" exclaimed Mary, as she saw Bunny and Sue start out +of the house hand in hand. "You're very joyful this morning. What's +going on?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's the last day of school!" explained Bunny, laughing still more.</p> + +<p>"We'll have hardly any lessons," Sue added. "And when we come home +to-day we don't have to go back to school for a long, long while. It'll +be vacation!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, so that's the reason!" laughed Mary. "No wonder you feel so pert +and chipper—no school! Well, have a good time when you're young."</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue certainly had good times if ever children did.</p> + +<p>As Sue had said, there were hardly any lessons at school that day. +Reports were to be given out, little gifts were to be made to the +teachers, and there were to be "exercises." That is, the pupils would +recite or sing in their different classrooms.</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue were each to "speak a piece," and they had been preparing +for some time, going over their recitations each night at home to make +sure they would not forget and stumble and halt when they stood on the +platform.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>Miss Bradley was such a great favorite with her children that many had +brought her little gifts.</p> + +<p>These were placed on her desk, and then, after a few lessons, which no +one took very seriously, Miss Bradley read the class a story. Then came +the speaking of "pieces."</p> + +<p>This was always one of the things that took place on the "last day," and +was much enjoyed. No one had to recite unless he or she wanted to, and +so no one was nervous or afraid, except about forgetting the lines.</p> + +<p>Sadie West recited a verse about bees and flowers, and very pretty it +was, too. Sue had picked out a funny verse about a little mouse, a trap, +and a piece of cheese. I think most of you know it, so I'll not tell you +about it.</p> + +<p>Then came the turn of fat Bobbie Boomer. Bobbie was funny just to look +at, and he was funnier when he got up to recite. He had picked out as +his recitation that old, old poem about Mary and her lamb, for it was +easy for him to remember that.</p> + +<p>Now Bobbie had been very sure that he would not forget any of the verses +when he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>got up on the platform. He had practiced his "piece" at home +over and over until he knew it "by heart," and could almost say it in +his sleep, his father remarked.</p> + +<p>But when Bobbie got up on the platform and after he had made a funny, +jerky, fat, little bow, all of a sudden every word of that poem seemed +to slip from his mind! He stood there, looking around the room, now up +at the ceiling and now down at the floor. His face grew red, and he +began pulling at the buttons on his coat.</p> + +<p>Miss Bradley felt sorry for him, and she laid her finger over her lips +when she heard some of the children beginning to laugh.</p> + +<p>"What is the name of your selection, Bobbie?" the teacher asked kindly.</p> + +<p>"It—it's about Ma—Mary and her—her little lamb!"</p> + +<p>"That's a cute little poem. Don't be afraid. I'll start you off, and +then perhaps you can remember the rest. Now begin," and Miss Bradley +said the first line.</p> + +<p>This helped Bobbie very much, and he got along all right until he came +to the verse about <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>the lamb following Mary to school. Bobbie got as far +as, "It followed her to school one day which was——"</p> + +<p>And there poor Bobbie "stuck." He couldn't think what came next.</p> + +<p>"It followed her to school one day—school one day—one day," he said +slowly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Miss Bradley kindly. "And what comes next, Bobbie? Was it +right for the lamb to follow Mary to school?"</p> + +<p>Miss Bradley wanted Bobbie to say, "which was against the rule," but +Bobbie couldn't just then remember that. Suddenly his eyes opened wide. +He pointed to the back of the room, where a clattering sound was heard, +and cried:</p> + +<p>"Look! Look what's coming in!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>WATERING THE GARDEN</h3> + + +<p>Instantly all the children turned around to look at what Bobbie Boomer +was pointing to. And gasps of surprise came from Bunny Brown and Sue, as +well as from the other pupils and the teacher.</p> + +<p>For, standing in the doorway of the classroom, which was on the ground +floor, was Toby, the Brown's Shetland pony. He stood there looking in, +the wind blowing his fluffy mane and forelock, and his bright eyes +looking around the classroom as if for a sight of Bunny and his sister.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Toby!" cried Bunny. He had spoken out loud in school, but as it was +the last day it did not so much matter.</p> + +<p>"He came to school, just like Mary's lamb!" exclaimed Charlie Star.</p> + +<p>Fat Bobbie Boomer seemed to be forgotten, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>but the sight of the pony +appeared to have brought back to the little boy's mind the line he had +missed.</p> + +<p>"Which was against the rule!" he suddenly exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Every one laughed, even Miss Bradley, and she added:</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was against the rule for the lamb to follow Mary to school, and +I suppose it's just as much against the rule for the pony to follow +Bunny Brown and his sister Sue."</p> + +<p>"Please, Teacher, he didn't follow me!" said Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Nor me!" added Sue. "We didn't know he was coming! He was in the stable +when we came from home."</p> + +<p>This was very true, and they were all wondering how it had happened that +Toby had followed the children. It was something he had never done +before, and, though he was a great pet, he was not exactly Mary's +lamb—he did not follow Bunny and Sue everywhere they went.</p> + +<p>"Suppose, Bunny, you take Toby out of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>room," suggested Miss +Bradley, for the Shetland pony did not seem to want to go of his own +accord. "Can you manage him?" the teacher asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I can ride home on his back, if you'll let me," said the +little boy.</p> + +<p>"School is almost over for the day, and also for the term," said the +teacher with a smile. "You may be excused."</p> + +<p>But Bunny did not have to leave. For just then in came Bunker Blue, the +young man who worked for Mr. Brown at the fish and boat dock.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're in here, are you?" asked Bunker, speaking to Toby and taking +hold of the thick mane of the little horse.</p> + +<p>"Did he run away?" asked Bunny of Bunker. "Did he get out of his stall?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," explained the tall young helper. "I was taking him down +to the blacksmith shop to have new shoes put on him. I left him in front +of the hardware store while I went in to get something for your father, +Bunny, and when I came out Toby had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>slipped from his halter. I didn't +know where he was until some one said they saw him come into the +schoolhouse."</p> + +<p>"He hasn't done any harm," remarked Miss Bradley.</p> + +<p>"How did he get loose from the pony cart?" Sue asked.</p> + +<p>"He wasn't hitched to the pony cart," answered Bunker Blue. "I was just +leading him by the halter, but I guess I didn't have it strapped tight +enough. Come along, Toby," he added. "I guess you've said your lessons," +and the whole class, teacher and all, joined in the laugh which Bunker +Blue started.</p> + +<p>Toby whinnied, which was his way of laughing, I suppose, and then Bunker +Blue led him forth from the classroom. So Bunny didn't have to leave +school to ride his pet home, though I believe the little boy would have +been very glad to do so—as would, in fact, any boy in the class.</p> + +<p>"Well, now we will go on with our exercises," said Miss Bradley. "Can +you remember your recitation now, Bobbie?"</p> + +<p>The appearance of Toby seemed to have <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>had a good effect, for Bobbie +began again about Mary and her lamb, and gave all the verses, without +forgetting a single line. Every one clapped his or her hands when he +finished and made his bow.</p> + +<p>In turn the other children recited. Then came the singing of some songs +in which the whole school joined in the big assembly hall, and the "last +day," ended.</p> + +<p>"Now for the long vacation!" cried Bunny Brown, as he raced out of the +schoolyard with the other boys.</p> + +<p>"And lots of fun!" added Charlie Star.</p> + +<p>"We'll go camping!" said George Watson.</p> + +<p>"And sail boats!" added Harry Bentley.</p> + +<p>The girls, too, were no less joyful. They talked of what they would do, +of the play parties they would have and of picnics in the woods.</p> + +<p>"Will you play store any more?" asked Mary Watson of Sue.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess so," was the answer. "Bunny and I like that fun. Bunny +wants to keep a real store when he grows up. Sometimes he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>lifts things +down from the shelves for Mrs. Golden in her store."</p> + +<p>Laughing, shouting, tagging each other, and running away, talking of +what they would do during the long vacation, the school children ran on +through the streets of Lakeport.</p> + +<p>"Let's have a race!" cried Bunny.</p> + +<p>"I can beat you!" declared Charlie Star.</p> + +<p>Off they ran, feet fast flying, and Bunny was first to reach the +hitching post in front of his house, this being the end of the race +course for that particular time.</p> + +<p>"Did Bunker Blue come back with Toby?" asked Bunny of his mother, after +he had been given a piece of bread and sugar by Mary.</p> + +<p>"No," was the answer. "But how did you know Bunker had Toby out? He +didn't come for him until after you went to school," said Mrs. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Toby came to school!" explained Sue, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Toby came to school?" repeated her mother.</p> + +<p>And then the story was told amid much laughter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<p>Just before supper Bunker Blue came back with Toby, and the children +were allowed to hitch the Shetland pony to the basket cart.</p> + +<p>"Do you want anything from the store?" asked Bunny, as he took his seat +beside Sue and grasped the pony's reins.</p> + +<p>"Better ask Mary," was the reply.</p> + +<p>And, as it happened, Mary wanted some sugar.</p> + +<p>"We'll get it at Mrs. Golden's," called Bunny, as he drove out of the +yard.</p> + +<p>"My, the children are getting fond of that old lady store keeper," mused +Mary, as she went back to her kitchen work.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to have them," said Mrs. Brown. "It does children good to +learn to be kind and thoughtful toward others. And, from what I hear, +Mrs. Golden needs help. Her son works, but does not earn much, and she +can't make a very good living from so small a store. We must buy what we +can from her."</p> + +<p>"Trust the children for that!" laughed Mary. "They'd run there all the +while if we'd let them. Bunny was telling me Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> Golden had something +the matter with one of her legs."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. He said she expected a legacy," explained Mrs. Brown. "That +means she hopes to get a little property or some money from a relative +who has died."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I thought it was her legs, poor old lady!" said Mary. "Rheumatism, +or something like that."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Golden isn't very well able to get around," admitted Mrs. Brown. +"But that has nothing to do with a legacy."</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue drove up to the door of the little corner store.</p> + +<p>"My, but you're coming in style!" exclaimed Mrs. Golden, when she saw +them. "Are you going to buy me out?"</p> + +<p>"No, we just want some sugar," said Bunny. "We're going to get five +pounds, 'cause we can carry it in the pony cart."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if it wasn't for the cart I'd be a bit afraid to give you so much +as five pounds," said Mrs. Golden, as she went slowly behind the counter +to weigh out the sweet stuff. "You might drop it. But it'll be safe in +the pony <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>cart. You'll be like a regular grocery delivery."</p> + +<p>"Do you deliver things?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"No, dearie. I can't afford to have a delivery wagon and a horse, to say +nothing of one of those automobiles. And it wouldn't pay me to hire a +boy, even when Philip is away. Sometimes he takes heavy things that are +ordered, but mostly folks carry away what they buy. Let's see, now, how +many pounds did you say, Bunny?"</p> + +<p>"Five, Mrs. Golden. And please may I scoop it out of the barrel?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, maybe; if you don't spill it."</p> + +<p>"I won't spill any!" promised Bunny eagerly. "And may I put it on the +scales? You see I'm going to keep a store when I grow up," he went on, +"and I'll want to know how to weigh things on the scales."</p> + +<p>"I hope you make more money than I do," sighed Mrs. Golden. "Now be +careful of the scoop, dearie!"</p> + +<p>Bunny felt quite proud of himself as he leaned down in the sugar barrel +and dipped up the sweet, sparkling grains. Mrs. Golden <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>guided his hands +as he poured the sugar into the scoop of the scale, and of course she +watched to make sure the weight was right, for Bunny was hardly old +enough to know that.</p> + +<p>But he did it nearly all himself, and he told his father so that evening +after supper.</p> + +<p>"My! I'll have to be on the lookout for a vacant place to rent so you +and Sue can keep a store during vacation," replied Mr. Brown, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we don't want to start a store unless Mrs. Golden gets her legacy +so she'll be rich," declared Sue. "If we had a store she wouldn't sell +so much and she'd be sorry."</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe that's so," agreed her father, with a smile. "We'll wait +until we find out about the legacy before we start you and Bunny in the +store business. When will Mrs. Golden know about it?"</p> + +<p>"When her son Philip comes back. He's gone to see about the legacy," +said Bunny.</p> + +<p>When they went to bed that night Bunny and Sue talked of what they would +do during the long vacation. On account of some busi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>ness matters, Mr. +Brown could not take his family away that summer until about the middle +of August. This left them with a good part of the vacation to spend in +Bellemere, and the two children were beginning to plan for their fun.</p> + +<p>One of the first things Bunny found to do the next morning—the first +morning of the vacation—was to water the garden.</p> + +<p>"May I take the hose and sprinkle?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"If you don't get yourself wet through," his mother answered.</p> + +<p>"I'll be careful," Bunny promised.</p> + +<p>There was a vegetable garden at the side of the house, a garden which +Uncle Tad had made and of which he was very proud. As there had been no +rain for some days the garden was in need of water.</p> + +<p>The hose was attached to the faucet, for Uncle Tad had been watering the +garden the night before, and he had gone away, leaving word that if any +one had time to spray more water on the vegetables they should do so, as +the ground was very dry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I like to water the garden," said Bunny, and he took great delight in +directing the stream from the hose over the cabbages, beets and potatoes +which were coming up.</p> + +<p>After watering for some time Bunny began to feel hungry, as he often +did, and started in to ask Mary for some bread and jam. He laid the hose +down, with the water still running, but he turned the stream so it would +spray on the grass and not on the garden, so it would not wash out any +of the growing things.</p> + +<p>Bunny was coming out again, with a large slice of bread and jam, when +from the front street he heard a man's voice crying:</p> + +<p>"Here! Look out what you're doing! Be careful with that hose! You're +soaking me!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh!" cried Bunny Brown. "Sue must have picked up the hose that I +left and squirted water on somebody!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>HELPING MRS. GOLDEN</h3> + + +<p>Almost dropping his slice of bread and jam, so excited was he, Bunny +Brown ran toward the hose. Before he reached it, for it was around the +corner of the house, he heard the man's voice again calling out:</p> + +<p>"Here! Stop that I say! Can't people go along the street without being +wet with water from a hose? Pull your hose farther back!"</p> + +<p>"Sue! Sue! Don't do that! Be careful! You're wetting some one," cried +Bunny, as he ran along, not yet seeing the hose. But he could guess what +had happened.</p> + +<p>Sue, coming along and seeing the hose turned on, with the water spurting +out, had picked up the nozzle end and was watering the garden. Only she +held the hose so high that the water shot over the high front hedge and +was wetting some man passing in the street.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>That is what Bunny thought. But that is not what had happened.</p> + +<p>Just before he turned the corner of the house he heard the man's voice +once more saying:</p> + +<p>"Say, isn't it enough to wet me once? What are you keeping it up for? I +am trying to get out of the way, but you follow me. I'm coming in and +see about this!"</p> + +<p>Something very like trouble seemed about to happen.</p> + +<p>"Sue! Sue!" cried Bunny, still thinking his sister was to blame. "Let +that hose alone!"</p> + +<p>But when he turned the corner of the house and could see the garden, Sue +was not in sight. And, stranger still, no one was at the hose. There it +lay, still spurting water out on the thick, green grass.</p> + +<p>Who had picked up the nozzle and sprayed the unseen man in the street? +If it was Sue where had she gone?</p> + +<p>"Sue! Sue!" called Bunny. "Were you playing with the hose?"</p> + +<p>Sue's head was thrust out of the window of her room upstairs.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Bunny?" she asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, you're up there, are you?" exclaimed the little boy, much +surprised. "Were you down here at the hose?"</p> + +<p>"No. I'm getting dressed. I haven't been down in the yard at all yet."</p> + +<p>"Then who did it?" thought Bunny. "I wonder——"</p> + +<p>But just then a man, who seemed to have been out in a rain storm without +an umbrella, came hurrying around the side path. He caught sight of +Bunny standing near the hose.</p> + +<p>"Look here, my little boy," said the man, trying not to speak angrily, +though he was rightfully provoked, "you must be more careful with your +hose. You have wet me very much. Does your mother know you are doing +this?"</p> + +<p>"She—she knows I'm watering the garden," Bunny answered.</p> + +<p>"Does she know you were watering me?" asked the man, with a half smile.</p> + +<p>"No—no, sir," replied the small boy. "I didn't wet you!"</p> + +<p>"You didn't! Then who did?"</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know," stammered Bunny. "I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>left the hose here while I went +in to get some bread and jam. Here's some of it now," and he held out +what was left of his slice. "I heard you calling, and I thought maybe it +was my sister Sue. Course she wouldn't 'a' done it on purpose. But it +wasn't Sue. She hasn't been downstairs yet."</p> + +<p>"Then who was it?" insisted the man. "Surely the hose didn't wet me all +by itself."</p> + +<p>"No," admitted Bunny. "But it might have been Mr. Winkler's monkey."</p> + +<p>"Who's Mr. Winkler's monkey, and how could he wet me with a hose?" +demanded the man.</p> + +<p>"His name is Wango—I mean the monkey's is," explained Bunny. "Sometimes +he gets away and does things. He climbed up on Mrs. Golden's +shelves—she keeps a store. Maybe Wango got loose and came over here and +picked up the hose to get a drink or something, and so wet you."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's possible," admitted the man. "And if that's the case I beg +your pardon. Do you see Wango around here?" he went on, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>while Sue, +looking from her upper window, wondered who the stranger could be.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't see Wango," replied Bunny, looking about. "But I'll look +for him. Maybe he's hiding."</p> + +<p>"Maybe he is," and the man now laughed. "I'll help you search. For if +the monkey is up to tricks like that he ought to be stopped. He may wet +some one else if you go away and leave the water turned on."</p> + +<p>"That's right," agreed Bunny.</p> + +<p>He left the hose, still spurting, on the grass, and, followed by the +man, walked around the yard, looking for Wango. But the mischievous +monkey was not in sight, nor did he come when Bunny called, though Mr. +Winkler's pet nearly always did this.</p> + +<p>"I guess he isn't here," said Bunny at length. "But I didn't wet you +with the hose."</p> + +<p>"Then who——" began the man, but he stopped short to point and cry: +"Look at that!"</p> + +<p>As Bunny and the stranger were walking back toward the hose, Splash, the +big dog, ran <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>out from under the back porch and took hold of the hose in +his teeth. He began to shake it as he often shook things with which he +played.</p> + +<p>"There!" laughed the man. "That's how I was sprayed! Your dog picked up +the hose after you left it, and raised it high, so the water shot over +the hedge and on me! Now the mystery is explained! It was the dog that +did it!"</p> + +<p>And so it was.</p> + +<p>"Splash!" cried Bunny. "Drop that hose!"</p> + +<p>Splash dropped it, and with a bark came running up to be petted. He did +not know he had done wrong.</p> + +<p>"I'm very sorry," said Bunny. "Splash, you're a bad dog!" he declared, +and Splash drooped his tail between his legs.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't scold him," the man begged. "I like dogs, and I know they +don't like to be scolded any more than we do—or than boys or girls do. +It wasn't his fault. He thought the hose was left there for him to play +with."</p> + +<p>"Is anything wrong?" asked Mrs. Brown. Sue had told her mother about a +strange man, all wet, in the yard talking to Bunny, and Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> Brown had +come down to see about it.</p> + +<p>"Just a little accident," explained the stranger. "I was passing in the +street when it suddenly began to rain—or at least I thought at first it +was rain. Then I knew it was some one using a hose and spraying me. I +called to them, but that did no good, and I came in. I saw this little +boy and the hose, and naturally thought he had wet me by accident. But +it seems it was his dog," and he explained how it had happened.</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry," apologized Mrs. Brown. "If there is anything I can +do——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I will soon dry in the sun!" laughed the man. "I wasn't really +angry, only I know children will get careless when they have a hose, and +I was going to tell them to be more careful. But I don't suppose I can +make Splash understand," and he patted the dog, whose tail was now +wagging again.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you are so kind about it," said Mrs. Brown. "Bunny generally +is careful when he waters the garden. If you will come in and get +dry——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, thank you! I'll dry better in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>sun. Clean water will hurt +no one, and I might just as well have been caught in a shower. +Good-bye!" he called, and hurried away.</p> + +<p>"After this, Bunny," advised his mother, as he kept on wetting the +garden, "it will be best to turn off the water if you leave the hose."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mother, I will," he promised.</p> + +<p>So that little happening passed off all right, and later Bunny and the +gentleman—who was a newcomer in town, Mr. Halsted by name—became good +friends.</p> + +<p>One day, about a week after vacation had started, during which time +Bunny and Sue had had much fun, the two children went to the little +corner store kept by Mrs. Golden. Bunny and Sue each had two cents to +spend, and they were allowed to get some candy.</p> + +<p>As they entered the store they saw Mrs. Golden trying to sweep, but the +way in which the old woman used the broom showed that she was in pain. +As the children entered she stopped, held her hand to her side, and +tried to stand up.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she murmured, in a low voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is it your rheumatism?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>"That, or something worse," replied the old lady, with a sigh. "I get a +pain in my side every time I sweep."</p> + +<p>"Let me do it!" begged Sue. "I love to sweep, and I'd like to help you."</p> + +<p>"So would I!" exclaimed Bunny. "I can sweep, too. Please let me!"</p> + +<p>Almost before she realized it, Mrs. Golden had given up the broom to +Sue, and the little girl was sweeping the store, while Bunny waited for +his turn.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the doorway was darkened, and a big man with a bushy black +beard came stalking in.</p> + +<p>"Where's Mrs. Golden?" he asked, looking at some papers in his hand. "I +want to see Mrs. Golden," and his voice was cross.</p> + +<p>"I'm Mrs. Golden," answered the old lady. "What can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>"The best thing you can do is to pay that money!" snapped the man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE CROSS MAN</h3> + + +<p>Bunny and Sue had at first paid no attention to the big man with the +black beard who entered the little corner grocery store so suddenly. The +children thought he was a customer come to buy some groceries.</p> + +<p>But when the man, in that cross voice, said Mrs. Golden had better pay +him some money, Bunny and Sue looked sharply at him, Sue holding on to +the broom.</p> + +<p>"'Cause I thought maybe he was a robber coming after Mrs. Golden's +money," she explained later.</p> + +<p>"What would you have done if he had been a robber?" asked Uncle Tad.</p> + +<p>"I'd 'a' hit him with the broom," Sue replied.</p> + +<p>"And I'd have helped her!" exclaimed Bunny.</p> + +<p>But this was afterward. The man, how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span>ever, as the children looked at +him, did not appear to be a robber. He was big, and not very pleasant to +look at, and his black beard was as bristling as some of those worn by +moving-picture pirates. But he did not seem to be going to take any +money from the cash drawer.</p> + +<p>From the way poor Mrs. Golden looked, though, the children were sure the +man had frightened her. She sank down in a chair, and stared silently at +the man.</p> + +<p>"Well!" exclaimed the cross man more crossly than at first, "I'm Mr. +Flynt of the Grocery Supply Company. If you're Mrs. Golden, I want to +know why you don't pay me that money?"</p> + +<p>"I—I wish I could, Mr. Flynt," murmured the old lady store keeper. "I +really thought I'd have it for you last week."</p> + +<p>"But you didn't!" snapped out the man. "You told our agent who called +two weeks ago that you'd have it last week. But you didn't pay it. Then +you said you'd send it this week, and you didn't. Now I've come for it. +You can't fool me!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<p>Truly, thought Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, no one could fool this +man, nor play with him nor do anything with him except dislike him.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Mrs. Golden!" went on Mr. Flynt. "You owe us this money, +you know, and you'll have to pay it!"</p> + +<p>"If you'll only wait until my son Philip comes back," murmured the old +lady, "he'll pay you some, I'm sure. He's gone away to get a little +legacy, and if he gets it I'll have enough to pay you all I owe and +more!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, <i>if</i> he gets it!" sneered the cross man. "I've heard those stories +before. But if your son doesn't get that legacy what then?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm sure he'll get it!" said Mrs. Golden, trying to smile. "But +if—if he doesn't, why, I'll just have to owe you the money, that's +all!"</p> + +<p>"That isn't all!" exclaimed Mr. Flynt. "We've got to have money. We've +been as easy on you as we could be. We've let your bill run a good deal +longer than we do most folks' bills. You've got to pay your debts, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>just +as we have to pay ours. Come now, I want some money!"</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue looked at each other. Both had the same thought. Sue +dropped the broom and began feeling in her pocket beneath her +handkerchief. Sue had only one pocket, and she was lucky, being a girl, +to have that. Bunny had any number of pockets, and he was going through +first one and then the other, finding different things in each—a top, +pieces of string, his knife, odd bits of stone, a very black piece of +licorice, and some nails. Bunny never knew when he might want some of +these things.</p> + +<p>"Here, Mrs. Golden!" exclaimed Sue, she being the first to get what she +was after in her pocket. "Here's two cents I was going to spend for +candy. You can have it to give to the man!"</p> + +<p>"Bless your heart, dearie!" murmured Mrs. Golden, "I can't take your +money."</p> + +<p>"And here's my two cents!" exclaimed Bunny. "You can keep it. And you +don't need to give us any candy either."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No!" added Sue, though she had a catch in her breath as she said it, +for she really wanted a bit of sweet stuff that day.</p> + +<p>"No, no, my dear," said Mrs. Golden, trying to smile, though there were +tears in her eyes. "Keep your money. I'll sell you some candy if you +want it, but you mustn't give your pennies away. Anyhow, I must pay Mr. +Flynt a great deal more than that."</p> + +<p>"I should say so!" exclaimed the black-bearded man, though, somehow or +other, his voice was not quite so cross as before. "Four cents wouldn't +pay postage on the bills we have sent you!</p> + +<p>"But now, Mrs. Golden," he went on, "I don't want to be any harder on +you than I have to. If you're going to get some money in, or your son +is, and you can pay us what you owe we won't sell you out."</p> + +<p>"Sell me out!" cried the old lady. "Were you thinking of doing that?"</p> + +<p>"We'll have to if you don't pay," was the answer. "You bought a lot of +goods of us, and you must pay for them. If you don't we'll <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span>have to take +these things away," and he looked around at the shelves of the store.</p> + +<p>"If you take things away from her how can she sell them?" asked Bunny +Brown.</p> + +<p>"She can't," said Mr. Flynt. "But she must pay. Everybody must pay what +they owe or be sold out. Now I'll give you a little more time," he went +on. "I'll tell them, back at the office, that you expect a legacy, and +when that comes you must pay."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! I'll pay!" promised Mrs. Golden. "Only give me a little more +time and I'll pay."</p> + +<p>"Well, see that you do!" grumbled the black-bearded man, who appeared to +be crosser than ever now. "When I come again I want money!"</p> + +<p>He stalked out of the store with a scowl on his face, and Bunny and Sue +looked first at each other and then at poor Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"I don't like that man!" declared Sue, as she picked up the broom.</p> + +<p>"I don't, either!" said Bunny. "What makes him so cross, Mrs. Golden?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Maybe he can't help it, dearie. Going around making people pay up is a +cross sort of work, I guess."</p> + +<p>"But what makes him want you to give him money?" asked Sue. "I thought a +store was a place where people paid you money. I didn't think you had to +pay money out. Bunny's going to keep a store when he grows up. Will he +have to pay out money?"</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not going to!" cried the little boy. "People have got to pay me +money, but I don't pay any."</p> + +<p>"You have lots to learn about a store, little man!" said Mrs. Golden. +"It isn't all fun, as you and Sue suppose. Do you see all these things +on my shelves?" she asked.</p> + +<p>The children looked around at them and nodded their heads.</p> + +<p>"To get them I have to buy them from other people—from the wholesalers, +as they are called," explained Mrs. Golden. "The Grocery Supply Company +is one of them. I buy barrels of sugar, barrels of flour, big boxes of +prunes, and so on, from this company. Then I sell a few pounds of sugar, +flour or prunes <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>at a time and make a little money each time I sell. You +see I don't pay as much for the flour and sugar as I sell it for. The +difference in price comes to me, and is what I live on, and sometimes +it's little enough.</p> + +<p>"And now the trouble is I have bought a great many things from this Mr. +Flynt's company, and I haven't the money to pay for them. That's why +he's cross. He has a right to his money, but I haven't it to give him."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Bunny asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, because I don't sell very much in my little store. If I sold more +I'd have the money to pay my bills."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bunny, I know what we can do!" cried Sue. "We can tell mother to +buy everything here—all her groceries and things—and then Mrs. Golden +will have money to pay the cross man."</p> + +<p>"Your mother is very kind as it is," said the old lady. "I'd like to +have her trade here, but of course I don't keep the best of everything. +I have to sell cheap goods. But of course if I sold more of them I'd +have more money and then I could pay my bills.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But there, my dears, this isn't any fun for you. You came to get your +pennies' worth of candy, and I'll pick it out for you. An old woman's +troubles aren't for little ones like you."</p> + +<p>"My father had troubles once," said Bunny, "and we hugged him and kissed +him; didn't we, Sue? That was when there was a fire on his boat dock."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we were sorry a lot," Sue replied. "And we're sorry for you now, +Mrs. Golden, and I'm going to tell mother to buy all her things here."</p> + +<p>"That's very kind of you," said the woman. "But if Philip only gets that +legacy I'll have money enough to pay all my debts and a little left +over. Now don't worry about me. Try to have a good time. I'll get your +candy!"</p> + +<p>"And I'll finish this sweeping," laughed Sue.</p> + +<p>"I'll help," said Bunny Brown, and then, in spite of the cross man, +there seemed to be a little bit of sunshine in Mrs. Golden's store.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE BROKEN WINDOW</h3> + + +<p>"Daddy," said Bunny Brown that night, as the family were in the pleasant +living room, "have you much money in the bank?"</p> + +<p>"I have a little, Bunny, yes. But why do you ask?" Mr. Brown wanted to +know.</p> + +<p>"I have some in my bank!" cried Sue, before her brother could answer. "I +guess maybe I have a hundred and seventy dollars!"</p> + +<p>"Pennies you mean, dear! Pennies! Not dollars!" laughed her mother, for +the children each had a penny bank.</p> + +<p>"Well, pennies, then," agreed Sue. "But aren't a hundred and seventy +pennies 'most the same as a hundred dollars?"</p> + +<p>"Pooh! No!" said Bunny. "It takes a hundred pennies to make even one +dollar!"</p> + +<p>"Oh—o—o—! Does it?" exclaimed Sue. "What a terrible lot of money!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, it does seem a lot," laughed Mr. Brown. "But why are you talking +about money?" and he looked at his little son. "Why did you ask if I had +any money in the bank?"</p> + +<p>"I was wondering if Mrs. Golden had any in her bank," said Bunny.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe she has very much," said Mr. Brown. "I was past her +store to-day. It's a very small one. I don't see how she makes a living +there."</p> + +<p>"We were in there to-day," went on Bunny, "and a man came in and wanted +a lot of money. He said Mrs. Golden owed him. He was from the grocery +company."</p> + +<p>"Yes, the wholesale house, I presume," remarked Mr. Brown. "Well, Bunny, +did Mrs. Golden pay her bills?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Bunny, a bit sadly, "she didn't. And Mr. Flynt was cross. I +was thinking maybe if you had a lot of money in the bank you could take +some out and give it to Mrs. Golden, and then she wouldn't have to cry +when cross men came in. And she could pay you back when she got her +leg—her legacy!" and Bunny brought the last word out with a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>jerk, for +it was rather hard for him to remember.</p> + +<p>"What's all this about?" asked Mr. Brown, looking at his wife in some +surprise.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered the children's mother. "It's the first I've +heard of it. Bunny and Sue often go to the little corner store. It's +handy when Mary wants something in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"Tell me more about Mrs. Golden, Bunny," asked his father.</p> + +<p>Thereupon the story of the cross man and the money the old lady owed to +the grocery company was told as well as the children could tell it.</p> + +<p>"It's too bad!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "I want you children to be as kind +as you possibly can to Mrs. Golden. Help her all you can, Bunny and +Sue."</p> + +<p>"And will you buy things there?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," agreed her mother. "We will trade there all we can. Mr. +Gordon, the big grocer, can afford to lose a little of our custom."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could give her any <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>money out of your bank, Daddy?" +asked Bunny. "And she could give it back after she got her legacy."</p> + +<p>"I'll see about it," was the smiling answer. "I know some of the men in +the Grocery Supply Company," went on Mr. Brown, "and I'll ask them to be +a bit easy with the old lady. But you didn't tell us about this legacy, +Bunny. You told us about the cross man, but not about the legacy."</p> + +<p>"The children have spoken of it to me several times," said Mrs. Brown. +"It seems some relative of Mrs. Golden has died, and her son has gone to +see about some money or property that may come to his mother."</p> + +<p>"She'll have plenty of money when she gets her legacy," remarked Bunny. +"She told me so."</p> + +<p>"Then let us hope that she gets it," said Mr. Brown. "And now don't you +children worry any more about it," he told Bunny and Sue. "I'll help +Mrs. Golden if she really needs it."</p> + +<p>"And we'll help her, too," said Bunny to his sister, as they went to bed +that night.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Bunny! Hi, Bunny Brown!" called <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>a voice under Bunny's window +early the next morning.</p> + +<p>"Hello! Who's down there?" Bunny asked, jumping out of bed.</p> + +<p>"Come on down!" cried Charlie Star. "We're going to have a ball game! +We're waiting for you! Bobbie Boomer, Harry Bentley, George Watson, and +all the fellows are over in the lots waiting. Come on have a ball game!"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know it was so late!" murmured Bunny, rubbing his eyes. "I'll +be right down!"</p> + +<p>He had, indeed, slept later than usual, and as this was vacation time, +his mother had not called him, though Sue had got up and had gone off to +play with some of the girls.</p> + +<p>Bunny had his breakfast and then he ran over to the big lots with +Charlie. A number of boys were tossing and batting balls, and when Bunny +arrived there were enough to make up two "sides" and have a game. Bunny +was captain of one team and Charlie Star of the other.</p> + +<p>"Now, fellows, we want to beat!" cried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> Bunny, as he took his place to +pitch the first ball of the game.</p> + +<p>"Yes! Ho! Ho! I'd like to see your side win!" laughed Charlie. "We won't +let you get a single run!"</p> + +<p>It was all jolly good fun, and though each side tried to win it was in +good-nature, which is how all games should be played. First Bunny's team +was ahead, and then Charlie's, until it came close to noon, when the +boys knew they would have to stop playing and go home to dinner.</p> + +<p>"Now, fellows," said Bunny Brown, as it was his turn to bat, "I'm going +to knock a home run and that will win the game for us!"</p> + +<p>"Pooh! You can't knock a home run!" laughed Charlie, who was pitching +for his side.</p> + +<p>Bunny swung hard at the ball which Charlie pitched to him. And Bunny +himself was a little surprised when his bat struck it squarely and the +ball sailed away, much farther than he had ever knocked a ball before.</p> + +<p>"Run, everybody! Run!" cried Bunny<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> Brown, dropping the bat and starting +for first base himself. Two of his side were on the other bases, and if +they could all get in on his home run it would mean that his side would +win.</p> + +<p>Higher and higher and farther and farther sailed the ball Bunny had +knocked, away over the head of fat Bobbie Boomer, who was playing out in +center field. It surely was going to be a home run.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look where that ball's going!" cried Charlie Star, turning to watch +it. "Oh, it's going to break one of Mr. Morrison's windows!" Mr. +Morrison was a rather crabbed, cross old man who had a house on the edge +of the vacant lots where the boys played ball.</p> + +<p>Bunny was too excited over his home run to pay much attention to where +the ball went, and Tom Case and Jerry Bond, who were running "home," +thought only of how fast they could run. But the others watched the +ball, and a moment later saw it crash through one of Mr. Morrison's +windows.</p> + +<p>By this time Bunny was at third base. He did not stop there, but ran on +in, touched home <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>plate, and sank down to rest, very tired but happy +because he was sure his side would now win the ball game.</p> + +<p>Out in the field, near the fence that was around Mr. Morrison's house, +Bobbie Boomer was calling:</p> + +<p>"I can't get the ball! I can't get the ball! It's in Mr. Morrison's +house!"</p> + +<p>And, surely enough, that's where it was—right in the house. It had gone +through the window.</p> + +<p>"I—I made the home run all right!" panted Bunny Brown. "I told you I +would, Charlie Star!"</p> + +<p>Bunny had run so fast that he had not heard the tinkle of the breaking +glass, nor had he seen where his ball went.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you made a home run all right!" yelled Charlie. "And now we'd +better all <i>run home</i> or Old Morrison will be after us for busting his +window. Come on, fellows! Let's run home!"</p> + +<p>The game was practically over, and a number of the boys, fearing the +anger of Mr. Mor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>rison, started after Charlie, running away from the +lots. But this was not Bunny Brown's way.</p> + +<p>"Did I—did the ball I batted break a window?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"You ought to 'a' heard the crash!" panted Bobbie Boomer, running in +from center field. "Old Morrison will be here in a minute! You'd better +run, Bunny!"</p> + +<p>Surely enough, a moment or two later Mr. Morrison came out on his back +porch, from which he could look into the lots. He saw the boys, some of +them running away. In his hand he held the baseball that had crashed +through his window.</p> + +<p>"Hi, there!" he cried. "Who did this?"</p> + +<p>One or two boys, seeing that Bunny was not going to run, had stayed with +him.</p> + +<p>"Who did this?" cried Mr. Morrison again.</p> + +<p>Up spoke Bunny Brown, walking toward the angry man.</p> + +<p>"I—I knocked the ball," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well, you broke my window, young man, and you've got to pay for it!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I—I will!" faltered Bunny. "I have some money in my bank, and if you +come home with me I'll take it out and pay you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Morrison seemed surprised at this. In times past when his windows +were broken the boys had run away, or, if they had not, they had been +saucy to him and had refused to pay for any glass. This was something +new.</p> + +<p>"What's your name?" asked Mr. Morrison.</p> + +<p>"Bunny Brown," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Does your father keep the boat dock where Bunker Blue works?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Sir."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Mr. Morrison, not so angry now. "Well, of course this window +has to be paid for, but I know your father, Bunny Brown. He and I do +business together. And Bunker Blue does me favors once in a while. I +guess there won't be any hurry about paying for this glass. You can pay +me five cents a week if you want to. And I should think the other boys +ought to chip in and help you pay for it. That's what we used to do when +I played ball. If a window was broken we all helped pay for it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll help," offered one boy.</p> + +<p>"So will I!" said another.</p> + +<p>By this time Charlie Star and the boys who had started to run away began +straggling back. They wondered why Bunny and his companions were not +being chased by Mr. Morrison. And when Charlie and his chums heard about +the offer to pay shares for the broken glass Charlie said:</p> + +<p>"I'll pay my part, too!"</p> + +<p>"So will I!" cried his players.</p> + +<p>"That's more like it," chuckled Mr. Morrison, and, somehow or other, the +boys began wondering why they had ever called him cross. Certainly he +seemed quite different now. Perhaps it was the way Bunny had acted, so +bravely, that made the change.</p> + +<p>"Now look here, boys," went on the uncross Mr. Morrison. "I know you +have to play ball, and this isn't the first time you have broken my +windows. But it's the first time any of you have had the nerve to stay +here and offer to pay. I like that. And now that you all offer to chip +in and pay for it, it'll not be too hard for any one boy. It's the right +spirit. And I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>want to say that if you always do that there'll not be +any trouble.</p> + +<p>"Not that I want any more windows broken," he added, with a laugh. "But +if they are smashed, chip in and pay for them. And now I'll have the +pane of glass put in and you can take up a collection among yourselves +and pay me later on. I'm in no hurry as long as you act fair.</p> + +<p>"And now if you'll come in here I think maybe I can find something that +you boys would like to have," he added. "Don't be afraid, come on in," +he invited, opening a gate in his side fence.</p> + +<p>The boys hesitated a moment, and then, led by Bunny Brown, they entered. +What could Mr. Morrison have in mind?</p> + +<p>They soon found out. He led them down into the cellar and showed them +some old baseballs, some bats, some gloves, and, best of all, a good +catcher's mask.</p> + +<p>"Here are some old baseball things," said Mr. Morrison. "I got them in a +lot of junk I bought a year ago, and I've been wondering what to do with +them. I like the way you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>boys acted—especially some of you," and he +looked at Bunny. "I'm going to let you have these things for your team," +he said. "But try not to break any more of my windows!" he laughed.</p> + +<p>"We won't!" promised Bunny Brown. "Or, if we do, we'll pay for 'em!"</p> + +<p>"Crackie! What dandy stuff!" cried Bobbie Boomer.</p> + +<p>"Now we can have regular league games!" exclaimed Charlie Star, who was +perhaps the best player of all the boys.</p> + +<p>"And a real mask, like the Pirates have!" cried Harry Bentley.</p> + +<p>"Take 'em along," said Mr. Morrison. "They're only cluttering up my +cellar. I'm glad to get rid of 'em, and especially to good boys."</p> + +<p>"We—we were afraid of you at first," said Charlie.</p> + +<p>"Well, you needn't be any more," chuckled Mr. Morrison. "Just pay for my +window, when you get the money together, and we'll call it square!"</p> + +<p>Talking, laughing gleefully, and wondering <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>at their good fortune, the +boys hurried from the cellar. And they had another game that same +afternoon, with the balls, bats, gloves and mask that Mr. Morrison had +given them. Only Bunny knocked no more home runs, and Charlie's team +won, which was, perhaps, as it ought to be. And, best of all, no more +windows were broken.</p> + +<p>It was quite an adventure for Bunny Brown, but it was not the last he +and his sister Sue were to have, for many good times were ahead of them +for the long vacation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>LITTLE STOREKEEPERS</h3> + + +<p>"Here, Bunny! Here, Sue!" called Mrs. Brown, one bright, sunny morning. +"Where are you?"</p> + +<p>"We're coming, Mother!" answered Bunny.</p> + +<p>He and his sister were playing in the yard down near the brook. Bunny +had carried to the brook a little boat, and Sue had with her one of her +very small dolls which was having a voyage on the small vessel. She had +picked out a celluloid doll.</p> + +<p>"'Cause then if she falls off into the water it won't hurt if she gets +wet," said Sue.</p> + +<p>"That's right!" agreed Bunny.</p> + +<p>But now the children left their play and ran to see what their mother +wanted.</p> + +<p>Before doing so, however, Bunny made fast the little boat to a tree on +the bank of the brook, tying it by a long string. And Sue took <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span>the +celluloid doll off the deck and laid her on the grass in the shade.</p> + +<p>"'Cause she might go off sailing by herself," Sue explained.</p> + +<p>"Pooh! She couldn't sail my boat!" laughed Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Well, she might," said Sue.</p> + +<p>Then they ran to their mother—who was waiting for them on the back +steps.</p> + +<p>"What do you want, Mother?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"Is it time to eat?" is what Bunny Brown asked. Bunny, like many +children, was always ready for this.</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't time for lunch," laughed Mrs. Brown. "But I want you to +bring some things from the store so Mary can get lunch ready. And this +is a chance for you to help your friend Mrs. Golden."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean—help her?" asked Bunny. "Is daddy going to give her +some money out of his bank so she can pay the cross man?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," replied Mrs. Brown. "But I mean you can help +her now by getting some groceries from her. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>more we buy and the +more other families buy, the more money she will make, and then she can +pay her bills."</p> + +<p>"That's so!" exclaimed Bunny. "I'm going to ask all the fellows to buy +their things of Mrs. Golden instead of going to Gordon's."</p> + +<p>"And I'll ask the girls!" exclaimed Sue.</p> + +<p>"We mustn't desert Mr. Gordon altogether," said Mrs. Brown. "He wants to +do business, too. But Mrs. Golden needs our trade most, I guess, so get +these things of her. I've written them down on a paper so you'll not +forget, and as there are a number of them you had better take a basket, +Bunny."</p> + +<p>"I will," he said. "Do we have to hurry back, Mother?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there is no special hurry," his mother answered. "But what did you +want to do? Play another game of ball and break another window?" and she +smiled at Bunny, for she had heard the story. Mr. Morrison's window had +been paid for by all the boys "chipping in," or clubbing together.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to play ball," said Bunny. "But Sue and I might stay with +Mrs. Golden <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>a little while and help her in the store if you weren't in +a hurry."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not in a hurry," Mrs. Brown said. "Help Mrs. Golden all you +can, poor old lady!"</p> + +<p>Together Bunny and Sue went around the corner to the little grocery and +notion store. They were talking of what they might do to help the +storekeeper, and they were planning what fun they could have with the +little boat and doll when they reached home again. By this time they +were at the store, but, to their surprise, the front door was closed, +though this was summer, and it generally stood wide open.</p> + +<p>And in one corner of the door was a piece of paper on which something +was written. Bunny and Sue saw this notice and they at once guessed that +something had happened.</p> + +<p>"Maybe she's gone away with her son Philip to get the leg-legacy!" +exclaimed Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Sue. "Go on, Bunny, you can read better'n I can. Read what +it says."</p> + +<p>Slowly Bunny read the little notice on the front door. It said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<p> +"<i>Please come to the side door.</i>"<br /> +</p> + +<p>Wonderingly the children went along the path to the side door, for the +grocery of Mrs. Golden was in an old-fashioned house which had been +built over so she could sell things in it. The side door was almost +closed, but, though open a small crack, Bunny and Sue did not want to +push it open further and go in. Instead they knocked.</p> + +<p>"Yes? What is it? Who's there?" called the voice of Mrs. Golden. It was +a weak, quavering old voice.</p> + +<p>"We're here," answered the little boy. "Bunny Brown and his sister Sue!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dears! I'm glad it's you and not Mr. Flynt!" said Mrs. Golden. +"Push the door open and come in. I have such a dreadful headache that I +couldn't keep the store open. I had to come to my room back here and lie +down. I just had to close the store!"</p> + +<p>The children entered to see their friend lying on a sofa in the room +back of the store. She had her head tied in a rag.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you very sick?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"'Cause if you are I'll go for the doctor," offered Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, thank you, my dears, I'm not ill enough for that," answered +Mrs. Golden. "Just a bad sick-headache. I'll be better to-morrow. But I +couldn't keep the store open to-day."</p> + +<p>"That's too bad," said Bunny. "We came to get some things," and he took +out the list his mother had written for him.</p> + +<p>"Well, I want to sell things, but I am too ill to get up and wait on +you," said the storekeeper. "I put that sign in the front door so if any +wholesale wagons came to leave stuff they could find me. But, really, I +don't feel able to get up."</p> + +<p>Then Bunny had an idea.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't Sue and I wait on ourselves?" he asked eagerly. "We want to +get these things here, and if you told me where to find them—though I +know where to find some myself—and if you told me how much they were, I +could pay you, and it would be all right. I have the money."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, you might do that," said Mrs. Golden. "It would be fine if you +could. Now let me see what you want, and then see if you can get it from +the shelves."</p> + +<p>"I can climb like anything!" said Bunny gleefully.</p> + +<p>"Well, don't fall!" cautioned Mrs. Golden. Together, with the help of +their friend, Bunny and Sue picked out from the closed store the things +their mother had written on the list for them to get. Mrs. Golden told +them where certain groceries were kept, and the price.</p> + +<p>"Why, you are regular little storekeepers!" declared Mrs. Golden, trying +not to think of her aching head. "You have waited on yourselves as well +as I could have done."</p> + +<p>"I wish we could wait on some regular customers!" boldly exclaimed +Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be fun!" laughed Sue.</p> + +<p>There came a knock on the side door, and a woman's voice called:</p> + +<p>"Are you there, Mrs. Golden? I want a few things. May I come in?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, come in, Mrs. Clark," replied the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>storekeeper, as she +recognized the voice of one of her customers. "If I can't wait on you +you can help yourself, as Bunny and Sue did."</p> + +<p>A woman came in the side door.</p> + +<p>"Let us wait on you, please!" begged Bunny. "My sister and I can get +what you want."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, I guess you can!" agreed Mrs. Clark, with a laugh. "I want a +yeast cake and some sugar. It's too bad you two children couldn't stay +and help Mrs. Golden," she added, as Bunny and Sue brought what she +wanted and she was giving the money to the store owner.</p> + +<p>"We'd love to stay!" cried Bunny.</p> + +<p>"And we can, for a while," added Sue. "Mother said we didn't have to +hurry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, could we open the front door and tend store for you really?" asked +Bunny, his eyes sparkling in delight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>TWO LETTERS</h3> + + +<p>Mrs. Golden thought it over for a minute. Really, with her head aching +as it did, she was in almost too much pain to think, but she felt that +something must be done. She needed all the money she could take in, and +if customers were turned away from her store, because the door was +closed, she would lose trade. Not many would come around to the side as +Mrs. Clark had done.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't we tend store for you—a little while?" asked Bunny again, as +he saw Mrs. Golden thinking, as his mother sometimes thought, when he or +Sue asked her if they might do something.</p> + +<p>"We could ask you where things are that we don't know about," added Sue, +"and we wouldn't talk loud or make a noise."</p> + +<p>"Bless your hearts, dearies!" sighed Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> Golden. "You are very kind; +but I'm sure I don't know what to say."</p> + +<p>"Then let me say it," advised Mrs. Clark. "I say let the children tend +store for you, Mrs. Golden. Bunny and Sue are a lot smarter for their +age than most children. You let them tend store for you, and I'll run +over once in a while to see if everything is all right."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Mrs. Golden. "You may keep store for me, Bunny and +Sue."</p> + +<p>"Goodie!" exclaimed Sue, clapping her hands. Then she happened to +remember that she must not make too much noise, and she grew quieter.</p> + +<p>"I'll open the front door and take down the sign," said Bunny. "We'll +wait on the customers for you, Mrs. Golden."</p> + +<p>Bunny felt quite like a grown man as he removed the card and turned the +lock in the front door, swinging it open. The shades had been pulled +down over the show windows, and Bunny and Sue now ran these up.</p> + +<p>"I'll run along now," said Mrs. Clark, going out the front door and +nodding in friendly fashion at the children. "I guess you'll make <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>out +all right, and I'll be back in a little while. If she gets any worse, or +anything happens, just come and tell me—you know where I live," she +said in a low voice, so Mrs. Golden, in the back room, would not hear.</p> + +<p>Sue nodded and Bunny smiled. They were rather anxious for Mrs. Clark to +go, so they would be left in charge of the store. And when this +happened, when really, for the first time, Bunny Brown and his sister +Sue were truly storekeepers you can hardly imagine how pleased they +were.</p> + +<p>"You go to sleep now, Mrs. Golden," said Sue, going on tiptoe to the +rear room, to look at the old woman lying on the couch. "You go to +sleep. Bunny and I will tend store."</p> + +<p>Then she went back to Bunny, who sat on a stool behind the grocery +counter. He had decided he would sell things from that side of the +store, while Sue could wait on the dry-goods and notions side.</p> + +<p>"All we want now is some customers," remarked the little boy.</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Sue. "We want to sell things."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>They waited some little time, for the corner store was not in a busy +part of town. Several times, as footsteps were heard outside, Bunny and +Sue hardly breathed, hoping some one would come in to buy. But each time +they were disappointed.</p> + +<p>Finally, however, just when they were about to give up, thinking they +would have to go home, a woman came in and looked around, not at first +seeing any one.</p> + +<p>"What can I do for you to-day, lady?" asked Bunny Brown, as he had often +heard Mr. Gordon say.</p> + +<p>"Oh, are you tending store?" the lady asked. She was a stranger to Bunny +and Sue.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, I and my sister—I mean my sister and I—are keeping store for +Mrs. Golden. She's sick," said Bunny. "I can get you anything you want."</p> + +<p>"All I want is a loaf of bread," the lady answered.</p> + +<p>Bunny knew where to get this, and also the kind the lady wanted, as it +was the same sort of loaf his mother often sent him for. He put <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>it in +a paper bag and took the money. The lady gave the right change, so Bunny +did not have to trouble Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>All this while Sue stood on her side of the Store, rather anxiously +waiting. She wished the customer would buy of her.</p> + +<p>"You are rather small to be in a store, aren't you?" asked the lady, as +she started to leave with the bread.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we know lots about stores," said Bunny. "We often play keep one, +but this is the first time we ever did it regular."</p> + +<p>"I know how to keep store, too," said Sue, unable to keep still any +longer. "Would you like some needles and thread?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, now that you speak of it, I remember I do need some thread, my +dear," the lady answered, with a smile. "Can you get me the kind I +want?"</p> + +<p>"I—I guess so," Sue answered, yet she was a bit doubtful, as there were +so many things among the notions.</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps I can help you," said the lady. "I see the tray of spools +of silk right <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>behind you, and if you'll pull it out I'll pick the shade +I want. I have a sample of dress goods here."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 252px;"> +<img src="images/180.jpg" width="252" height="400" alt="SUE HELPED HER CUSTOMER MATCH HER SAMPLE." title="SUE HELPED HER CUSTOMER MATCH HER SAMPLE." /> +</div> + +<div class='center'>SUE HELPED HER CUSTOMER MATCH HER SAMPLE.<br /> +<i>Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store.</i> <a href='#Page_174'><i>Page</i> 174</a></div> + +<p>Sue had often been with her mother when Mrs. Brown matched sewing silk +in this way, and the little girl pulled out the shallow drawer of small +spools. She saw the sample and knew the lady needed red sewing silk; so +she at once pulled out the right drawer. Then she helped the customer +match her sample until she had what she wanted.</p> + +<p>"How much is it?" asked the lady, taking out her purse.</p> + +<p>Here was Sue's trouble—she did not know exactly, and she did not want +to go ask Mrs. Golden, for the storekeeper might be sleeping. To call +her might make her head suddenly ache worse.</p> + +<p>"I generally pay ten cents a spool," said the customer, "and I suppose +that's what it is here. If it's any more I can stop in the next time I +pass. That is, unless you can find out for sure."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess ten cents is all right," said Sue, and she found out later +that it was.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then the lady left with her bread and thread. The children had waited on +their first customer all alone.</p> + +<p>In the next hour, during which the children remained in the store, they +waited on several customers, and did it very well, too, not having to +ask Mrs. Golden about anything, for which they were glad. Of course the +things they sold were simple articles, easy to find, and of such small +price that the men or women who bought them had the right change all +ready.</p> + +<p>Once a boy came in, and you should have seen how surprised he was when +Bunny waited on him. He was Tommy Shadder, a boy Bunny knew slightly.</p> + +<p>"Huh! you workin' here?" asked Tommy, as he took the sugar Bunny put in +a bag, not having spilled very much.</p> + +<p>"Sure, I'm working here!" declared Bunny. "That is, for a while," he +added, for he knew he would soon have to go home.</p> + +<p>"Huh!" said Tommy again, as he went out. "Huh!"</p> + +<p>"Mail!" suddenly called a voice, and the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span>postman entered the store. +"Where's Mrs. Golden?" he asked, as he saw Bunny and Sue, whom he knew.</p> + +<p>"She's got a headache, and we're tending store," Sue answered proudly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, all right. Here's a couple of letters for her. She's been asking me +for letters all week, and I didn't have any for her. Now here are two."</p> + +<p>He tossed them on the counter and went out into the sunlit street. Bunny +looked at the two letters.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" he exclaimed. "One's from Mrs. Golden's son Philip. Maybe it's +about the legacy!" Bunny had seen the name Philip Golden in the corner +of the envelope.</p> + +<p>"Who's the other from?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"The Grocery Supply Company," read the little boy from the other +envelope.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" sighed Sue.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Maybe that's a bill," Sue said, for she had often been in her father's +office on the dock when the mail came in, and when he received <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>a thin +letter Mr. Brown would hold it up to the light, laugh, and say:</p> + +<p>"I guess this is a bill."</p> + +<p>Sue knew what bills were, all right, and she seemed to feel that bills +coming to Mrs. Golden, who had little money, would be worse than those +which came to her father's office, for Mr. Brown never seemed to worry +about the bills.</p> + +<p>As the children looked at the letters on the counter, wondering whether +or not to take them in to Mrs. Golden, she herself came out of the back +room. She looked at the children and then at the letters.</p> + +<p>"Oh, some mail!" she exclaimed. "I hope it's from Philip about the +legacy! If it is, I'm sure it will completely cure my headache, which is +much better."</p> + +<p>Eagerly Bunny and Sue watched to see Mrs. Golden open the letters.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>BUNNY HAS AN IDEA</h3> + + +<p>Mrs. Golden read first the letter from her son, sent to her from the +distant city. But if Bunny and Sue thought to see a look of joy spread +over the store owner's face they were disappointed.</p> + +<p>"Did he—did your son send you the legacy?" asked Bunny, as the letter +was folded and put back in the envelope.</p> + +<p>"Well, no, not exactly," was the answer. "It seems there is some trouble +about it. I hoped Philip could come home to help me, but he can't, and +it will be some time before we'll get any money from that legacy—if we +ever get it. Oh, dear! So many troubles!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden sighed and opened the other letter. Her troubles seemed to +be more now, for she sighed again as she laid this letter aside. Sue +could not help asking:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is it a bill?"</p> + +<p>"Something like that, yes," answered the old lady. "It's from Mr. +Flynt's grocery company. It says if I don't pay soon I'll be sold out."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden sighed again. The children did not know exactly what it was +all about, but they knew there was trouble of some kind and they wanted +to help. But they felt, too, that it was time they went home.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden must have seen the worried looks on their faces, for she +tried to smile through the clouds of her own trouble as she said:</p> + +<p>"Never mind, my dears! Run along now, for I'm sure your mother will be +getting anxious about you. You have been a great help to me. I guess +I'll find some way out of my troubles—I hope so, anyhow. Run along now! +It was good of you to help me."</p> + +<p>So Bunny and Sue, taking the things they had bought, started out of the +store.</p> + +<p>"If she could only sell more things she'd have more money and then she +could pay that grocery bill," said Bunny to his sister.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Sue. "We'll tell daddy about it and see what he says. +Daddy has lots of money."</p> + +<p>"But maybe he needs it," suggested Bunny. And very likely Mr. Brown did.</p> + +<p>However, children of the ages of Bunny and Sue are not unhappy for very +long at a time, and trouble seems to roll away from them like water off +a duck's back. On the way home they met some of their playmates, and in +talking over a picnic that was to be held in a few days Bunny and Sue +forgot about Mrs. Golden for a while.</p> + +<p>"You stayed rather a long time," said Mrs. Brown, when Bunny and Sue +finally reached home with the groceries she had sent them for.</p> + +<p>"You said we could stay," said Bunny.</p> + +<p>"And we helped Mrs. Golden by tending store," added Sue.</p> + +<p>"Did you really tend store?" Uncle Tad asked, and he was much surprised +when the children told what they had done.</p> + +<p>"I guess she doesn't do much business," remarked Uncle Tad. "She has a +store on a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>corner, which is the best place for one, as people on two +streets pass it. But I'm afraid she isn't enough of a hustler."</p> + +<p>"What's a hustler?" asked Bunny, wondering if Mrs. Golden might be made +into one.</p> + +<p>"A hustler," said Uncle Tad, "is a person that does things in a hurry. +Some storekeepers are hustlers for business. If business doesn't come to +them they go after it. That's how they sell things."</p> + +<p>"How could Mrs. Golden sell more things?" Bunny questioned. "She's got +lots of things in her store—heaps and packs of 'em—but she doesn't +sell much."</p> + +<p>"That's the trouble!" said Uncle Tad. "She doesn't advertise, and she +doesn't make any window display."</p> + +<p>"What's a window display?" Sue inquired.</p> + +<p>"I saw you looking at one the other day," replied the old soldier. "Do +you remember when I passed you and Bunny while you were looking in the +drug store window on Main Street?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! Where the rubber bags were!" cried Bunny.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A little doll was making believe swim in a rubber bag," said Sue, "and +there was a big crowd looking at it."</p> + +<p>"That's it!" exclaimed Uncle Tad. "That drug store man got a big crowd +in front of his store by putting something in the window that made +people stop and look. That's advertising."</p> + +<p>"Maybe Mrs. Golden could fix up her windows so a crowd would stop in +front!" exclaimed Sue.</p> + +<p>"What good would that do?" Bunny asked. "She wants people to come inside +her store and buy things."</p> + +<p>"That's it," agreed Uncle Tad. "But if you get a crowd <i>outside</i> a +store, because there's something to look at in the windows, some of that +crowd will go <i>inside</i> and buy something."</p> + +<p>"Only Mrs. Golden hasn't any rubber bags," went on Bunny. "But I guess +Sue could lend her a doll if she wanted it to take a swim."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Golden doesn't need to put rubber bags in her window," said Uncle +Tad. "That <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>wouldn't be the thing for a grocery and notion store. She +should put in something that people would stop to look at, or have a +special sale or something like that. And another thing I've noticed, +when I've been past her place is that the windows are very dirty. You +can hardly see what's inside. If her windows were cleaned and she had +something in them, a crowd would stop and more people would go in and +buy than go in now. Mrs. Golden needs to advertise in that way."</p> + +<p>Uncle Tad went out. Mrs. Brown busied herself about the house, and Bunny +Brown motioned to his sister Sue to come to the side porch.</p> + +<p>"What you want?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>Bunny put his finger over his lips.</p> + +<p>"I've got an idea!" he said. "I know how we can help Mrs. Golden get a +crowd in front of her store."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE WINDOW DISPLAY</h3> + + +<p>Bunny Brown and his sister Sue spent much time during the next few days +out in their barn—that is when they were not going to the store for +their mother. Every chance they had, however, they bought things of Mrs. +Golden, to help her as much as they could by trading at her store.</p> + +<p>"And we ought to get the other boys and girls to go there," Sue said.</p> + +<p>"We will, after a while," agreed Bunny. "Just now we have to do +something else."</p> + +<p>And the something else had to do with his idea and the time he and Sue +spent in the barn. With them, most of the time, was Splash, their dog, +and Charlie Star often came over with a covered basket.</p> + +<p>"What do you think the children are doing?" asked Mrs. Brown of Mary, +the cook, one day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess they're getting up some kind of a show," Mary answered. "I +can hear Splash barking now and then, and there's a cat mewing."</p> + +<p>"Cat!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "We haven't a cat!"</p> + +<p>"I guess it's Charlie Star's," went on the cook. "He brings it over +every day in a basket and takes it home again. I guess they're getting +ready for a show."</p> + +<p>"Bunny and Sue did have a show once," observed Mrs. Brown. "I hardly +believe they would get up another. I must see what they are up to."</p> + +<p>However, as company came just then and Mrs. Brown had to entertain them, +she forgot all about her two children. Meanwhile things were happening +out in the barn.</p> + +<p>But Bunny and Sue kept it a secret, in which only Charlie Star had a +share, and Charlie did not tell. When Mrs. Brown's company had left some +one telephoned to her and she forgot all about her plan to ask Bunny +what was going on.</p> + +<p>It was a few days after this that Bunny and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> Sue were again sent to the +store for their mother, and you may easily guess to which store they +went—the little corner one, of course.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden was sitting in her usual easy chair, and there were no other +customers in the place.</p> + +<p>"How's business?" asked Bunny, as he had often heard men ask his father.</p> + +<p>"It might be better and not hurt itself," was Mrs. Golden's answer. +"Customers are few and far between."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Golden," said Bunny, "my Uncle Tad says you ought to have a +special sale. Did you ever have one?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, years ago," she answered. "I had a sale of notions, and a +number of women came in to get things to make dresses with. But I +haven't had a special sale for a long while."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you, then?" asked Bunny eagerly. "I think a special grocery +sale would be good. You could put a lot of things in your window and +mark the prices on them, and people would come in to buy."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose I could do that," agreed Mrs. Golden slowly. "I have a +big stock of a new kind of oatmeal on hand. Some new concern sold it to +me, but it didn't take very well. Lately I got a letter from them saying +I could sell it at a special price. I suppose that would bring in some +trade. I never thought of it. I'm getting too old, I guess, and worrying +too much. When my son Philip comes home I'll have a special sale."</p> + +<p>"No, don't wait!" cried Bunny Brown eagerly. "Let's have it now! Where +are those oatmeal things?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden smiled at his eager, bustling air.</p> + +<p>"They're in the storeroom," she said. "Some of the cases aren't open +yet."</p> + +<p>"We'll open 'em for you!" cried Bunny. "Then we'll stack the oatmeal in +the window, and we'll make a sign saying it's awful cheap and you'll +sell a lot, Mrs. Golden."</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe I will, dearie. I'm sure I hope so. And it's good of you to +help me. Let me see now, I'll put 'em in the left window, I guess. That +has less in it," and she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>looked toward the window she meant. So did +Bunny and Sue, and Sue's first idea was made plain when she said:</p> + +<p>"Could I wash that window, Mrs. Golden?"</p> + +<p>"Wash the window? Why, yes, I suppose so," answered the storekeeper. "It +is pretty dirty," she added. "I don't very often look at 'em, and that's +a fact. I declare! you can hardly see what I have in my windows, can +you? Dear me, I am getting old. If Philip was here he'd wash 'em for +me."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it!" offered Sue. "I often wash the low windows for mother. She +lets me. Have you got any of that white stuff that makes 'em shine?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know what you mean," said Mrs. Golden. "Yes, you can take a +cake from the grocery shelf. My, I never thought of a special sale and +having windows washed. It may bring me trade!"</p> + +<p>"Uncle Tad says it will!" exclaimed Bunny. In a measure it was Uncle +Tad's idea that Bunny and Sue were carrying out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You wash the window," he told his sister, "and I'll open the oatmeal."</p> + +<p>Soon there was a busy time in Mrs. Golden's store. Bunny was hammering +and pounding away opening the oatmeal cases, and Sue was washing the +window, having first taken out the few things Mrs. Golden had on display +there—not that you could see them very well from the outside, however.</p> + +<p>"Could I wash the other window, too?" asked Sue, when she had finished +the first.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to put oatmeal in both windows?" asked Mrs. Golden. +"Seems to me that will be too much. Wash the other window if you want +to, dearie, but two of them filled with oatmeal——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we aren't going to put oatmeal in <i>both!</i>" exclaimed Bunny, with a +queer look at his sister. "We're going to fix up the second window to +make people come in and buy."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden did not seem to understand exactly. She shook her head in a +puzzled way and murmured that she was getting old.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>And as the postman came along just then with a letter from Philip, she +was soon so busy reading it that she paid little attention to what Bunny +and Sue were doing.</p> + +<p>The children worked hard and faithfully all morning, and promised to +come back in the afternoon. When they left to go home to lunch, both +windows were brightly shining, though there were a few streaks here and +there where Sue had forgotten to wipe off the white, cleaning powder. +But they didn't matter.</p> + +<p>"I'll pull the shades down," said Bunny, as he was leaving. "We don't +want people looking in the windows until we get 'em all fixed up, and +then we'll surprise 'em."</p> + +<p>"Just as you like, dearie. Just as you like," said Mrs. Golden, in a +dreamy tone. She was thinking of what her son had said in his letter.</p> + +<p>Hurrying through their lunch as quickly as their mother would let them, +Bunny and Sue hastened back to Mrs. Golden's store. They told something +of their plans at home, and Uncle Tad said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's a fine idea! I'll stop down there later and see how it looks."</p> + +<p>"Come on, Splash!" called Bunny to his dog, as he and his sister started +back. "We want you!"</p> + +<p>"And we must stop at Charlie's house and tell him," said Sue.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we will," Bunny agreed, and Charlie, when he heard the news, said:</p> + +<p>"I'll be at the store in about half an hour."</p> + +<p>Certainly things were getting ready to happen.</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue found Mrs. Golden lying down on her couch in the back room +when they reached the store again.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I have another of my bad headaches coming on," she said.</p> + +<p>"You lie down," said Sue kindly. "Bunny and I will tend store again, and +we'll start the special sale."</p> + +<p>The windows were now dry and clean. All the old goods had been taken +out, and Bunny and his sister were ready to put in the special display +of oatmeal which was to be sold at a low price. Mrs. Golden told Bunny +where <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span>to find some price cards to put in the window telling of the +special sale. These cards were of a sort that most grocers keep on hand.</p> + +<p>With the help of Sue, Bunny piled the boxes of oatmeal in the window. +They were stacked up as nearly like a fort as he could make them, and he +knew how to do this, for he had often helped the boys build forts of +snow. Here and there he left holes in the piled-up wall of oatmeal +boxes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you only had something like little cannons to put in the holes +it would look more like a real fort!" said Sue.</p> + +<p>Bunny thought this was a good idea, and looked around for something to +use. He saw some round pasteboard boxes, the top covers of which were a +dull black.</p> + +<p>"They'll look just like cannons," he said, as he fitted them in the +holes of the oatmeal box fort. The window shades being down, no one +could see from the street what was going on. Splash, the big dog, was +content to sleep in the store while the children were there.</p> + +<p>"Now for the other window," said Bunny to Sue, when the oatmeal was all +in place, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span>with the low price plainly marked on cards stuck here and +there.</p> + +<p>"We have to wait for Charlie," Sue said.</p> + +<p>"He's coming now," observed Bunny, looking from the door. No customers +had come in while the children were busy fixing the window, and they +were just as well satisfied. They hoped for a rush of trade when the +shades were raised.</p> + +<p>Charlie came in with the covered basket, and the next fifteen minutes +were busy ones for the children. Mrs. Golden had fallen asleep and did +not come out of the back room to see what they were doing.</p> + +<p>"Well, we're all ready now," said Bunny, at last. "Pull up the shades!"</p> + +<p>He and Charlie did this. The sun shone in through the newly cleaned +windows and lit up such a display as never before had been seen in Mrs. +Golden's store.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>IN THE FLOUR BARREL</h3> + + +<p>Slowly the heavy green shades, which hid what was in the cleaned windows +from the sight of persons in the street, rolled up. Bunny Brown, his +sister Sue, and Charlie Star waited for what was to happen next. They +looked first at one of the windows in which they had made a display, and +then at the other.</p> + +<p>In one was the pile of oatmeal packages built up like a small fort, with +holes here and there through which stuck round boxes, with black covers +so that they seemed to be small cannon.</p> + +<p>In the other window—but I can best tell you what was in that by telling +you what happened.</p> + +<p>The curtains had not been up very long, and the children were feeling +rather proud of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span>what they had done, especially Sue in making the glass +so clean, when a boy who was passing along the street stopped to look in +one of the windows.</p> + +<p>And the window he looked at was not the one where the oatmeal boxes were +piled. It was at the other. This boy was soon joined by a second. Then a +girl who had been running, as if in a hurry, came to a stop, and she +stood near the two boys, looking in.</p> + +<p>"The crowd is beginning to come!" remarked Charlie Star.</p> + +<p>"But they aren't buying any of the oatmeal," objected Sue.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," Charlie went on. "These kids wouldn't buy anything anyhow; +they haven't any money. Wait till the big folks come." Charlie spoke of +the "kids" as if he were about twenty years old himself. He seemed to +have become much bigger and more important since helping Bunny and Sue +fix up Mrs. Golden's windows.</p> + +<p>And, surely enough, a few minutes later men and women began to stop to +look at the windows of the little corner store. And the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span>men and women +at first looked not at the oatmeal but at the other window.</p> + +<p>"It's making a big hit!" said Bunny Brown. He had learned this saying at +the time when he and his sister Sue gave a show.</p> + +<p>By this time quite a crowd had gathered in the street outside, and there +was some talk and laughter which was heard inside the store. It was even +heard in the back room where Mrs. Golden had gone to lie down, and it +aroused her from her doze.</p> + +<p>"Well, children," she said, as she came slowly out, "have you got the +windows washed, and the special sale of oatmeal started?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, everything is all ready," answered Bunny, with a sly look at his +sister and Charlie.</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Golden saw the crowd outside.</p> + +<p>"My goodness!" she exclaimed. "I never knew oatmeal to be so popular. I +can sell it all, maybe!" Then she noticed that the crowd was mostly +looking at the other window.</p> + +<p>"What have you in there, Bunny Brown?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Take a look and see," invited Sue.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden peered over the wooden partition that fenced the show window +off from the remainder of the store. And in the window she saw—what do +you think? Well, I imagine you must have guessed by this time.</p> + +<p>Yes, it was Splash, the big dog, and asleep on his back was Charlie +Star's little white kitten! It made the cutest picture you can imagine, +for Splash kept very still, as if he did not want to wake up the +sleeping puss, and the little cat was curled up just as if on a silken +cushion.</p> + +<p>It was this that Bunny and Charlie had been planning in the barn for +several days. At first Splash would have nothing to do with the white +kitten, and the kitten fluffed up her tail and made funny noises at +Splash.</p> + +<p>But finally the boys and Sue had trained the two to be friends, so that +Splash would lie down and allow the kitten to go to sleep on his back. +And it was this that Bunny and Sue, together with Charlie Star, had +planned to attract attention to Mrs. Golden's poor little store.</p> + +<p>The children had succeeded better than <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>they had dared dream. Outside +the crowd was getting larger and larger all the while, and men were +saying:</p> + +<p>"That's a pretty good dog!"</p> + +<p>The women said:</p> + +<p>"What a pretty picture!"</p> + +<p>Little girls said:</p> + +<p>"I wish I had that pussy!"</p> + +<p>The boys wished they owned Splash. Many of them knew him, for they had +often seen the dog with Bunny Brown. But the kitten was new, and few +knew that Charlie Star owned it.</p> + +<p>And then happened just what Uncle Tad had told the children would take +place if they could draw a crowd outside the store. Some began to look +at the special display of oatmeal in the other window, and a few came in +to buy. Some bought not only oatmeal but other things as well, happening +to remember that they were needed at home.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden, who felt much better after her sleep, was kept very busy +waiting on customers, and Bunny and Sue helped her, as did Charlie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 251px;"> +<img src="images/206.jpg" width="251" height="400" alt="SPLASH AND THE KITTEN DID THEIR SHARE IN DRAWING TRADE." title="SPLASH AND THE KITTEN DID THEIR SHARE IN DRAWING TRADE." /> +</div> + +<div class='center'>SPLASH AND THE KITTEN DID THEIR SHARE IN DRAWING TRADE.<br /> +<i>Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store.</i> <a href='#Page_199'><i>Page</i> 199</a></div> + +<p>Splash and the kitten did their share, too, in drawing trade. For soon +the kitten awakened and began playing with a spool which Charlie had +hung up on a string in the window. The little white cat struck at the +spool with her paws as she stood up on the back of the big dog. Splash +did not seem to mind it in the least. In fact, he looked as if he +enjoyed it, and this amused the crowd all the more.</p> + +<p>"Well, I do declare! You children beat anything I ever saw!" exclaimed +Mrs. Golden, when she had time to look and see what was going on in the +special display window. "You've made my store into a regular circus!"</p> + +<p>"But it's good for business, isn't it?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Indeed it is!" said the old lady, with a smile. "I never was so busy. +That oatmeal is selling fine. I wish I'd had a special sale of it +before."</p> + +<p>Besides the boxes in the window there were packages of oatmeal piled on +shelves ready to be sold. And as the price was lower than <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>oatmeal could +be bought for at other stores, Mrs. Golden did a good trade.</p> + +<p>After a while things became a little quieter in the store, after the +first surprise had worn off. But now people were constantly passing in +the street, and many of them stopped to look at the dog and cat, which +were now playing together, Splash gently pawing at the white kitten +which climbed all over him.</p> + +<p>Bunny had just finished selling a man a package of oatmeal, and Sue was +getting out a paper of pins for a lady when Uncle Tad came into the +store.</p> + +<p>"Hello, children!" he cried in his jolly way. "I see you took some of my +advice and advertised by your show windows," he added to Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"Bunny and Sue did it for me," she said, "with the help of Charlie Star. +It is wonderful."</p> + +<p>"If you'll get me a white piece of cardboard and a pen and some ink I'll +make you a sign to put in that oatmeal window," offered the old soldier. +"Those signs are all right, Bunny," said Uncle Tad. "But for a special +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>sale you want a special sign. Let me see now," he went on, as Mrs. +Golden got him what he had asked for. "You have made those oatmeal boxes +into the shape of a fort with guns. Now I must make a sign to go with +it. Let me see. Ah, I have it!"</p> + +<p>He was busy with the ink for several minutes, and then he held up a sign +which read:</p> + +<div class='center'> +FORT-IFY YOUR CONSTITUTION<br /> +WITH THIS OATMEAL<br /> +</div> + +<p>"There!" exclaimed Uncle Tad, "this ought to bring more customers!"</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha!" laughed Mrs. Golden. "That's a pretty good joke!"</p> + +<p>Bunny, Sue, and Charlie could not see anything funny, or like a joke, in +the sign. But then it was not intended for children, so it did not +matter.</p> + +<p>But men and women passing in the street and pausing to read what Uncle +Tad had printed, seemed to think it was odd, for they stopped, read it, +laughed or chuckled, and then either passed on or came in and bought +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span>some oatmeal. And quite a few came in, so that by night Mrs. Golden had +sold nearly all of the cereal.</p> + +<p>"My goodness!" she said, when it was time for Bunny, Sue, and Charlie to +go home. "This has been a wonderful day. Could you come over to-morrow?" +she asked. "I don't mean to work," she added quickly. "For I'm afraid +your mothers will think you're doing too much for me. But I mean could +you come over and bring your dog and cat to put in the window. They +certainly brought the crowd."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we'll bring Splash," said Bunny.</p> + +<p>"And I'll bring my kitten," offered Charlie.</p> + +<p>"And we'll come and help you sell things!" laughed Sue. "We like it, +don't we?" she asked the boys, and of course they said they did.</p> + +<p>The first attempt of Bunny and Sue to advertise Mrs. Golden's store had +been very successful. Of course Uncle Tad had told them how to do it, +and Charlie Star had helped by bringing his kitten and training her with +Bunny and Sue. So the special oatmeal sale <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span>made quite a bit of talk in +that section of Bellemere near the little corner store.</p> + +<p>Of course Mrs. Golden did not make a great deal of money, for the profit +on each thing she sold, even the many boxes of oatmeal, was small. But +it brought new customers to her store, and she was well pleased with +what had happened.</p> + +<p>"And if Philip can only get that legacy," she murmured to herself that +night, "things will be easier for me. But I owe a lot of money to Mr. +Flynt, and I don't know where I'm going to get it to pay—not even if +those dear children help me with a lot more special sales, bless their +hearts! Well, I'll do the best I can."</p> + +<p>The next day Bunny, Sue, and Charlie again came to Mrs. Golden's store. +Charlie could not stay, however, as he had to rake up the leaves around +his home, but he brought his kitten, and again the dog and the white +pussy drew crowds to the store window.</p> + +<p>Besides oatmeal Mrs. Golden also had a special sale on notions, and she +did a fairly good business in them, so that she and Sue <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>were kept busy +behind the counter. Not that Sue could do as much as Mrs. Golden, but +she did all she could.</p> + +<p>Bunny waited on some customers who came in to buy groceries, and when +one lady wanted some flour an accident happened. Bunny was leaning over +to scoop the white stuff out of the barrel, and as it was near the +bottom he had to stand up on a box to reach it.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the lady on whom he was waiting, and who was watching him, gave +a startled cry.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"That little boy has fallen into the flour barrel!" was the answer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>SUE COULDN'T STOP IT</h3> + + +<p>There was a banging, kicking sound and several cries of "Oh, dear!" The +cries were faint and muffled, as if they came from the cellar. Then the +lady who had ordered three pounds of flour, which Bunny was trying to +scoop out for her, ran behind the counter.</p> + +<p>Sue followed. So did Mrs. Golden. All they saw were Bunny's heels +sticking out of the barrel, waving in the air, and now and then banging +against a low shelf near which the flour barrel stood.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" cried Bunny, from inside the barrel.</p> + +<p>For that is where he was. He had fallen into the flour barrel!</p> + +<p>"Pull him out!" begged Sue.</p> + +<p>"I can't. I'm not strong enough to pull <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>him up!" panted the customer, +but doing her best.</p> + +<p>"We must all pull!" exclaimed Sue. "Bunny pulled me out of the brook, +and I'll pull him out of the flour barrel!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we must all pull!" said Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>Together they all grasped Bunny by the heels and lifted him out of the +flour barrel.</p> + +<p>Oh, but he was a queer sight! Luckily he had stuck out his two hands +when he felt himself falling head first into the nearly empty barrel, +and had landed on his outstretched palms. And as there was not much +flour in the barrel his head had not gone into the fluffy white stuff, +or he might nearly have smothered. As it was his face was completely +covered with the white particles.</p> + +<p>And when Mrs. Golden, the customer and Sue had pulled the little boy +from the barrel, and set him on his feet, Sue could not help laughing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bunny!" she cried, giggling. "You look—you look just like the +clown in the circus!"</p> + +<p>And truly Bunny did, for his face was plas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>tered as white as the face of +any funny man that ever made jokes beneath the canvas.</p> + +<p>"You poor boy," said the customer.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bunny, I'm so sorry!" exclaimed Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"I—I'm all right," declared Bunny, blowing out a white cloud of flour +as he talked. "I—I didn't spill any!"</p> + +<p>"No, you spilled yourself more than anything else," said Mrs. Golden. "I +guess I'd better get the flour, Bunny, after we brush you off. It's too +low in the barrel for you to reach. I don't want you falling in again."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Bunny. "I guess I'm not quite big enough for flour +barrels."</p> + +<p>He was dusted off out in the side yard, so no great harm resulted from +his accidental dive into the barrel, and Mrs. Golden waited on the flour +customer.</p> + +<p>"What did you think, Bunny, when you were falling into the flour +barrel?" asked Sue, when the excitement was over and business was going +on as before in the little corner store.</p> + +<p>"What did I think?" he repeated. "Why,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> I guess I didn't have time to +think anything. I just felt myself slipping, and then I fell in. I stuck +out my hands, and I'm glad the flour wasn't deep in the barrel."</p> + +<p>"It was like the time when I fell into the brook!" said Sue, with a +little laugh. "Only I fell in feet first and you went in head first."</p> + +<p>"Yes," laughed Bunny, "I went in head first all right!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden told the children they must not try to do things that were +too hard for them, even though they meant to be kind and help her.</p> + +<p>The second day of the special sale of oatmeal and notions was not quite +as busy as the first. The novelty of the cat and dog in the window wore +off and Bunny brought some of the little pet alligators to show. Still +quite a number of people came in to buy, and Mrs. Golden was well +pleased, thanking Bunny, Sue, and Charlie many times. She also wanted to +thank Splash and the white kitten and the best way to do this was to +feed them, which she did, as well as the alligators.</p> + +<p>"We'll come and help you tend store to-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>morrow," said Bunny as he and +Sue went home that night, Sue carrying Charlie's kitten in a basket and +Splash following at Bunny's heels. The alligators were left till next +day.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid your mother will think you are doing too much for me," said +the old lady, as she said good-bye.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" exclaimed Bunny. "She told us to help you all we could."</p> + +<p>"And we like it!" Sue exclaimed. "It's fun."</p> + +<p>"Except when you fall into flour barrels!" added Bunny Brown, with a +laugh at some white spots that still clung to his jacket.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brown did not mind how much Bunny and his sister helped Mrs. +Golden, but she told the children they must not stay in the store too +much.</p> + +<p>"Your long vacation from school is given you so you may play out in the +sunshine and fresh air," said Mother Brown. "And though it is all right +for you to help Mrs. Golden in her store, I want you to have some fun +also."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>"It's fun in the store," said Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Well, I mean other kinds of fun," added Mrs. Brown.</p> + +<p>So there were days when Bunny and Sue only went to Mrs. Golden's grocery +on some errand for their mother or Mary, but even on these short trips +they often were able to help the storekeeper, sometimes making little +sales, if she was busy in another part of the house, or by arranging +goods on the shelves.</p> + +<p>Having learned that she could do more business by having her windows +clean and with things nicely piled in them, Mrs. Golden kept this plan +up, Bunny and Charlie and Sue often stacking goods where they would show +well.</p> + +<p>But with all this even the children could see that Mrs. Golden was +worried. Bunny often saw her adding up figures on bits of paper, and she +would look at the sum and sigh.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" Bunny once asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I owe so much money I'm afraid I'll never be able to pay," she +said. "And it seems to be getting worse, even with all the help you +children give me. If only Philip would get that legacy!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hasn't he got it yet?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>"No, not yet," was the answer. "And I'm afraid he never will. I miss him +so, too. If he were here to help me things might go easier. But there! I +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'musn't'">mustn't</ins> complain. I'm much better off than lots of folks!" she added, +trying to be cheerful.</p> + +<p>"If more people would come to buy here you'd have more money," said the +little boy. And that gave him an idea that he did not speak about just +then, but turned over and over in his busy little head.</p> + +<p>Heeding their mother's advice, Bunny and Sue played out of doors with +their boy and girl chums, sometimes going on picnics and excursions or +on walks through the woods and over the fields. Bunny and Charlie often +played at boats in the brook, and more than once they fell in. Sue and +her friends often waded in the water of the brook.</p> + +<p>Bunny did not again, though, topple into any flour barrels. It was Sue +who had the next accident at the corner grocery, and this is the way it +happened.</p> + +<p>The little girl had been sent by her mother <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span>to get a yeast cake at Mrs. +Golden's, and when Sue reached the store she found the old lady busy +with two women who were matching sewing silk. At the same time a little +boy had come in for some molasses.</p> + +<p>"I'll get the molasses for you," Sue offered, for she knew where the +barrel was kept, and once Mrs. Golden had allowed her to raise the +handle of the spigot and let the thick, sticky stuff run out into the +quart measure. Sue was sure she could do this again. So, taking the +boy's pail, she went to the molasses barrel.</p> + +<p>It was kept in the back part of the store, and perhaps if Mrs. Golden +had seen what Sue was about to do she would have stopped the little +girl. But the two customers were very particular about the sewing silk +they wanted, and kept Mrs. Golden busy pulling out different trays.</p> + +<p>Sue reached the molasses barrel, set the quart measure under the spout, +as she had seen Mrs. Golden do, and raised the handle. The next thing +the storekeeper knew was when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> Sue came running up to her in great alarm +crying:</p> + +<p>"I can't stop it! I can't stop it!"</p> + +<p>"Can't stop what, my dear?" asked Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"I can't stop the molasses from running out!" cried Sue. "I got it +turned on, but I can't turn it off, and it's running all over the +floor!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my goodness!" cried Mrs. Golden, hurrying to the back of the +store.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>A SHOWER OF BOXES</h3> + + +<p>Sister Sue, as soon as she had told Mrs. Golden what had happened also +started to run back to the molasses barrel. In fact she ran ahead of the +storekeeper, and Sue's hurry was the cause of another accident.</p> + +<p>For the molasses, running out of the spigot which Sue had not been able +to close, had overflowed the quart measure, and was now spreading itself +out in a sticky pool on the floor.</p> + +<p>It was a slippery puddle, as well as a sticky one, and Sue's feet, +landing in it as she ran, slid out from under her.</p> + +<p>Bang! she came to the floor with a thud.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear little girl!" cried one of the customers, who had been +buying the sewing silk. "Are you hurt, child?"</p> + +<p>Sue, sitting in the molasses puddle—yes, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>she was actually sitting in +it now—looked up, thought about the matter for a moment, and then +answered, saying:</p> + +<p>"No, thank you, I'm not hurt. But I'm stuck fast. I can't get up."</p> + +<p>It was very sticky molasses.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden, thinking more about the waste of her precious molasses than +about Sue for the moment, reached over and shut off the spigot. It had +caught and was hard to close, which was why Sue could not do it.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, however, the little girl had nearly closed it before the +quart measure was quite full, and not so much of the molasses had run +out on the floor as might have if the spigot had been wide open all the +while. But, as it was, there was enough to make Sue fall, and to hold +her there in the sticky mess after she had sat down so hard.</p> + +<p>"Dear me, what a mess!" exclaimed one of the customers.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it!" said the other.</p> + +<p>"I—I'm awful sorry," faltered Sue. "My father will pay for the molasses +I let run out, Mrs. Golden!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, don't worry about that," said the old lady, though she was a bit +worried over the loss, for nearly a pint of the sweet stuff had run +away. "It's you I'm thinking of," she said. "Are you sure you aren't +hurt?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Sue. "But my dress is. Oh, how am I going to get home?" +she went on, as she pulled up the edge of her skirt and saw how dirty +and sticky it was.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to get into the bath tub, clothes and all," said one of the +customers.</p> + +<p>"It's like when I fell in the brook," half sobbed Sue.</p> + +<p>"There, never mind!" said Mrs. Golden kindly. "Here, little boy," she +said, reaching over and lifting up the brimming measure of sweet stuff, +"take your molasses and run along. Then I'll clean up here."</p> + +<p>Leaning over, to keep her feet out of the puddle, Mrs. Golden helped Sue +to rise, though it was a bit hard on account of the sticky molasses. +Then the little girl's dress was taken off and she was sent into Mrs. +Golden's bedroom.</p> + +<p>"I'll wash this dress and your petticoat out <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>for you, Sue," said Mrs. +Golden, when her thread customers were gone. "But it will hardly be dry +for you to wear home before dark."</p> + +<p>"If you should see Bunny, you could send him home to get another dress +for me," Sue suggested.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I could do that," agreed Mrs. Golden. "I'll see if Bunny is coming +after I put your clothes to soak."</p> + +<p>But Bunny was off playing ball that day, and did not come to the corner +store. However, fat Bobbie Boomer happened to pass, and Mrs. Golden sent +him to Sue's house.</p> + +<p>He rather frightened Mrs. Brown at first, for Bobbie twisted the message +and said Sue had fallen into a barrel of molasses, instead of just into +a puddle on the floor, so that Mrs. Brown came hurrying to the store, +imagining all sorts of things had happened.</p> + +<p>She had to laugh when she heard the real story, and then she went back +to get a clean dress for Sue, leaving the other to be washed and dried +by Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid the children are more of a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>bother to you than a help," said +Mrs. Brown, as she started home with Sue.</p> + +<p>"Oh, bless their hearts, I don't know what I'd do without them!" said +the storekeeper. "They are a great help. My store business is much +better than before they began coming here. That special oatmeal sale +brought me new customers, and Bunny and Sue are a great help."</p> + +<p>As it would be rather hard work for Mrs. Golden to clean up the sticky +puddle, Mrs. Brown sent Bunker Blue up from the boat dock to help. For +this Mrs. Golden was very glad, as she could hardly have handled the +broom and pails of water as well as Bunker did.</p> + +<p>"This is easier than cleaning out boats," declared the fish boy as he +"swabbed" the floor, as he called it.</p> + +<p>Soon the store was scrubbed nice and clean and ready for more customers +the next day. As Bunny and Sue had nothing special to do they went to +the corner grocery to see if they could do anything to help. And Sue was +told <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>by her mother to bring home the washed dress and petticoat.</p> + +<p>"We've come to help," Sue announced, as she entered the store. "But I'm +not to draw any more molasses! Mother said I wasn't to!"</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps it will be as well for me to do that," said Mrs. Golden, +with a smile. "That spigot is sometimes hard to close."</p> + +<p>"And I'm not to dip up any more flour," added Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose it will be as well for me to do that, too," said the +storekeeper. "But since you like to help me tend store there are many +other things you can do."</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue found them, for it was afternoon now, and many families in +the neighborhood sent children to buy things for supper.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Sue!" called George Watson as he came into the store, whistling. +"I told my mother about that special sale of oatmeal you had here last +week. Got any more?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a few boxes left," said Mrs. Golden, who was behind the grocery +counter with Sue.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> Bunny was out in the storeroom opening a new box of +prunes. "They're up on a high shelf, I'll get one down for you, Sue."</p> + +<p>But as she was going to do this a man entered the store. He was Mr. +Flynt, and Sue heard Mrs. Golden sigh when she saw him.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to wait a minute about that oatmeal," said the storekeeper +to George. "I'll get it down for you in a little while. I have to see +this gentleman first."</p> + +<p>George was willing to wait, but Sue was anxious to help in the store, +and as she saw that Mrs. Golden was going to be busy talking to Mr. +Flynt, the little girl decided she could get down the box of oatmeal +herself. She felt sure that Mrs. Golden would have trouble with Mr. +Flynt who would want money, and Mrs. Golden had very little to pay.</p> + +<p>"I'll get the box of oatmeal for you, George," said Sue. "I know where +it is."</p> + +<p>She climbed up on the counter by means of a box, and stretched up her +little hands and arms to the shelf on which the cereal was stacked. Sue +reached for a box, managing to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span>get hold of it by stretching as far as +she could and standing on her tiptoes. But as she pulled the one box out +it caught on several others standing in line on the shelf.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" cried George, as he saw what was going to happen.</p> + +<p>But it was too late. Sue could not get out of the way, and a moment +later a shower of pasteboard boxes of oatmeal and other things fell all +around her.</p> + +<p>"What is happening?" cried Mrs. Golden, hearing the clattering sound. +She came hurrying from the back of the store where she had gone to talk +quietly to Mr. Flynt.</p> + +<p>"Everything is going to fall!" cried George.</p> + +<p>But it was not quite so bad as this. Sue kept her hands raised above her +so nothing would hit her head, though one or two boxes did bump her a +little.</p> + +<p>Box after box slipped from the shelf, falling on the floor, on the +counter, and all around poor little Sue!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE PONY EXPRESS</h3> + + +<p>Bunny Brown ran out of the storeroom, in his hand a hammer with which he +had been opening the box of prunes. Mrs. Golden gave a cry of alarm as +she heard the clatter of the boxes falling around Sue. Mr. Flynt joined +Bunny in a rush to help the little girl. As for George, he was so +frightened by the sudden toppling of things from the shelf that a tune +he had started to whistle died away and he got ready to run out of the +store.</p> + +<p>"Mercy sakes! what is going on in here?" cried Mrs. Clark, entering the +store as the boxes ceased falling. "Is anybody hurt?"</p> + +<p>No one knew for a moment, as Sue had uttered no cry save the first +frightened one. But by the time Bunny and Mr. Flynt reached her the +shower of boxes was over and the little girl took down her hands from +over her head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did anything break?" asked Sue, looking about her. "Oh, dear, what a +terrible mess!" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about that, child!" exclaimed Mrs. Golden. "What if a few +boxes are broken open? It's you I'm thinking of."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm all right!" Sue said, and she laughed a little.</p> + +<p>And when they came to look her over nothing worse had happened than that +she had a few bumps and bruises. And they were not very hard ones, for +the boxes were of pasteboard and not wood.</p> + +<p>And only one or two of the oatmeal packages were split open, so that not +much was lost in that way. So, take it all in all, the accident was a +very little one, though it made a great deal of excitement for the time +being.</p> + +<p>"You oughtn't to reach up for such high things, little girl," said Mr. +Flynt, when he had helped pick up the packages.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I guess I oughtn't," agreed Sue. "But George wanted one and I +thought I could get it."</p> + +<p>"You call me when you want things from a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>high shelf," said Bunny, going +back to the task of opening the box of prunes. "I'm a good climber."</p> + +<p>"I wasn't climbing, I was reaching," answered Sue, as if that made a lot +of difference. "Here's your oatmeal, George," she added, and the +whistling boy came back to the counter and got it.</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue stayed in the store for an hour or more after the fall of +the oatmeal boxes. Bunny finished opening the box of prunes, and he and +Sue waited on several customers, for Mrs. Golden seemed to be quite busy +talking to Mr. Flynt in the back room. And it was not a pleasant talk, +either, as Bunny and Sue guessed when they caught glimpses now and then +of Mrs. Golden wiping tears from her eyes.</p> + +<p>Finally the grocery man came out of the back room with Mrs. Golden. He +was saying, so that the children could hear:</p> + +<p>"Now you'd better take my advice, Mrs. Golden, and sell out your store +here. You'll never make it pay, and you keep on owing us more money all +the while. I know you're <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>trying to do your best, but you must either +pay us or we'll have to take our things back and sell you out besides +for the rest that you owe us.</p> + +<p>"Take my advice and sell out before you're sold out. It will be better +that way. We can't wait any longer. This is a good little store, but you +don't make it pay."</p> + +<p>"Maybe I could if my son Philip were to come back," sadly said the old +lady. "He's gone after a legacy, and when he comes back——"</p> + +<p>"There there, Mrs. Golden! It's of no use to talk that way!" exclaimed +Mr. Flynt. "You've been telling me about that legacy a long time. Why +doesn't it come?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Sir."</p> + +<p>"No. And I don't believe it ever will come. We've waited as long as we +ought, but I'll give you a little more time, and that will be the last. +If you don't pay we'll have to close your store. Think it over and sell +out before you're sold out."</p> + +<p>And then Mr. Flynt went out.</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue, who had been about to go <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>home, looked at Mrs. Golden and +felt sorry for her. They could see that she was feeling bad, and that +she had been crying.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Not enough money—that's the trouble," was her answer. "Oh, dear, I +don't want to sell my store!" she said. "I want to keep it."</p> + +<p>"Have you got to sell?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Flynt says so," came the reply, "because I owe him a lot of money I +can't pay. If business was only better I might keep my store going until +Philip comes back with the legacy. Once we get that we'll be all right! +But if we don't——"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden put her handkerchief to her eyes. Then, seeing that she was +making Bunny and Sue sad, she added:</p> + +<p>"There now! Run along. Maybe I can get the money somehow. At any rate +you children have been most kind to me. Run along now, and don't mind a +poor old woman."</p> + +<p>But Bunny and Sue did mind. They talked matters over on their way home +and decided that something must be done. They wanted to help more than +they had been doing, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> Bunny thought of a way. As usual Sue agreed +with him, for she was willing to do anything her brother did.</p> + +<p>That evening after supper Bunny brought his little tin savings bank from +a shelf in his room, and Sue brought hers. There was a great rattling as +the pennies, dimes and nickels in the tin boxes clattered against the +sides.</p> + +<p>"My goodness! what's going on?" cried Daddy Brown, looking up from the +paper he was reading. "Are you two going to buy an automobile with all +that money?"</p> + +<p>"Will you please open my bank, Daddy, and see how much is in it?" asked +Bunny.</p> + +<p>His father, wondering what was "in the wind," as old Jed Winkler would +say, did so. With Bunny's help the cash was counted. There was eight +dollars and fifteen cents.</p> + +<p>"I have more than that!" exclaimed Sue, and indeed she had, for Bunny +had taken some of his money the week before to buy a top and a set of +kite sticks. Sue had ten dollars and forty-six cents in her bank.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with it?" asked Mrs. Brown, for she knew the +children would <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span>not have gotten down their banks unless they had some +plan in their heads.</p> + +<p>"We're going to give it to Mrs. Golden," said Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Golden?" cried their father.</p> + +<p>"You mean you're going to buy something at her store?" asked Mrs. Brown.</p> + +<p>"No, we're going to give it to her," said Bunny gravely. "She owes money +and Mr. Flynt will close up her store if she doesn't pay. So we're going +to give her our money so she can pay Mr. Flynt and then the store will +stay open."</p> + +<p>"'Cause if it's closed," added Sue, "we can't have any more fun helping +keep it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho! I see!" laughed Mr. Brown. "Well, I must admit I forgot all +about Mrs. Golden. I promised to see if I couldn't help her when you +told me about Mr. Flynt before, but I forgot. Now, children, it wouldn't +be right for you to take your bank money to help Mrs. Golden. She +wouldn't want you to do that. Put away your pennies, and I'll see what I +can do to help."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + +<p>This made Bunny and Sue feel happier, and they went to bed more +satisfied, for they felt sure their father could make everything right. +But the next day, when they went in to see Mrs. Golden, to help keep +store, they found her looking very sad and unhappy.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"Oh, just the same old trouble," Mrs. Golden answered. "I need money to +pay bills."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Flynt's?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>"Yes, his and another man's. I'm afraid, children, you won't be able to +come here much longer and help keep store."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Bunny wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Because there won't be any store—at least I won't have it. I'm afraid +I'm going to lose it. If I could only get some more customers and do +more business I might manage to pull through until Philip gets back. But +I don't know—I don't know!" and she shook her head sadly.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, going home with Sue, Bunny had another idea.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sue!" he exclaimed, "if we can't give our money to Mrs. Golden maybe we +can get her more customers."</p> + +<p>"How?" asked the little girl.</p> + +<p>"We can ask everybody we know to come and trade there," said Bunny. "I +remember when the Italian shoemaker started down at the end of our +street and I took my rubber boots there to have him fix a hole, he said +for me to tell all the boys I knew to bring their boots and shoes to him +to be mended."</p> + +<p>"Did you?" Sue inquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes. And the shoeman said I brought him good trade and he gave me a +piece of beeswax. So maybe we could get customers for Mrs. Golden."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we could!" cried Sue. "Let's tell the other boys and girls to get +their fathers and mothers to let them buy things at Mrs. Golden's, and +then she'll have a lot of customers!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, let's!" cried Bunny Brown.</p> + +<p>And they did. The next day, when Bunny and Sue were playing with +Charlie, George,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> Mary, Sadie, Helen, Harry and Bobbie, the idea was +spoken of again.</p> + +<p>"Fellows and girls!" exclaimed Bunny, who got up to make a speech, "we +have to help Mrs. Golden."</p> + +<p>"You should speak of the girls first," said Sadie, who was a little +older than the others.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyhow, we ought to help Mrs. Golden," went on Bunny. "She needs +customers. Now, if all of you would buy everything you could of her, +like Sue and I do, maybe she wouldn't lose her store."</p> + +<p>"My mother says she'd trade there if Mrs. Golden would deliver stuff," +remarked Helen Newton. "But she says she can't cart heavy things from +any store."</p> + +<p>"My mother said the same thing," added Mary Watson.</p> + +<p>"She can't afford to hire a delivery horse and wagon," said Charlie +Star. "I know, 'cause I helped in her store."</p> + +<p>"She needs an auto like Mr. Gordon," said Bobbie Boomer.</p> + +<p>"Pooh, autos are only for big stores!" exclaimed Harry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bunny Brown seemed to be doing some hard thinking. He had a new idea.</p> + +<p>"Fellows!" he suddenly cried, "I have it! I'll get a delivery wagon for +Mrs. Golden!"</p> + +<p>"You will?"</p> + +<p>"A delivery wagon?"</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>These cries greeted what Bunny had said.</p> + +<p>"I'll take our Shetland pony, Toby, and deliver things for her in the +little cart!" cried Bunny Brown. "If all of you will promise to buy as +much as you can from her, I'll deliver things in our pony cart!"</p> + +<p>"Hurray for the pony express!" cried Charlie Star. "I'll help!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>BAD NEWS</h3> + + +<p>The boys and girls, all of whom promised to buy as much as they could +from Mrs. Golden and who also promised to tell their mothers at home +that things could now be delivered from the little corner store, were +bubbling over with fun and good-nature as they left the yard of Bunny +and Sue where the "meeting" was held. But after his playmates had gone +Bunny Brown began to do a little worrying.</p> + +<p>"I know Toby will like to deliver groceries and be a pony express," said +the little boy to his sister. "But maybe mother won't let us do it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess she will," said Sue.</p> + +<p>"I'll ask her, anyhow," decided Bunny, and he did.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Brown thought the matter over carefully when Bunny and Sue told her +about it.</p> + +<p>"Is Mrs. Golden really in such need of money?" asked Mrs. Brown.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" cried Bunny. "She feels so sad when Mr. Flynt comes and says +he's going to close her store. And we'll feel sad if we don't have any +place to go any more and learn how to work in it, Mother! Please let us +take Toby and be a pony express!"</p> + +<p>"I'll talk it over with your father," said Mrs. Brown.</p> + +<p>The children waited anxiously for what their father should say, and they +were glad when they heard him laugh after Mrs. Brown had spoken to him +of the plan.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," he agreed. "I don't see any harm in it. Toby doesn't get +enough exercise as it is. And Bunny and Sue can manage the little +Shetland very well. The only thing is, I wouldn't want them to drive all +over town delivering groceries—I mean out on the main street where +there are so many autos now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we wouldn't go there!" promised Bunny.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We might work it this way," went on Mr. Brown. "If there are things to +be delivered on the other side of Main Street I'll let Bunker Blue do +it. He can spare the time once a day. Bunny and Sue can do the rest of +the delivery."</p> + +<p>So it was decided, and you can imagine how delighted Bunny and Sue were +when they hastened to tell the good news to Mrs. Golden.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's perfectly wonderful!" exclaimed the old lady, and there +were happy tears in her eyes. "Oh, you are two darling children to think +so much of helping an old woman."</p> + +<p>"You're not so old," declared Bunny politely. "Besides, we like to keep +store; don't we, Sue?"</p> + +<p>"Lots!" answered the little girl.</p> + +<p>Bunny and Sue clerked in the store as much as they had time for, but as +they were now to deliver things in the pony cart they could not spend so +much time behind the counter. And Mr. Brown said that Bunny and Sue must +both go in the pony cart, as it would be safer for them that way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sue can hold Toby while you take the groceries into the houses," said +Mr. Brown. "Only you mustn't lift too heavy boxes, Bunny."</p> + +<p>"No, Daddy!" he promised. "If it's too heavy I'll lift it twice!" He +meant he would make two trips of it.</p> + +<p>Toby was almost as much help to Mrs. Golden as Bunny and Sue had been, +for many housekeepers, when they found they could have groceries +delivered from the corner store, took part of their trade there. And +Bunny and Sue were quite proud to load up the basket cart with boxes and +packages and start out to leave the orders at the different houses.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Golden did not grow any younger or more active, and there were +times when she could hardly get around the store. At such times, if +Bunny and Sue had to be out with the pony cart, Charlie Star would come +in and be a clerk.</p> + +<p>When things needed to be delivered on the other side of Main Street, +along which many automobiles were driven, then Bunker Blue was called +on. He gladly drove the "pony <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span>express" as it was laughingly called, and +many customers were served this way.</p> + +<p>But in spite of this increase in trade the worried look did not leave +Mrs. Golden's face, and, more than once, Bunny and Sue again saw her +counting up her money and looking at bills she owed Mr. Flynt.</p> + +<p>"Will you have to sell the place now?" asked Bunny one day, coming in +with Sue to help tend store. The two previous days had been busy ones, +when many customers had bought things.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know about it, Bunny, my dear," was the answer. "More +money is coming in, to be sure, but things cost so much I make hardly +any profit. Things still look black. But don't worry. You and Sue are a +big help. If Philip only gets that legacy, then I'll be all right!"</p> + +<p>"I hope he does!" said Bunny Brown.</p> + +<p>Several customers came in and the children helped Mrs. Golden wait on +them. Then one woman wanted flour, sugar, and potatoes sent to her house +on the other side of Main Street, a place where Bunny and Sue had never +been.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But we'll load the things in the pony cart," said Bunny to Sue, "and +drive to our house. Bunker Blue is going to be there, for he's going to +cut the grass, and he can drive across Main Street to Mrs. Larken's +house."</p> + +<p>"That will be all right," said Mrs. Golden. "It's very kind of you to +help me this way."</p> + +<p>The children started out with Toby, and they were almost at their own +home when they heard a great shouting and racket behind them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bunny!" cried Sue, "maybe we dropped something out of the cart and +they're calling to us to pick it up."</p> + +<p>Bunny gave one look back over the way they had come. Then he pulled hard +on Toby's reins and shouted:</p> + +<p>"No, we didn't drop anything, but here comes the fire engine!"</p> + +<p>And, surely enough, dashing down the street was the shiny new engine +that had lately been bought for Bellemere.</p> + +<p>"Oh, pull over to one side!" cried Sue, clasping Bunny's arm. "Pull over +to one side!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I—I'm trying to!" he answered. But Toby did not seem to want to go +over near the curb, and out of danger. Once in a while the Shetland pony +had a stubborn streak, and this was one of those times.</p> + +<p>"Get over! Get over there!" cried Bunny, pulling on the reins.</p> + +<p>But instead of swinging to the right Toby turned to the left, and down +the street, clanging and thundering came the fire engine.</p> + +<p>"Get out the way!"</p> + +<p>"Look at those children!"</p> + +<p>"Pull over! Pull over!" cried people along the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>One or two men ran out to grasp the bridle of Toby and swing him over, +for it seemed that all Bunny was doing had no effect. But before any of +the men could reach the pony Bunker Blue came dashing along. He was on +his way to the Brown house to cut the grass, and he saw the danger of +Bunny and Sue.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with you, Toby? What's the matter?" cried Bunker +Blue. The Shetland pony seemed to know the fish boy's <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>voice, for he +allowed himself to be swung over to the curb and out of danger just +before the fire engine dashed by.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear!" sighed Sue.</p> + +<p>"Pooh! That wasn't anything!" declared Bunny Brown. "I could have got +him over. And, anyhow, the fire engine would have steered out! But I'm +glad you came, Bunker," he said, for this talk did not seem to show a +kindly feeling toward the fish boy who had been so quick to act.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess you'd 'a' been all right," said Bunker, with a laugh. "But +that fire engine was going very fast. You've got to be careful of it."</p> + +<p>And all the rush and excitement was for nothing, as there was no fire, +the alarm being a false one. Bunker took charge of the pony cart and +delivered the groceries before he cut the grass. Then Bunny and Sue +drove back to the corner store.</p> + +<p>They saw Mr. Flynt talking to Mrs. Golden as they entered.</p> + +<p>"It's of no use!" the cross man was saying.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> "I have bad news for you. +You'll have to give up the store, Mrs. Golden."</p> + +<p>"Won't your company give me a little more time?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No," said Mr. Flynt. "We've been waiting and waiting, hoping you could +pay. Of course things are better than early in the summer. I guess these +children have helped you a lot," and he looked at Bunny and Sue. "But +you don't take in enough money to pay your bills. If you could pay up +you might get along, for you have a good trade now. But you can't pay +your bills, and so we're going to sell you out!"</p> + +<p>"Does that mean close up the store?" asked Bunny timidly.</p> + +<p>"That's what it means, little man," was the answer, and Mr. Flynt did +not seem so cross now. Perhaps he was sorry for what he had to do. "Mrs. +Golden will have to give up her store."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>GOOD NEWS</h3> + + +<p>Bunny Brown and his sister Sue looked at each other with sad eyes. After +all their work it had come to this. The store would be closed! They +would have no place to come and have good times during the long vacation +days! It was too bad! What was to be done?</p> + +<p>Sue waited for Bunny to speak, as she usually did, and Bunny, after +thinking the matter over, asked:</p> + +<p>"Are you going to close it up right away?"</p> + +<p>"Within a day or so, unless Mrs. Golden can pay her bills," answered Mr. +Flynt. "We have waited as long as we can. I'm going to begin now to +close out her business, but it will take two or three days. If she can +raise the money in that time——"</p> + +<p>"There's no use waiting or hoping—I can't do it!" sighed the old lady, +with tears in her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span>eyes. "I've tried my best, but I can't do it, even +with the help of these dear children and the pony express," and she +looked out of the window at Toby, hitched to the little basket cart.</p> + +<p>"It is too bad," said Mr. Flynt. "We know you've done your best, and if +you didn't owe so much you might get along now, with the start you have. +But it takes all you can make to pay your back debts. It's best that you +should give up the store. My company is sorry for you, but we've waited +as long as we can. You'll have to sell out, Mrs. Golden."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose so," she agreed. "But if I could only hear from Philip, +and if he could bring the money from that legacy, I could pay all I owe +and start a bigger store. But I don't suppose there's any use hoping for +that."</p> + +<p>"No, I believe not," agreed Mr. Flynt. "Your son Philip doesn't seem to +have gotten that legacy. Have you heard from him?"</p> + +<p>"Not lately," said Mrs. Golden, with a sad shake of her head. "I don't +know why he hasn't written. Perhaps because he has no good news for +me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very likely," said Mr. Flynt. "Well, I must go. You had better arrange +to sell everything by the end of the week, and pay us what you can. +We'll have to wait for the rest, I reckon."</p> + +<p>"Won't there be a store here any more?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"Oh, some one else may start one. It isn't a bad place for a grocery and +notion shop," answered the black-whiskered man. "But Mrs. Golden can't +keep this store any more."</p> + +<p>"Maybe she can if my father will help her!" exclaimed Bunny. "He said he +would!"</p> + +<p>"Well, if some one would pay what she owes, of course she could keep on +with the store," agreed Mr. Flynt. "But we can't wait any longer. We've +got to sell her out."</p> + +<p>When Bunny and Sue told at home that evening what had happened, Mrs. +Brown said:</p> + +<p>"Walter, can't you do something for that poor old woman?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I must try," he said. "I meant to look into her affairs long +before this, but I've had so many other things to do that I let it <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span>go. +We'll save the store for her if we can."</p> + +<p>"'Cause we like to help tend it," said Bunny. "Don't we, Sue?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the little girl.</p> + +<p>Instead of going to his boat and fish dock the next morning, as he +nearly always did, Mr. Brown called to Bunny to get ready and go down to +the corner grocery with him.</p> + +<p>"May I come?" asked Sue.</p> + +<p>"Yes," her father answered. "You are in this as much as Bunny. We are +going to help Mrs. Golden if we can."</p> + +<p>They found the old lady sitting sadly in her easy chair near the back of +the store where she generally could be found when no customers needed to +be waited on.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Mrs. Golden," said Mr. Brown. "I understand you are in +trouble."</p> + +<p>"If owing a lot of money and not being able to pay it is trouble, then +I'm in almost up to my eyes," she answered, with a shake of her head.</p> + +<p>"Like I was in the brook!" said Sue.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose so," sighed Mrs. Golden. "I'm afraid I've got to lose my +store."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tell me how much you owe," begged Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>And when he heard he shook his head, saying:</p> + +<p>"It is more than I thought. If it had been only about a hundred dollars +I might have lent it to you, or found some one who would, but now I'm +afraid nothing can be done."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean the store will have to close?" asked Bunny.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid so, Son," replied his father.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear!" sighed Mrs. Golden! "If Philip were only here then I +might——"</p> + +<p>"Well, here I am, Mother!" cried a voice at the front door. "What's the +trouble?" and in came big, strong, jolly Philip Golden. He had just +arrived on a train. "What's wrong?" he asked, for he could see that his +mother had tears in her eyes.</p> + +<p>The trouble was soon told.</p> + +<p>"Sell the store!" he cried. "I guess not much! Didn't you get my +telegram, Mother?"</p> + +<p>"What telegram?"</p> + +<p>"The one telling about the legacy. We <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>have it—several thousand +dollars! It won't make us rich, but it will be enough to make you +comfortable for life. I heard the good news yesterday, and I sent you a +telegram telling about it so you wouldn't worry any more."</p> + +<p>"I never got your message!" said Mrs. Golden, smiling through her tears. +"But it doesn't matter. I suppose there was some mistake and it went to +the wrong address. But it was better to have you bring the good news. +Are you sure we're to have the legacy?"</p> + +<p>"Sure, Mother! I brought some money with me and more will come. You'll +be all right now. You can pay all your bills and have plenty left over."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so glad!" cried Sue. "Then you can have a real nice store, +can't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Mrs. Golden with a happy smile on her face, "I suppose I +can. Oh, how glad I am, and how thankful I am to you dear children. +You've helped me more than I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"And we're going to help more!" cried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> Bunny Brown. "When you get your +new store I'm going to be a clerk in it; can't I, Daddy?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Mr. Brown, with a smile.</p> + +<p>And so the good news came after the bad, which is always the best way to +have it come, I think. Mrs. Golden paid all her debts, and later she and +her son Philip opened a larger store and did very well. Sometimes Bunny +and Sue went to see the new place, but it was too far from their home +for them to "work" in it. And, anyhow, there were other things for Bunny +Brown and his sister Sue to do.</p> + +<p>But now we have come to the end of our story and must say good-bye.</p> + + +<h2>THE END</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + +<div class="center">Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books<br /> +<br /> + +Wrapper and text illustrations drawn by<br /> +FLORENCE ENGLAND NOSWORTHY</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class="center">12mo. DURABLY BOUND. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are eagerly +welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Their +eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitive +little Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.</p> + +<p>Bunny was a lively little boy, very inquisitive. When he did anything, +Sue followed his leadership. They had many adventures, some comical in +the extreme.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Bunny Brown Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span> +</div> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<h2>THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS</h2> + +<h2>For Little Men and Women</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + +<div class="center">Author of "The Bunny Brown" Series, Etc.</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class="center">12mo. DURABLY BOUND. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Copyright publications which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Books that +charm the hearts of the little ones, and of which they never tire.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Bobbsey Twins Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span> +</div> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + +<div class="center">Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Books,"<br /> +"The Bunny Brown Series,"<br /> +"The Make-Believe Series," Etc.</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class="center">Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into immediate +popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at once to +your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and cute +sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own—one that can be easily +followed—and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining manner. +Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of every +child in the land.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Six Little Bunkers Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORDS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span> +</div> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + + +<div class='center'>Author of the popular "Bobbsey Twin Books" and "Bunny Brown" Series.</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class="center">UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING. INDIVIDUAL COLORED WRAPPERS.</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several +bright, up to-date girls who love outdoor life. They are clean and +wholesome, free from sensationalism, and absorbing from the first +chapter to the last.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Outdoor Girls Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or Wintering in the Sunny South.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or The Box that Was Found in the Sand.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or A Cave and What it Contained.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or Doing Their Bit for Uncle Sam.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or Doing Their Best for the Soldiers.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or A Wreck and A Rescue.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or The Hermit of Moonlight Falls.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br />THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Or The Girl Miner of Gold Run.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span> +</div> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> + +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p><a href='#Page_122'>Page 122</a>: Author says that the children ran through the streets of +Lakeport. However they live in Bellemere, see <a href='#Page_15'>Page 15</a>. The children in +one of her other series, The Bobbsey Twins, live in Lakeport. This +mistake was retained.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping +Store, by Laura Lee Hope + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER *** + +***** This file should be named 18421-h.htm or 18421-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/4/2/18421/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/18421-h/images/1.jpg b/18421-h/images/1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0c6d8c --- /dev/null +++ b/18421-h/images/1.jpg diff --git a/18421-h/images/14.jpg b/18421-h/images/14.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2cf7a7a --- /dev/null +++ b/18421-h/images/14.jpg diff --git a/18421-h/images/180.jpg b/18421-h/images/180.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a3a9f1a --- /dev/null +++ b/18421-h/images/180.jpg diff --git a/18421-h/images/206.jpg b/18421-h/images/206.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f8bec26 --- /dev/null +++ b/18421-h/images/206.jpg diff --git a/18421.txt b/18421.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..06cc0cf --- /dev/null +++ b/18421.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6397 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store, by +Laura Lee Hope + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store + +Author: Laura Lee Hope + +Illustrator: Walter S. Rogers + +Release Date: May 19, 2006 [EBook #18421] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +BUNNY BROWN +AND HIS SISTER SUE +KEEPING STORE + +BY +LAURA LEE HOPE + + AUTHOR OF + THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES, THE BOBBSEY + TWINS SERIES, THE SIX LITTLE + BUNKERS SERIES, MAKE + BELIEVE STORIES, + ETC. + + ILLUSTRATED BY + WALTER S. ROGERS + + NEW YORK + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS + + Made in the United States of America + + + + +BOOKS + +BY LAURA LEE HOPE + +12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. + + +=THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES= + + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE + + +=THE BOBBSEY TWINS SERIES= + + THE BOBBSEY TWINS + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN WASHINGTON + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR + + +=THE SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES= + + (Eight Titles) + + +=MAKE BELIEVE STORIES= + + (Ten Titles) + + +=OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES= + + (Twelve Titles) + + =GROSSET & DUNLAP= + PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + + + + Copyright, 1922, by + GROSSET & DUNLAP + Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store + +[Illustration: BUNNY GOT THE BOX OF BAKING POWDER. + _Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store. + Frontispiece_--(_Page_ 49)] + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I A GRAND CRASH 1 + II FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS 14 + III SOMETHING IN A DESK 24 + IV THE CORNER STORE 34 + V A NEW PUPIL 44 + VI A BUSY BUZZER 53 + VII THE BARN STORE 65 + VIII IN A HOLE 75 + IX UP A LADDER 87 + X THE LEGACY 96 + XI THE LAST DAY 108 + XII WATERING THE GARDEN 117 + XIII HELPING MRS. GOLDEN 129 + XIV THE CROSS MAN 138 + XV THE BROKEN WINDOW 147 + XVI LITTLE STOREKEEPERS 161 + XVII TWO LETTERS 169 + XVIII BUNNY HAS AN IDEA 178 + XIX THE WINDOW DISPLAY 184 + XX IN THE FLOUR BARREL 194 + XXI SUE COULDN'T STOP IT 205 + XXII A SHOWER OF BOXES 214 + XXIII THE PONY EXPRESS 222 + XXIV BAD NEWS 233 + XXV GOOD NEWS 242 + + + + +BUNNY BROWN +AND HIS SISTER SUE +KEEPING STORE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A GRAND CRASH + + +Patter, patter, patter came the rain drops, not only on the roof, but +all over, out of doors, splashing here and there, making little +fountains in every mud puddle. + +Bunny Brown and his sister Sue stood with their faces pressed against +the windows, looking out into the summer storm. + +"I can make my nose flatter'n you can!" suddenly exclaimed Bunny. + +"Oh, you cannot!" disputed Sue. "Look at mine!" + +She thrust her nose against the pane of glass so hard that it almost +cracked--I mean the glass nearly cracked. + +"Look at that, Bunny Brown!" exclaimed Sue. "Isn't my nose flatter'n +yours? Look at it!" + +"How can I look at your nose when I'm looking at mine?" asked Bunny. + +He, too, had pushed his nose against the glass of his window, the +children standing in the dining room where two large windows gave them a +good view of things outside. + +"You must look at my nose to see if it's flatter'n yours!" insisted Sue. +"Else how you going to know who beats?" + +"Well, I can make mine a flatter nose than yours!" declared Bunny. "You +look at mine first and then I'll look at yours." + +This seemed a fair way of playing the game, Sue thought. She left her +window and went over to her brother's side. The rain seemed to come down +harder than ever. If the children had any idea of being allowed to go +out and play in it, even with rubber boots and rain coats, they had +about given up that plan. Mrs. Brown had been begged, more than once, to +let Bunny and Sue go out, but she had shaken her head with a gentle +smile. And when their mother smiled that way the children knew she +meant what she said. + +"Now, go ahead, Bunny Brown!" called Sue. "Let's see you make a flat +nose!" + +Bunny drew his face back from the window. His little nose was quite +white where he had pressed it--white because he had kept nearly all the +blood from flowing into it. But soon his little "smeller," as sometimes +Bunny's father called his nose, began to get red again. Bunny began to +rub it. + +"What you doing?" Sue wanted to know, thinking her brother might not be +playing fair in this little game. + +"I'm rubbing my nose," Bunny answered. + +"Yes, I know. But what for?" + +"'Cause it's cold. If I'm going to make my nose flatter'n yours I have +to warm it a little. The glass is cold!" + +"Yes, it is a little cold," agreed Sue. "Well, go ahead now; let's see +you flat your nose!" + +Bunny took a long breath. He then pressed his nose so hard against the +glass that tears came into his eyes. But he didn't want Sue to see +them. And he wouldn't admit that he was crying, which he really wasn't +doing. + +"Look at me now! Look at me!" cried Bunny, talking as though he had a +very bad cold in his head. + +Sue took a look. + +"Yes, it is flat!" she agreed. "But I can flatter mine more'n that! You +watch me!" + +Sue ran to her window. She made up her mind to beat her brother at this +game. Closing her teeth firmly, as she always did when she was going to +jump rope more times than some other girl, Sue fairly banged her nose +against the window pane. + +Her little nose certainly flattened out, but whether more so than +Bunny's was never discovered. For Sue banged herself harder than she had +meant to, and a moment later she gave a cry of pain, turned away from +the window, and burst into tears. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mrs. Brown, hurrying in from the next room: +"Who's hurt?" + +Sue was crying so hard that she could not answer, and Bunny was too +surprised to say anything for the moment. Mrs. Brown looked at the two +children. She saw Sue holding her nose in one hand, while Bunny's nose +was turning from white to red as the blood came back into it. + +"Have you children been bumping noses again?" she asked. This was a game +Bunny and Sue sometimes played, though they had been told not to. + +"No, Mother; we weren't 'zactly banging noses," explained Bunny. "We +were just seeing who could make the flattest one on the window, and Sue +bumped her nose too hard. I didn't do anything!" + +"No, it--it wasn't Bun--Bunny's fault!" sobbed Sue. "I did it myself! I +was trying to--to flatter my nose more'n his!" + +"You shouldn't play such games," said Mother Brown. "I'm sorry, Sue! Let +me see! Is your nose bleeding?" and she gently took the little girl's +hand down. + +"Is--is--it?" asked Sue herself, stopping her sobs long enough to find +out if anything more than a bump had taken place. + +"No, it isn't bleeding," said Mrs. Brown. "Now be good children. You +can't go out in the rain, so don't ask it. Play something else, can't +you?" + +"Could we play store?" asked Bunny, with a sudden idea. It was not +altogether new, as often before, on other rainy days, he and Sue had +done this. + +"Oh, yes, let's keep store!" cried Sue, forgetting all about her bumped +nose. + +"That will be nice," said Mother Brown. "Tell Mary to let you have some +things with which to play store. You may play in the kitchen, as Mary is +working upstairs now." + +"Oh, now we'll have fun!" cried Sue, clapping her hands. + +"Could we have Splash in?" asked Bunny. + +"The dog? Why do you want him?" asked Mrs. Brown. + +"We could tie a basket around his neck," explained Bunny, "and he could +be the grocery delivery dog!" + +"Oh, yes!" laughed Sue. + +"No," said Mother Brown, with a gentle shake of her head, "you can't +have Splash in now. He has been splashing through mud puddles and he'd +soil the clean kitchen floor. Play store without Splash." + +There was one nice thing about Bunny Brown and his sister Sue. If they +couldn't have one thing they did very well with something else. So now +Bunny said: + +"Oh, all right! We can take turns sending the things out ourselves, +Sue." + +"Yes, and we'll take turns tending store," added Sue. "'Cause I don't +want to be doing the buying all the while." + +"Yes, we'll take turns," agreed Bunny. + +Soon the children were in the kitchen, keeping store with different +things from the pantry that Mary, the cook, gave them to play with. +Unopened boxes of cinnamon, cloves and other spices; some cakes of soap +in their wrappers just as they had come from the real store, a few nuts, +some coffee beans, other beans, dried peas and a bunch of vegetables +made up most of the things with which the children played. After they +had finished their fun everything could be put back in the pantry. + +Bunny tore some old newspapers into squares to use in wrapping the +"groceries." Mary also gave the children bits of string for tying +bundles. + +The store counter was the ironing board placed across the seats of two +chairs in front of a table, and on the table back of this ironing board +counter the different things to sell were placed. + +"What are we going to do for money?" asked Bunny, when the "store" was +almost ready to open. + +"I'll give you some buttons," said his mother. + +Bunny was given a handful of flat buttons of different sizes and colors +to use for change. He placed them in his cash box. Sue also had other +buttons to use as money in buying groceries. + +"Now we're all ready to play," said Bunny, looking over the store. "You +must come and buy something, Sue." + +"Yes. And then I want to keep store," said the little girl. + +"All right," her brother agreed. + +Bunny took his place behind the counter and waited. Sue went out into +the hall, paused a moment, and then, with a little basket over her arm, +came walking in, as much like a grown-up lady as she could manage. + +"Good morning, Mrs. Snifkins!" exclaimed Bunny. He always called Sue +"Mrs. Snifkins" when they kept store. + +"Oh, good morning, Mr. Huntley," Sue replied. She always called her +brother "Mr. Huntley," when they kept store. Perhaps this was because he +used to pretend to hunt for things on the make-believe shelves. + +"What can I do for you this morning, Mrs. Snifkins?" asked Bunny, +rubbing his hands as he had seen Mr. Gordon, the real grocer, do. + +"I want some prunes, some coffee, some eggs, some sugar, some salt, some +butter, some----" ordered Sue all in one breath. + +"Stop! Stop! Wait a minute!" cried Bunny. "I can't remember all that! +Now what did you say first?" + +"Prunes," replied Sue. + +There were some real prunes among the things the children were playing +store with, and Bunny wrapped a few of these in a paper. + +"Now some sugar," Sue ordered. + +As real sugar was rather messy if it spilled on the floor, Bunny had +some bird gravel, which was almost as good, and he pretended to weigh +some of this out on an old castor that was the make-believe scales. Some +real coffee beans were also wrapped up for Sue, and then for eggs Bunny +used empty thread spools. + +"Will that be all to-day, Mrs. Snifkins?" asked Grocer Huntley, when Sue +had put the things in her basket. + +"Yes, that's all," Sue answered, placing two large black buttons on the +ironing board counter and getting back in change a small white button. + +Sue went out with her "groceries," and soon came back for more. After +her third trip, by which time she had bought nearly everything in the +store, she said: + +"Now I want to be storekeeper." + +"All right," agreed Bunny. + +Sue brought back the things she had pretended to buy, they were put on +the shelves again, and Bunny became a purchaser while Sue waited on +him. + +Outside it still rained hard, as Bunny saw when he looked from the +window. But it was fun in the house, keeping store. The children kept on +taking turns, first one being the keeper of the store and then the +other, until Bunny suddenly had a new idea. + +"Oh, I know what we can do!" cried the little boy. + +"What?" asked Sue. + +"We'll play hardware store," Bunny said. "I'm tired of having a grocery. +We'll keep hammers and nails and things like that." + +"I think a grocery is more fun," said Sue. + +"Nope! A hardware store is better," Bunny insisted. "I'll sell you +washboilers, basins, tin pans and things like that, and knives and +forks. We can have ever so many more of those things than we can have +groceries." + +"Well, maybe we can," Sue agreed, doubtfully. + +"I'll make a high-up shelf, like those in the hardware store down +town," went on Bunny. "I'll have things high up on the shelf, and I'll +climb up on a ladder to get 'em, as they do down town." + +"What you going to climb up on?" Sue asked. + +"The stepladder." + +"What you going to make a high shelf of?" Sue inquired. + +"There's another ironing board down in the laundry," Bunny answered. +"And I can get the washboiler and a lot of things. I'll put the other +ironing board away up there, across the top of the two doors." + +"That'll be awful high," said Sue, looking to where Bunny pointed. The +pantry door and the one leading from the kitchen into the hall were +close together on one side of the room. By opening these doors half way +a board could be placed across their tops, making a high shelf. This was +soon done, and on this shelf the big tin washboiler was placed, and also +some tin pans from the pantry. Bunny climbed up on the stepladder to put +the shelf and things in place. + +Other articles for a hardware play-store were placed on the lower +ironing board shelf, and then Bunny was ready for "Mrs. Snifkins" to +come again. Sue had her button money all ready, the store was in order, +and new fun was about to begin, when Mary, coming suddenly in from the +hall and not knowing what the children were doing, pushed wider open the +hall door. + +Instantly there was a grand crash! Down came the upper shelf from the +tops of the doors. Down came the washboiler and a lot of tin pans. My, +what a racket there was! + +And, worst of all, Bunny Brown himself was hidden from sight in that +mess of ironing board, washboiler, and other things! + +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" cried Sister Sue, dropping her basket and her button +money, which rolled all over the floor. "Oh, dear!" + +"Bless and save us!" cried Mary, the cook. "What has happened?" + +Bunny Brown said nothing. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS + + +Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room. + +"What has happened?" she asked. "What was that crash?" + +It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had +caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound. On the floor, over and +around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller +board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many +bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks. + +"Where's Bunny?" asked Mrs. Brown. + +Well might she ask that, for Sue's brother was not in sight, nor had he +uttered a word since the accident. + +"He--he's under there I--I guess," faltered Sue. She was not quite sure +where Bunny had gone when that terrible crash came. + +"Yes, I see his legs! I'll pull him out, Ma'am," offered Mary. "Oh, I +hope nothing has happened to him!" + +Mrs. Brown hurried to assist Mary in digging Bunny from under the +wreckage of his hardware store. And while they are doing that I will beg +a moment's time from those of you who have never before read any of +these books, to tell you something of the two children who are to have +some queer adventures in this present volume. + +Bunny Brown and his sister Sue are well known to many of you children. +Bunny and his sister lived with their father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. +Walter Brown, in the town of Bellemere, on Sandport Bay, near the ocean. +Mr. Brown kept a boat and fish dock, and one of his helpers was Bunker +Blue, a young man who was very fond of Bunny and Sue. + +In the Brown home were also Uncle Tad, who was Mr. Brown's relative, and +Mary, the good-natured cook. There was also Splash, a big dog. And I +might mention Toby, a Shetland pony. There were other pets to whom I +will introduce you from time to time. Toby had been away from the Brown +children for a while, but was now back again. + +In the village were many friends of Bunny and Sue. Mrs. Redden, who kept +a candy store, was a very special sort of friend, and she gave the +biggest penny's worth of sweets for miles around. Mr. Gordon, as I have +told you, kept a real grocery store, and then there was Mr. Jed Winkler, +an old sailor who owned a parrot and a monkey named Wango. Mr. Winkler's +sister, Miss Euphemia, did not like either Polly or Wango. + +Charlie Star, George Watson, Mary Watson, Sadie West, Helen Newton, +Harry Bentley, and fat Bobbie Boomer were all friends of the Brown +children. + +Now that you know the names of most of the characters who are to appear +in this book, I might mention some of the other volumes. The first one +was called "Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue," and told of their +adventures around home. Then they went to Grandpa's farm, they played +circus, they visited Aunt Lu in her city home, they went to "Camp +Rest-a-While," and then they went to the Big Woods. After that they had +exciting adventures on an auto tour, and you can imagine what joy was +theirs when they were given a Shetland pony, that was named Toby. + +Bunny Brown and his sister were always thinking up new ideas, and when +they wanted to give a show few doubted but what they would succeed. They +did, and made a goodly sum for a home for the blind. One of the trips +the Browns made was to Christmas Tree Cove, and in the book of that name +you will find their adventures set forth. They also made a winter trip +to the South, and they had not long been back from that when the things +happened that I have just told you about--the grand crash in the +make-believe hardware store. + +With the help of Mary and Mrs. Brown, Bunny was pulled from beneath the +wreckage. At first the little boy could hardly speak, and his mother, no +less than Mary and Sue, was beginning to get frightened. But suddenly +with a gasp Bunny found his voice, and his first question was: + +"Did you get hurt, Sue?" + +"No," she answered. "But I guess you did." + +"Only a little crack on the head," Bunny replied, rubbing the place that +hurt. "But who knocked down my high shelf? Did Splash get in and wag his +tail?" + +Sometimes the big dog did this with funny results. + +"I guess I knocked down your shelf, Bunny," said Mary. "I'm sorry, but I +didn't know you had a board on top of the doors." + +"Did you have that, Bunny?" asked his mother. + +"Yes'm, I--I guess I did," Bunny had to admit. "It was a high shelf for +our hardware store. I had the washboiler up there!" + +"No wonder there was a crash!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "It's a wonder you +weren't hurt!" + +"I guess the big ironing board fell on the stepladder first, and stayed +there, and the rest of the things didn't hit Bunny because he was under +the board," explained Mary. + +And that is about how it happened. Bunny was under a sort of arch formed +by the stepladder and the two ironing boards, and so was saved from +being hit on the head by the heavy things. One of the overturned chairs, +however, had struck him in the stomach, and this had rather knocked his +breath out, which made him unable to talk for a little while. + +"Well, I'm glad it was no worse than this," said Mrs. Brown. "Mercy +sakes, though, the kitchen is a sight!" + +"I don't mind! I'll clean it up," offered good-natured Mary. "The +children have to play something in the house when it rains out of +doors." + +"Yes," agreed Mrs. Brown. "But they could have kept on playing grocery +store. They didn't need to make a high shelf and put the big washboiler +up on it to fall down when the door was moved the least bit!" + +"I did that," confessed Bunny, anxious that Sue should not be blamed for +what was not her fault. "I didn't know anybody would push the door." + +"Well, it's a mercy it was no worse," remarked his mother. "And now, +after you have helped Mary pick up the things, go on with your playing. +Can't you play grocery instead of hardware store, Bunny, my dear?" + +"Oh, hardware store is nicer, and we have all the things now," Bunny +replied. "But I won't make any more high shelves." + +The washboiler, the pans, and the scattered knives and forks were picked +up, and then Bunny and Sue went on playing, using only the low ironing +board shelf, which was made over the seats of two chairs. They took +turns keeping store and doing the buying, and had a great deal of fun. + +But even making believe keep a hardware store gets tiresome after a +while, especially if there are only two playing, and after a while Bunny +Brown and his sister Sue wanted something else to interest them. + +"'Tisn't raining quite so hard now," Sue observed, after a look from the +window. + +"That's right!" cried Bunny. "Oh, say! Maybe we can go out in the barn +and feed our alligators!" + +"That'll be fun," agreed Sue. "And I guess they're hungry; don't you, +Bunny?" + +"Yes, I guess so. Let's go ask mother if we can feed 'em." + +"I know she'll say yes, so I'll get some scraps of meat from Mary," said +Sue. + +As the rain was slackening and as Mrs. Brown knew that the alligators +might need food, she told the children they could go out to the barn if +they put on their rubber boots and coats. + +"Aren't you afraid the alligators will bite you?" asked Mary, as she cut +up some bits of meat for the children. + +"Course not; we aren't afraid!" boasted Bunny. "They're only little +alligators, and they're real tame." + +One of the long-tailed, scaly pets given to the children by Mr. Bunn had +been brought from the South where the Browns spent part of the winter, +and later Mr. Brown had gotten some others. The alligators were kept in +a tank of water in the barn. Bunny and Sue wanted the alligators kept in +the house, but Mrs. Brown insisted that the barn was the place for pets +of that sort. + +Out into the rain storm, which was now almost over, went Bunny Brown and +his sister Sue to feed the alligators. There were three or four of the +scaly creatures, and as the children drew near the tank the alligators +came crawling out of the water up on some bits of wood and stone that +made a resting place for them. For alligators cannot stay under water +all the while, as can a fish. They must come out every now and then to +get air. + +"Oh, look at Judy!" cried Sue, dangling a piece of meat in front of the +nose of one of the queer pets. "She's awful hungry!" + +"And so is Jim!" said Bunny, feeding another of the creatures. They +lifted up their long snouts, opened their mouths, and took in the pieces +of meat. + +"Where's Jumbo?" suddenly asked Sue. "I don't see him!" + +"Maybe he got out!" said Bunny, for the largest of the pet alligators +was not in sight. Not that Jumbo was very large, for though he was the +biggest in the tank he was not more than ten inches long. + +"Oh, here he comes!" cried Sue, as Jumbo swam up from the bottom of the +tank. "I guess he was asleep." + +"I guess so," agreed her brother. "Here, Jumbo!" he went on. "Here's +some meat for you!" + +"Jumbo's getting real big," said Sue, as she watched the largest of the +pets. + +"And Judy is growing," added Bunny. "I wish we had had these 'gators +when we gave our show." + +"Yes," agreed his sister. "Well, maybe we can have another show. Or we +could put the alligators in a store the next time we play." + +"Yes," said Bunny. "Only maybe you couldn't wrap up a 'gator in a piece +of paper. He might bite his way out." + +"That's so," said Sue. "Well, we could----" + +But she did not finish what she was saying, for a loud barking suddenly +sounded outside the barn. At this noise Bunny and Sue started on a run +for the door. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +SOMETHING IN A DESK + + +Splash, the dog, was barking loudly at something up in a tree near the +barn. Bunny and Sue could not see what it was, but it was something that +had caused Splash to get very much excited. He leaped up and down and +ran in circles about the tree, barking loudly all the while. + +"It's a cat!" exclaimed Sue. + +"Can't be a cat," Bunny answered. "Splash likes all the cats around +here." + +"Maybe it's a strange cat," went on Sue. + +"That's so," agreed Bunny Brown. "Here, Splash!" he called. "What you +barking at a cat for?" + +The only answer the dog made was to bark again. + +Bunny and his sister, forgetting all about their pet alligators, ran to +the foot of the tree, up in which was something that had caused Splash +to cease his play in another part of the yard and run toward the barn. +The rain had now stopped, and the sun was getting ready to shine. + +"What is it, Splash? What is it?" asked Bunny, trying to peer up among +the leaves of the tree. + +"I see it!" suddenly cried Sue. "It's Wango, Mr. Winkler's pet monkey!" + +"Oh, yes! I see it now!" called Bunny. "Here, Splash! Stop barking at +Wango!" ordered the little boy. "Don't you know he's a friend of yours? +Stop it, Splash!" + +Splash finally ceased barking and sat down to look eagerly up into the +tree. He would not have hurt the monkey, for the two animals were good +friends. I suppose Splash had seen the monkey leaping from the branches +of one tree into another, and, not realizing that it was his friend +Wango, had given chase. Wango was a bit frightened at first, even by the +barking of his dog friend Splash, and had taken refuge in the tree near +the barn. + +"Come on down, Wango! Come on down!" invited Bunny. + +"Yes, please do," added Sue. "We won't let Splash hurt you. Don't you +bark any more, Splash!" she cried, shaking her finger at the dog. + +Splash whined. He really only meant to have a little fun with Wango. But +the monkey did not come down. He clung to the tree branch with his hands +and tail and looked at the children, whom he well knew, for they were +kind to him. + +"I know how to get him down," said Bunny. "You go into the house and get +a piece of cake for him, Sue. Take Splash with you. Then Wango won't be +afraid." + +"All right," agreed the little girl. She was always ready to run errands +like this when she and Bunny could have fun. "Come on, Splash!" she +called, and the dog followed her, looking back once at Bunny, as if to +ask why the boy, too, was not following. But Bunny stayed near the tree +in which Wango still clung. + +"Mother," cried Sue, tramping into the house in her rubber boots, +"please may Bunny and I have some cake for Wango?" + +"You can't go over to Mr. Winkler's in the rain," said Mrs. Brown. +"You'd better stay out in the barn and feed your pet alligators." + +"Oh, but the rain is over," Sue explained. "The sun is coming out. And +Wango isn't over at his own home. He's up in one of our trees. Splash +chased him up there, I guess, and barked at him. And he won't come +down--I mean Wango won't. And will you please keep him in here till I +take him out some cake. I mean," explained Sue, half out of breath, "you +please keep Splash here in the house while I take some cake out to Bunny +to feed Wango to get him down from the tree." + +"My, what a lot of talk for a little girl!" laughed Mrs. Brown. "Well, I +suppose Wango has run away again from Jed. You and Bunny may take the +monkey back. Ask Mary to give you a bit of cake. I'll keep Splash in the +house." + +Sue got the cake, but it was rather difficult for Mrs. Brown to keep the +dog in. He was eager to follow Sue back to the tree again. But it would +be hard work to get Wango down, once the monkey was frightened, if +Splash kept on barking, which he was pretty sure to do. He even barked +loudly, Splash did, while he was being held in the house by Mrs. Brown. + +Sue ran out with the cake to Bunny, who was waiting beneath the tree. + +"Is Wango there yet?" the little girl wanted to know. + +"Yes," Bunny answered. "But he's coming down a little." + +And the monkey came down still farther when he saw the cake, of which he +was very fond. He was soon perched on Bunny's shoulder, eating the +treat, Sue feeding him little pieces one at a time. + +"Let's take him back to Mr. Winkler's house," suggested Bunny, as the +sun now came out bright and warm. "I guess the sailor will be looking +for him." + +"Yes, I guess so," agreed Sue. + +Wango had a great habit of running away from his master's home, and, +more than once, Bunny Brown and his sister Sue had taken back the +sailor's pet. This they now did again, and as they knocked at the side +door, Miss Winkler opened it. + +"Here's your monkey back," said Bunny, after the first greetings. + +"Huh! 'Tisn't _my_ monkey!" declared Miss Winkler. "It's Jed's! I +shouldn't ever worry if it never came home! Still, that isn't saying +it's your fault, Bunny and Sue. I know you mean to be kind, and Jed will +thank you, even if I don't. Wango, you rascal, why don't you stay away +when you run off? I don't want you around! What with the poll +parrot----" + +"Polly wants a cracker! Polly wants a cracker!" shrieked the green bird. + +"A fire cracker's what you ought to have!" sniffed Miss Winkler, who did +not like the two pets her sailor brother had brought back with him from +one of his voyages. + +"Cracker! Cracker! Put the kettle on the fire! Polly wants a cracker!" +yelled the bird, and Wango began to chatter, the two of them making such +a racket that Miss Winkler held her hands over her ears while Bunny and +Sue could not help laughing. + +"Stop it! Stop it!" yelled the maiden lady, and finally the monkey and +the parrot grew quiet. + +"Put Wango in his cage, Sue, if you please," said Miss Winkler. "And +I'll tell Jed, when he comes home, how good you were to bring Wango +back--not that I want the creature, though. Well, it's cleared off, I'm +glad to see. And now maybe you two will have a piece of cake for +yourselves. I won't give Wango any, though!" + +"Yes'm, I could eat a bit," said Bunny, with a smile. + +"I like it, too," added Sue. + +The children were soon having a lunch of cake and milk. Though Miss +Winkler was a bit fussy over her brother's pets, yet she had a good +heart, and she liked Bunny and Sue. + +Through the little mud puddles, left after the rain, Bunny and Sue +splashed their way back home. Their mother saw them coming, and, as +Splash was making a great fuss at being kept in the house, she let the +dog out. He ran to meet the children. + +"What'll we do now?" asked Bunny, when they had told their mother about +taking Wango home. + +"Let's go down and wade in the brook," proposed Sue. "We have our boots +on, and we won't have 'em on to-morrow. We'll have to go to school then, +anyhow. So let's go wade in the brook now." + +"All right!" agreed Bunny. "And we'll sail boats!" + +With their dog, the children were soon splashing in the shallow brook, +made a bit higher on account of the rain. They found some boards and +made a raft, on which they pushed themselves about the wider part of the +brook. Splash climbed on the raft with them, and the children pretended +they were Robinson Crusoe on a voyage. + +"Well, we had a lot of fun to-day," sighed Bunny in contentment, as he +and Sue were going to bed that night. "Lots of fun!" + +"Yes," agreed his sister. "And to-morrow we have to go to school." + +"Oh, well," Bunny remarked, "maybe we'll have fun there." The children +had been kept at home on account of the heavy rain. + +"We won't have any fun like the hardware store shelf falling down on +you," laughed Sue, as she remembered the queer accident. + +"No, I don't want anything like that," said Bunny. "Once is enough." + +Early the next morning the children were ready for school. But, almost +at the last minute, Bunny could not find his large pencil box. + +"Where did you have it last?" his mother asked him. + +"Oh, I remember! I saw it in the barn!" exclaimed Sue. + +"That's right--we were playing school there day before yesterday," said +Bunny. "I'll get it!" + +He ran to the barn, got the pencil box, thrust it into his bag with his +books, and trotted along with Sue. + +Having to hunt for his pencil box at almost the last moment nearly made +Bunny and Sue late for school. But they slipped into their seats just as +the last bell was ringing. After the morning exercises, Bunny placed his +pencil box and the books he did not need to use right away in his desk +and went to his reading class. + +It was when Bunny was doing his turn at reading up near the front +platform that Sadie West, who sat in the seat next to Bunny, gave a +sudden little cry. + +"What is the matter, Sadie?" asked Miss Bradley, the teacher. + +"Oh! Oh, if you please, Teacher, there's something in Bunny Brown's desk +making faces at me!" exclaimed Sadie. + +"Something making faces at you? What do you mean, Sadie?" asked Miss +Bradley in surprise. "What is it?" + +"It--it's a--a mouse!" cried the little girl. + +"A mouse?" repeated the teacher. + +"Yes'm! A mouse in Bunny Brown's desk!" and Sadie screamed. + +At this some of the other children screamed, and there was much noise +and confusion in the schoolroom. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE CORNER STORE + + +"Quiet, children! Quiet!" ordered Miss Bradley. "This is school, not the +playground at recess. Now, Sadie," she went on, as soon as there was a +little quiet in the room, "tell me again, and be careful what you say. +What did you see?" + +"Please, teacher, I saw a mouse in Bunny Brown's desk, and he made a +face at me. I mean the mouse made a face at me--not Bunny!" Sadie made +haste to explain, for she saw Bunny look at her when she made the +statement about his desk and the mouse. + +Sadie had left her seat beside Bunny's desk, and was now up front. + +"How many other girls saw the mouse in Bunny's desk?" asked Miss +Bradley. + +No one answered. + +"Raise your hands if you are afraid to speak," said the teacher, with a +smile. She was beginning to believe that Sadie had imagined it all, or +else that an edge of a book had looked like a mouse. + +None of the girls raised her hands except Sadie West. + +"Did any boy see the mouse?" Miss Bradley next asked. + +"No, but I wish I had!" exclaimed Charlie Star. "If I'd see it I'd grab +it!" + +The other pupils giggled on hearing this. + +"Quiet, children! Quiet!" begged the teacher again. + +"Are you sure, Sadie, that you saw a mouse in Bunny Brown's desk?" asked +Miss Bradley. + +"Yes'm, I'm sure I did," was the answer. + +"Bunny, did you bring a mouse to school?" Miss Bradley next asked. "I +mean a pet mouse, for I know you and Sue have many pets. Did you bring a +mouse to school, Bunny?" + +"Oh, no, Teacher! I wouldn't do such a thing!" Bunny declared very +earnestly. + +"I didn't believe you would," said Miss Bradley, with a kind smile. "I +think Sadie must be mistaken. But still, to quiet her--and all of you," +she added, looking at the pupils, "I will look in Bunny's desk. I am +quite sure I will find nothing more than a book or a piece of paper that +may have moved, making Sadie think it was a mouse." + +Miss Bradley went to Bunny's desk. All the desks in the room were of the +sort with a lid that raised up and down on hinges, like the cover of a +box. As Miss Bradley came near Bunny's desk she noticed that the top was +raised a little way, leaving a crack of an opening. Bunny had put one of +his books in hurriedly, and the desk lid rested on this. + +As the teacher raised the desk lid and looked in, the room was very +quiet. Some of the girls almost held their breaths. One of them covered +her eyes with her hands, lest she might, by accident, see the mouse. + +Sadie West leaned forward eagerly, anxious, in a way, that a mouse +should be found, for that would make her story true, and she was sure, +in her own mind, that she had seen a mouse. Bunny, too, looked eagerly +at Miss Bradley, and so did Sue, from the other side of the room. + +"Grab a book, everybody!" said Charlie Star in a hoarse whisper to the +other boys. "Grab a book, and if the mouse runs out we'll bang him!" + +Charlie was an active little chap, almost as lively as Bunny Brown +himself. + +Miss Bradley heard what Charlie said and, with the desk lid half raised, +she said: + +"No, boys! No throwing of books, if you please! Should there be a mouse +in the desk I can call the janitor to get it out." + +"Oh, let me get it out!" begged Bunny. + +There was no time to say more, for now Miss Bradley had Bunny's desk lid +fully raised. She looked inside for a moment, then with a queer look on +her face she closed the desk again and moved away. + +"Did you see it, Teacher? Did you see the little mouse--same as I did?" +eagerly asked Sadie. + +"No," answered Miss Bradley. "There isn't a mouse in the desk, but there +is a little alligator!" + +"Alligator!" cried the girls--that is, all but Sue. + +"Alligator!" shouted the boys. + +"Let's see it!" cried Charlie Star. + +"Quiet, children! Quiet!" ordered Miss Bradley. Then, turning to Bunny +she asked: "Did you bring that little alligator to school?" + +"No'm," Bunny answered. + +"Is it yours?" went on Miss Bradley. + +"Well, I have some pet alligators home," Bunny admitted. "Half of 'em's +Sue's. We got one of 'em down South, and Daddy bought the rest. But I +didn't bring any to school. If you let me look I can tell if it's mine +or Sue's." + +"I'll help!" offered Charlie Star. "I know Bunny's alligators, too!" + +"No, let Bunny manage his own pets," said the teacher. "Come here, +Bunny, and see what really is in your desk. I can't understand how an +alligator would get in there if you didn't bring it." + +Bunny opened his desk cover, the other boys wishing they had his chance +to "show off" this way right in the school room. Bunny looked inside and +then laughed. + +"Yes," he said, "it's Judy, the littlest alligator. She won't hurt +anybody." + +"But how did it get to school?" asked Miss Bradley. + +"It's in my big pencil box," Bunny answered. "I brought my pencil box to +school this morning, but I didn't open it and----" + +"Teacher! Teacher! I know!" exclaimed Sue, raising her hand to show that +she had something to tell. + +"Well, how did it happen?" asked Miss Bradley. + +"If you please, Teacher," said the little girl, "Bunny's pencil box was +out in the barn where we keep the alligators. He left it there when we +played school the other day. This morning Bunny couldn't find his pencil +box, but it was out in the barn. He brought it in from there and we came +to school." + +"And I guess," said Bunny, finishing the story his sister had started, +"that Judy climbed into my pencil box in the night and went to sleep +there and I didn't see her." + +This seemed to be as good an explanation as any, and was probably the +way it had happened. Anyhow there was the little alligator in the +pencil box inside Bunny's desk. The scaly creature had crawled in and +then out, and when Bunny went up to recite the little creature had +thrust its snout out beneath the partly raised lid. It was this that +Sadie West had seen and thought was a mouse. + +"Well, Bunny," said Miss Bradley, "I know it wasn't your fault, so we'll +say nothing more about it. Only, after this, please look in your pencil +boxes before you bring them to school." + +"I will," promised Sue's brother. + +"And now I'll excuse you from class while you take your alligator home," +went on Miss Bradley. + +"I can help him, Miss Bradley, if he wants me to," offered Charlie Star. +"I know a lot about alligators." + +"No, thank you," replied the teacher with a smile. "This alligator is so +little I think Bunny can manage it alone. Now we will go on with our +lessons!" + +There was something like a sigh of disappointment among the children. +For they had all welcomed the happening, since it gave them a sort of +recess. But now they must pay attention to their books. + +Bunny shut Judy up in his pencil box, as the easiest way of carrying the +little alligator, and soon he was on his way home with his pet. + +"Why, Bunny! what's the matter?" his mother asked, as he came into the +house. "Why are you home?" + +"I had to bring back one of the alligators," he explained. + +"Ha! Ha!" laughed Uncle Tad. "Like Mary's lamb, the alligator followed +you to school one day, did it, Bunny?" + +"She didn't 'zactly follow me," Bunny explained, as he took his pet out +to the tank in the barn. "I carried Judy in my pencil box, but I didn't +know it." + +Bunny went back to school and finished his lessons. And all the +remainder of the day, when the pupils had a chance to speak, they talked +of nothing but Sadie West, the "mouse" and Bunny's pet alligator. It was +very exciting, all together. + +When Bunny and Sue reached home that afternoon they found their mother +on the steps waiting for them. + +"I'll take your books," she told the children, "and I want you to go to +the store for me. Mary started to bake a cake and found, at the last +moment, she was out of baking powder. I want you to go for a box. You +needn't go all the way to the big store. Stop at the little one on the +corner--Mrs. Golden's, you know. She sometimes has the kind I want. Go +to the corner store and get the baking powder." + +"All right!" exclaimed Bunny, and he and Sue hurried off. They knew +where Mrs. Sarah Golden's little corner store was located--just a few +blocks from their home, much nearer than the big store where Mrs. Brown +generally traded. Bunny and Sue had been in Mrs. Golden's store before, +but not often, as it was rather out of the way, and such a small place +that Mrs. Brown was afraid things would not be as fresh as at the larger +grocery. Besides groceries, Mrs. Golden also kept "notions"--that is, +pins, thread, hooks and eyes, and things like that. She also had candy +and a few toys for sale. + +"Her store isn't much bigger than our play store was, is it?" asked +Bunny of Sue, as they reached Mrs. Golden's. + +"Not much," agreed Sue. "Didn't we have fun when we played store?" + +"Lots!" agreed Bunny. "And didn't the boiler make a big racket when it +fell down?" + +He and Sue laughed at remembering this, but their laughs died away as +they entered the little corner store and heard groans coming from behind +one of the counters. Groans and sighs greeted the children as they +opened the door. No one was in sight. + +"Oh, Bunny!" exclaimed Sue, frightened, "what you s'pose has happened?" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A NEW PUPIL + + +Though Bunny Brown and his sister Sue had not often bought things in +Mrs. Golden's store, they knew the woman who kept the place, and she +knew them, for she often called them by name as they passed when she was +out in front. But now Mrs. Golden was not in sight, though the groans +that came from behind one of the counters seemed to tell that she was +there. + +"Oh, Bunny, I'm afraid!" whispered Sue, standing in the opened door with +her brother. "Don't let's go in!" + +"Why not?" Bunny asked. + +"'Cause maybe burglars have been here and maybe they've hurt Mrs. +Golden!" + +"Well, if they have, then we've got to help her," decided Bunny. "But +burglars don't come in the daytime. They come only at night time." + +"That's so," agreed Sue, growing bolder. + +And then the groans stopped and the voice of an old lady said: + +"Who is there, my dears? Some children, I know by your voices, but I +can't see you. Don't be afraid, but come and help me." + +"Where are you, and what's the matter?" asked Bunny. + +"I'm down behind the notion counter," went on the voice. "I stepped up +on a box to reach something from the shelf, and I slipped and fell. I'm +not badly hurt, thank goodness, but I'm sort of wedged in here between +the box and the wall, and I can't get up. If you can pull the box out +I'll be all right." + +"We'll do that!" cried Bunny, and he ran around behind the notion +counter, on the side of the store where the needles, pins, and spools of +thread were kept. Sue followed her brother. + +There, just as Mrs. Golden had said, they found the old lady +storekeeper. She was lying on the floor with a small packing box so +wedged between her back and the side wall that she could not easily get +up, especially as she was old and feeble. + +"Oh, it's Bunny Brown and his sister Sue!" exclaimed Mrs. Golden, when +she saw the children. "I'm so glad you came in! I was hoping some one +would come in to help me. The breath was sort of knocked out of me when +I fell, and I could only grunt and groan for a few minutes." + +"We heard you," said Bunny. + +"And I thought it was burglars," added Sue. + +"Bless your hearts!" exclaimed Mrs. Golden. "Burglars wouldn't come to +my poor, little store. Now just pull the box out and I'll be all right." + +Bunny and Sue tugged at the box on which Mrs. Golden had been standing +when she slipped and fell. It was hard work, but they managed to pull it +out, and then Mrs. Golden, with a few more grunts and groans, could get +up. + +"Oh, my poor back!" she exclaimed, as she sank into a chair outside the +counter. + +"Is it broken?" asked Sue anxiously. + +"No, not quite," was the answer, with a little smile. "But it's +strained, and I expect I'll be lame for a while. Philip always told me +not to stand up on things to reach the top shelves, and I guess he was +right." + +"Who is Philip?" asked Bunny. + +"Philip is my son," was the answer. "He's a grown man, and he has to go +off to work every day, though he helps me in the store as much as he +can. I wouldn't want him to know I fell. It would only worry him, and he +might make me give up my store. And I don't want to do that. I'm feeling +better now. I'll be all right in a little while. Did you want something, +my dears?" she asked, for she must not forget that she was a +storekeeper. + +"We wanted some baking powder," said Sue. "But we aren't in any hurry." + +"We are in a _little_ hurry," said Bunny. "'Cause Mary's got a cake +partly made, but maybe----" + +"Oh, I have baking powder," said Mrs. Golden quickly. "And I'll be glad +to sell it to you. If I sold more things I'd make more money. Let me see +now; I'm feeling sort of queer in my head on account of my tumble, but +baking powder--oh, it's on one of the high shelves. I--I'm almost afraid +to reach up for it." + +"Oh, let me get it!" eagerly begged Bunny. "I like to climb up. I'd like +to get it! I like to keep store!" + +"So do I!" added Sue. "We played store the other day, and a lot of +things fell down when Mary closed the door. We had a high shelf, too." + +"Yes, one needs high shelves in a store," said Mrs. Golden. "But, Bunny, +do you think you can reach up and get the baking powder?" she asked. "I +can point it out to you." + +"Sure, I can get it!" declared the little boy. "I'd love to." + +"We don't want you to fall again," said Sue. + +"That's very kind of you," replied Mrs. Golden. "Well, the baking powder +is on the other side of my store--the grocery side. There it is," and +with a bent and trembling finger she pointed out the tin boxes. + +"Oh, that's an easy climb!" exclaimed Bunny, and he soon proved that it +was by clambering up and getting the box of baking powder he wanted. +Then he paid for it. + +The children asked Mrs. Golden if they could help her further. She said +she was feeling better and would soon be all right. + +"But don't climb up any more," warned Sue. + +"That's right," echoed Bunny. "Maybe we could help you tend store, Mrs. +Golden. I'm a good climber." + +"Yes, Bunny, I notice you are," said the old lady, with a smile. "And it +is very kind of you, but you see I never could tell when some one might +come in and want something from a high shelf. Unless you stayed here all +the while it wouldn't be of much use." + +"No, that's so," the little boy admitted. "I'd like to stay here all the +while, though. I like to keep store!" + +"So do I," added Sue. + +"But children must go to school," said Mrs. Golden, with a smile. "I'll +have to get my son Philip to put all the things on low shelves, I guess. +Then I can reach them without climbing up. Run along now, Bunny and +Sue. Your mother will be waiting for that baking powder." + +Bunny and Sue told their mother what had happened at the store. + +"Poor old lady!" sighed Mrs. Brown. "She is very poor, I'm afraid. We +must buy more of our things there, Mary. It will be a help to her." + +"Yes'm, it will," agreed the cook. "I often stop there when I want +something in a hurry. She and her son are honest and hard-working." + +"And I worked, too!" said Bunny. "I helped her tend store. I climbed up +and got the baking powder." + +"That was kind of you. But you, too, must be careful, son," his mother +told him. + +On their way to school the next day Bunny and Sue went past Mrs. +Golden's store to ask how she was. They found her smiling and cheerful, +little the worse for her tumble. + +"My son Philip is going to make me some lower shelves," she said. + +"Then I can help reach things down for you," exclaimed Sue, with a +smile. + +"Yes, dearie," murmured Mrs. Golden. + +"Wouldn't it be fun if we had a little store like that?" said Sue to +Bunny, as they hurried along, to school. "I mean a real store, with real +things to sell, and we could take in real money." + +"Yes, it would be lots of fun!" agreed Bunny. "But I don't s'pose it +will ever happen." + +However, something very like that was to happen, almost before the +children knew it. + +"Yes," went on Bunny, when they had almost reached the school, "it would +be dandy to have a store like Mrs. Golden's!" + +"Maybe you will have some day--when you grow up," replied Sue. + +"That's a long way off," sighed Bunny, as he looked down at his little, +short legs. + +There was nothing to disturb the school classes that morning. No pet +alligators were found in the desk of Bunny or any of the other pupils, +and neither Sadie West nor any of the other girls thought she saw a +mouse. + +However, something happened in the afternoon. It was a warm day, early +in summer, though the long vacation had not yet come. The windows were +open and the bright sun streamed in. + +After a period of study Miss Bradley called the first class in spelling. +Bunny and Sue were in this division, and they went up to the front seats +where Miss Bradley heard all recitations. + +"Sadie West, please spell church," called Miss Bradley. Sadie spelled +the word right. + +"Sue Brown, please spell horse," called the teacher, and Sue did not +make a miss. + +"Now, Bunny, it is your turn," said the teacher, with a smile. "Your +word is cracker." + +Bunny paused a moment. + +"C--r--a----" he began. + +Then suddenly, sounding throughout the school room, a harsh voice cried: + +"Cracker! Cracker! Give me a cracker!" + +Miss Bradley hurriedly stood up beside her chair. What pupil had thus +dared to speak aloud in school? + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A BUSY BUZZER + + +Bunny, Sue and the other children were just as much surprised as was +Miss Bradley when that strange, harsh voice called out. And it needed +but a look at the faces of her pupils to show the teacher that none of +them had broken one of the rules of the classroom. + +Bunny still held his mouth open, for he was half way through the +spelling of the word "cracker." He was about to keep on, when once more +the voice called: + +"Cracker! Cracker! Polly wants a cracker!" + +The sound came from the cloak closet on one side of the classroom. + +"It's a parrot!" cried Charlie Star. "A poll parrot!" + +"Yes, I believe it is," said Miss Bradley. + +"You didn't bring a parrot to school to-day, did you, Bunny?" she asked. + +"Oh, no, Ma'am!" he exclaimed, so earnestly that of course Miss Bradley +believed him. + +"But I know whose parrot it is," said Sue, eagerly. + +"Whose?" asked the teacher. + +"Mr. Winkler's! He's got a parrot and a monkey. They're always getting +loose. Maybe the monkey's in the cloakroom, too, only the monkey can't +talk like Polly," went on Sue. + +"Keep your seats, children!" said Miss Bradley. "I'll look in the +cloakroom. There is no need to be excited. A parrot will hurt no one, +nor a monkey, either. Keep your seats!" + +As she opened the cloakroom door the harsh voice again sounded more +loudly than before. + +"Bow! Wow! Wow!" it barked. "Cracker! Cracker! Polly wants a cracker! +Let's have a song! Ha! Ha! Ha!" + +Then it began what I suppose the bird thought was singing. + +The children laughed, and so did the teacher. + +Out of the cloakroom flew the parrot, fluttering up on the teacher's +desk. There it perched, preening its feathers with its big beak and +thick, black tongue, now and then uttering harsh squawks and making +remarks, some of which could not be understood. + +"Is this the parrot you meant, Sue?" asked Miss Bradley. + +"Yes'm, that's Mr. Winkler's," answered Sue. "I can take it back to him +if you want me to. Polly knows me." + +"And he knows me, too!" exclaimed Bunny. + +"And me!" eagerly added Charlie Star. "Let me and Bunny take him home, +please?" he begged. + +"Is that the way to say it?" remarked the teacher, for the room was more +quiet now. "What should you have said, Charlie?" + +"Let Bunny and me," corrected Charlie. + +"That's right. Always speak of yourself last. It is more polite. Well, I +think you and Bunny may take the parrot back to Mr. Winkler," went on +the teacher. "Certainly we don't want him in our class, though he seems +a bright bird." + +"You ought to see Wango, the monkey, climb!" cried fat Bobbie Boomer, +and all the other children laughed. "He's great!" + +"Well, I think a parrot is enough for one day," remarked Miss Bradley, +with a smile. "Take Polly home, Bunny and Charlie." + +"Just see, Teacher, he's tame and he knows me," Bunny said, stroking +Polly's head, a caress the parrot seemed to like. Polly perched herself +on Bunny's shoulder, and then he and Charlie went out, envied by the +other pupils. + +"Oh that bird! Out again!" cried Miss Winkler, when Polly was restored +to her. "I declare, I'll make Jed get rid of her and Wango! They're more +bother than they're worth!" + +"I'll take 'em if you don't want 'em!" offered Charlie Star. + +"So will I!" said Bunny. + +But as Miss Winkler usually made this threat three or four times a week +(or every time the monkey or parrot got loose), and as Mr. Winkler had +never yet given them away, it did not seem likely that he would do so +now. So Bunny and Charlie had small hopes of owning either pet. + +The boys went back to school, passing, on their way, the store of Mrs. +Golden. + +"Let's go in," suggested Charlie. "I want to buy a top!" + +"All right," agreed Bunny. + +"Well, boys, what can I sell you to-day?" asked Mrs. Golden, coming out +from the little back room where she generally sat when there were no +customers to wait on. + +"Got any tops?" asked Charlie. + +"A few," Mrs. Golden answered, "but not many. I'm going to have a new +lot in next week. Good day, Bunny," she went on. "Did your mother like +that baking powder?" + +"I guess so," Bunny answered. Then he and Charlie began looking at the +tops. But the kind Charlie wanted was not in the case, and after looking +at several Charlie decided not to buy any. + +"Here's a tin automobile I'm selling cheap," said Mrs. Golden, taking a +red toy out from another case. "It's the last one I have, and I'll sell +it to you for what it cost me--twenty-five cents. The regular price +would be fifty cents. See, I'll wind it up for you." + +This she did, setting it down on the floor. With a whizz and a buzz the +auto darted across the store, bringing up with a bang against the low +part of the opposite counter. + +"Say, that's a dandy!" exclaimed Charlie. "I'd like to own that!" + +"So would I!" agreed Bunny. "Only I haven't twenty-five cents." + +"I have!" Charlie said. "I was going to spend only ten cents for a top, +but I guess I'll buy this buzzer auto for a quarter." + +"It's in good order," said Mrs. Golden. "I'm not going to keep such +expensive toys after this. I'm getting too old to run a toy store as +well as groceries and notions. I'm giving up most of my toys. But this +is a good auto, Charlie." + +"Yes'm, I'll take it," said the little boy, and he bought the auto. + +"You can't take it to school with you," said Bunny, as he and his chum +left Mrs. Golden's store. + +"Yes, I can," answered Charlie. + +"If teacher sees it she'll take it away." + +"Well, she won't see it. I can put it in my coat pocket." This Charlie +did, after a struggle, for the pocket was rather small and the toy auto +rather large. + +"It sticks out and shows," Bunny said, after the toy had been crowded +in. + +"I'll stuff my handkerchief over it," Charlie decided, and this was +done. + +Then the two boys went on to school, arriving just as it was time for +recess, so they did not have to go back to their lessons right away. + +"And I didn't have to spell!" laughed Bunny. "Though I did know how to +spell cracker." + +"Come on!" called Charlie. "We'll have some fun with my new auto! I'll +let it run around the yard." + +This he did to the delight of the other boys. As for the girls, they +gathered on the other side of the school yard for their own particular +recess fun. + +Sue, Mary Watson, Sadie West, Helen Newton and some others raced about, +playing tag and jumping rope. + +"Oh, I know what we can do!" suddenly cried Helen, when they were all +tired from having romped about playing tag. + +"What?" asked Sue. + +"Let's go down to the end of the yard where the men are digging, and see +how big the hole is," suggested Helen. + +"Oh, teacher said we mustn't!" exclaimed Sadie. + +"Well, we won't go very close," went on Helen. "She just told us to be +careful not to fall in. But if we don't go too close we can't fall in." + +This seemed a safe way of looking at it, and the girls were curious to +see what the workmen had done at the far end of the school yard. The +laborers had been digging for some days, fixing water pipes, and had +made a deep trench, so deep that when a man stood down in it only his +head showed above. + +Just now none of the men was near the hole, all having gone away to get +other tools, and as the boys were busy playing at the other end of the +yard, or watching Charlie's auto, the girls could explore the digging by +themselves. + +"It's nothing but a hole!" said Sue, in some disappointment, as they +approached as near as they dared and looked in. + +"I'd like to go down in it!" exclaimed Helen, who was rather daring. + +"Oh!" cried Sue. "Come back! Don't go too close!" + +But Helen did not heed. She went up to the very edge of the long, deep +trench, and was looking in when suddenly her feet slipped out from under +her, and down she went, sliding right into the hole! + +"Oh! Oh!" she cried. + +"Oh! Oh!" screamed the other girls, and in such excited voices that Miss +Bradley came running out of the classroom and the boys crowded down to +the end of the yard. + +"What has happened?" asked the teacher. + +"Helen Newton fell into the big hole!" cried Sadie West. + +"Did the dirt cave in on her?" asked Miss Bradley. + +Fortunately, it had not. The walls of the trench were firm and solid, +and the only thing that had happened was that Helen was down in the +deep trench, and could not get up by herself. She was crying now. + +"Don't cry," said Miss Bradley. "You're all right. We'll soon get you +out. Now you other boys and girls keep back from the edges, or you'll +cause the sides to cave in and they'll cover Helen! Keep back, Bunny, +Sue, every one!" + +This was good advice, and as the other children moved back away from the +trench there was less danger. Miss Bradley was just going to send one of +the boys to call the janitor when two workmen came back. They broke into +a run as they saw the crowd about their digging place, for they had told +the teacher to keep the children away from it. + +"There's been an accident!" said one man. + +But it was not so bad as he feared, and he and his companion soon lifted +Helen out on solid ground again, a rather frightened little girl, but +not in the least hurt. + +"I told you to stay away from that hole!" said Miss Bradley, rather +severely. "I was afraid something like this might happen. It is +fortunate it was no worse. Who started it?" + +There was a moment's pause, and then Helen raised her hand. She had been +crying. + +"If--if you please, Teacher, I went there first," she stammered. + +"Well, I think your fright has been punishment enough for you," said +Miss Bradley kindly, "and we will say nothing more about it. But if any +of you go near that hole again he or she will be kept in after school. +It isn't that I mind your seeing what the workmen are doing, it is just +that it would be dangerous for even grown folks to go too near the edge +of the trench, and much more so for you little folk. So keep away from +the hole. I hope the pipes will be in this week, and the hole closed up. +Now do you all promise to keep away?" she asked. "Raise your hands!" + +Every hand went up, for the boys and girls were fond of their teacher +and did not want to cause her worry. + +It was a solemn moment, for they all felt that something dreadful might +have happened to Helen had the dirt caved in on her. + +"Hands down," said Miss Bradley, and down they went. + +Just then the bell rang. Recess was over, and the lines of boys and +girls marched into the schoolhouse once again. + +Charlie Star reached for his handkerchief, which he had again stuffed +over his toy automobile after he had crowded that toy into his pocket +when going back into school after recess. As he pulled out his +handkerchief the auto came with it and fell to the floor. + +Suddenly there was a strange buzzing sound in the room. Neither the +teacher nor the girls knew what it was, but Bunny and the boys knew it +was Charlie Star's new toy automobile which he had bought from Mrs. +Golden. + +With a buzz the busy auto ran from Charlie's desk straight down the +aisle toward Miss Bradley, who was standing in front of her platform. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE BARN STORE + + +For a second or two Miss Bradley seemed to pay no attention to the +buzzing sound which Bunny, Charlie, and some of the other pupils heard +only too plainly. The teacher was busy thinking whether she had done +enough talking to make sure her boys and girls would not again go near +the deep hole in the school yard. + +"I wouldn't want any of them to get hurt," thought Miss Bradley. "I had +better scare them a little now than have any of them harmed the least +bit." + +She was thinking what else she might say, to impress on the pupils the +danger of the hole, when she seemed to hear, for the first time, the +buzzing of Charlie's auto. + +"What's that?" asked Miss Bradley. + +No one answered, except that, here and there in the room, a boy or girl +snickered. + +There was one queer thing about Charlie's new toy auto. It made a great +deal of buzzing as the wheels whirred around when the wound-up spring +made them do this, but the machine itself did not go very fast. It +seemed to make a great fuss about getting anywhere, but it took its own +time in doing it. + +This was the reason why the auto, though it had been pulled out of +Charlie's pocket with his handkerchief and had fallen into the aisle +down which it ran, did not very soon get where Miss Bradley could see +it. She could hear the buzzing sound, but she did not know what it was. + +"Who is making that noise?" she asked again. + +No one answered, for, truth to tell, neither a boy nor a girl in the +room was causing the noise; though of course Charlie was to blame, in a +way. + +Miss Bradley was looking over the room, into the faces of her pupils. +The buzzing sound kept up. It seemed to be coming nearer and nearer. The +windows were open, and she thought a bee or a wasp might have flown in. +But it would be a very large wasp or bee, indeed, which would make so +loud a buzzing sound as this. + +"Children----" began Miss Bradley, and then she suddenly stopped, for +something struck her on the foot. And it was right near her foot that +the buzzing noise sounded. But as she had walked a little way down from +her platform, and her foot was partly under the first desk--that of fat +Bobbie Boomer--Miss Bradley could not see what had struck her. + +"Oh!" she cried, as she jumped back, rather startled. + +Charlie Star and Bunny Brown could not help laughing right out loud. +They knew what had caused all this excitement. + +A moment later Miss Bradley knew also. For Charlie's buzzing auto, +having struck her foot, turned aside and rolled out on the floor in +front of her teaching platform, in plain sight. There the little red toy +came to a stop, for its spring was fully unwound. + +Charlie and Bunny stopped their laughing suddenly as the teacher looked +down at them. + +"Whose is this?" asked Miss Bradley, in a voice she hardly ever used in +the classroom, for her pupils were generally very orderly. "Who owns +this automobile?" she asked, sternly. + +Timidly Charlie Star raised his hand. + +"If you please, Teacher, it's mine," he said. And such a weak little +voice as it was! Not at all like the loud, hearty tones Charlie used +when he called to Bunny, "first shot agates!" + +Miss Bradley stooped over and picked up the toy. She placed it on her +desk, and then, turning to face the children, she said: + +"I am very sorry about this. I thought, after what had happened to +Helen, that you were going to settle down and study your lessons. Why +did you bring this auto to school, Charlie? And why did you take it +out?" + +Charlie was silent a moment, and then he answered, saying: + +"I--I didn't exactly take it out, Miss Bradley. It came out when I took +out my handkerchief. I--I didn't mean to do it." + +"Very well then, you didn't," the teacher agreed, with a little smile, +for she knew Charlie was telling the truth. "But why did you bring the +auto to school at all?" + +Then Charlie told of having bought the toy that morning, on his way to +school with Bunny Brown. + +"I didn't have time to go home with it after I bought it," he said, "so +I put it in my pocket. We played with it at recess, and I forgot and +wound it up and stuck it in my pocket. I didn't mean to let it get out +and run down the aisle." + +Miss Bradley wanted to smile, but she knew it would not be just the +thing to do. So she said: + +"Well, Charlie, I will excuse you this time. But please don't bring any +more toys into the schoolroom. And now, as we have lost much time from +our lessons, we must study extra hard to make it up. Come to me after +school, Charlie, and I'll give you back your auto." + +Miss Bradley put the toy in her desk for safe keeping, and went on with +the lessons. But it was rather hard for the pupils to get their minds +back on their studies, because so much had happened that day from the +time the parrot had screeched "Cracker! Cracker!" in the cloakroom +until Charlie's auto fell out of his pocket and went buzzing down the +aisle to bang into the teacher's foot. + +However, the day came to an end at last, and then, talking and laughing, +the boys and girls ran out of doors. Charlie stayed after the others, +and walked shyly up to the desk at which Miss Bradley sat, looking over +some examination papers. The room was very still and quiet after the +noise and excitement of the children's outgoing. + +"Yes, Charlie. What is it?" asked Miss Bradley, as she saw him standing +near her desk. + +"If you please--my auto----" + +"Oh, yes," and she opened her desk and handed it to him. "It is a cute +little toy," and she smiled at Charlie. + +"You ought to see it go!" he exclaimed eagerly, for Miss Bradley was +really a friend to her pupils, and she knew how to make kites and spin +tops almost as good as a boy. + +"Here! I'll show you!" Charlie went on. "It's a dandy!" + +Quickly he wound up the auto and set it down on the floor. The wheels +buzzed and the little red car spun across the schoolroom floor. + +Bunny Brown and George Watson, waiting outside for Charlie, wondered +what was keeping their chum. They knew he had stayed in to get his +plaything. + +"Maybe she's going to make him stay in half an hour," suggested George. + +"She didn't say she was," replied Bunny. "But maybe she's giving him +a--a leshure." What Bunny meant was lecture. + +"Let's look in," suggested George. + +On tiptoes they went to a window whence they could see into the room. +There they saw Miss Bradley winding up Charlie's auto, and they heard +Charlie saying: + +"You try it now, Miss Bradley! See how nice it runs!" + +And as the surprised watchers looked on, their teacher started the toy +across the floor as Charlie had done. For, following the first showing +of his plaything, Charlie had offered to let his teacher wind it, and +she had agreed. + +"Yes, it is a cute toy," said the teacher, as the auto banged into a +side wall and stopped. "But we mustn't play with it in school hours." + +"Oh, no'm!" agreed Charlie, and then he hurried outside, where Bunny and +George were waiting for him. + +"Say, you ought to see!" exclaimed Charlie, half breathless. "She ran +the auto herself!" + +"We saw her," said Bunny. + +"She's a dandy teacher all right!" declared George. + +One Saturday morning Bunny and Sue came downstairs to breakfast at the +same hour as on other days. Usually this did not happen, for on +Saturdays they were allowed to remain in bed a little longer than on +days when they had to go to school. + +"Well, what does this mean?" asked Uncle Tad, who was finishing his meal +and reading the paper at the same time. "This is Saturday, isn't it? +Unless I have on the wrong glasses!" he added, as he looked at the +calendar on the wall. + +"Yes, it's Saturday," said Bunny. + +"Then why are you up so early?" asked Uncle Tad. + +"'Cause a lot of the boys and girls are coming over, and we're going to +play store out in our barn," explained Sue. "You can come and buy +something if you want to, Uncle Tad." + +"Thanks! Maybe I will!" chuckled the old soldier. "Are you going to sell +any inside outside cocoanuts flavored with saltmint?" he asked. + +"What are those?" Bunny inquired. + +"Oh, he's only joking!" declared Sue, as she saw a twinkle in the eyes +of Uncle Tad. And of course he was joking. + +"Well, maybe I'll look in and see what you do have to sell in your barn +store," he said, as he left the table. + +Bunny Brown and his sister Sue were not long in finishing their +breakfast, and then they hurried out to the barn where they were to keep +store. Bunny and Sue had found some boards and boxes out there which +would make fine shelves for a pretend store. + +"We'll put the shelves up before the others get here," said Bunny. + +"Yes," she agreed. "But what kind of store are you going to play? Are +you going to have washboilers and tin pans?" + +"No, I guess not," said Bunny, after thinking about it a moment. "We'll +keep a store like Mrs. Golden's." + +"Yes, that will be nice," agreed Sue. "Here, Splash!" she cried. "Get +out of there! That box isn't for you to sleep in!" For the big dog had +crawled into one of the boxes that were to form the store shelves. +Splash was curling up most comfortably. + +"We'll use him for a delivery dog," said Bunny. "We'll tie a basket on +his neck and he can take the groceries and things to different places." + +"Oh, that will be fun!" laughed Sue, clapping her hands. "Here comes +Helen!" she cried a moment later, and then, with joyous shouts and +laughter, a number of children came running into the Brown yard, ready +to play barn store. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +IN A HOLE + + +"What things are you going to sell?" + +"Who's going to tend store?" + +"I want to be cashier!" + +These were some of the things the boys and girls shouted as they ran +into the barn where Bunny Brown and his sister Sue were waiting for them +to play store. Charlie Star, Helen Newton, fat Bobbie Boomer, Harry +Bentley, George and Mary Watson and Sadie West were among the boys and +girls who came crowding into the barn, for the day before Bunny and his +sister had invited them to spend Saturday in having fun. + +"We'll take turns tending store," explained Bunny, after he had shown +his playmates the shelves and boxes that were to be used for shelves. + +"And we're going to have our dog Splash deliver things with a basket on +his neck," explained Sue. + +"I should think it would be more fun to hitch up your pony Toby to the +basket cart and have him to deliver things," remarked Helen. + +"We thought of that," replied Bunny. "But Bunker Blue has taken Toby +down to the boat dock. He has to do some errands for my father, so we +can't have Toby." + +As Bunny and his sister had played this game more than the others, they +were allowed to lay out the plans. Bunny showed the boys how the boards +were to be put across the boxes to make shelves, and Sue took the girls +down to the brook to gather little pebbles and the shells of fresh water +mussels which were to be used for money, as there were going to be so +many "customers" for the barn store that Mrs. Brown's buttons would not +be enough to make change. + +"What things are we going to sell?" asked Charlie, as he began pulling +something from his pocket. + +"Oh, we'll get stones, sand, gravel, some leaves, pieces of bark, +twigs, and things like that," Bunny explained. "But what you got in your +pocket, Charlie?" + +"My wind-up auto. I thought maybe we could use it in the store." + +"How?" + +"Well, it could be like a cash register. You see," Charlie went on, +"somebody's got to be the cashier just as in a big store. We'll have +different clerks, and when anybody buys anything they must pay the money +to whoever is clerk." + +"Yes," agreed Bunny, who understood thus far. + +"Then," went on Charlie, "the clerk must put the money the customer pays +into my auto, and send it on a plank up to the cashier's desk. The +cashier will make change and send it back in the auto." + +"Oh, that'll be great!" cried Bunny. "And I guess you ought to be the +cashier for thinking it up, Charlie." + +"Well, maybe I ought, 'cause it's my auto," Charlie said. He had been +hoping for this all along. "Now I'll make myself a place to be +cashier," he went on, "and I'll fix up a long plank for the auto to run +back and forth on. One winding will bring it up to me and back to the +clerk." + +When the other children heard this plan they were much delighted. Soon +the store was ready for business. Boards had been placed across the +boxes and a tier of shelves made, the top one so high that a long box +had to be used like a stepladder to reach it. On the shelves were placed +different things picked up around the barn, in the yard, and in the +patch of woods not far away, or brought from the shore of the brook. + +Then the boys and girls divided themselves up, some were to be customers +to buy things in the store, while others were to be clerks to wait on +the customers. Charlie took his place at the end of the tier of shelves +to act as cashier. From the end of the shelves to his box ran a long +narrow plank on which the auto change-carrier was to run. + +Finally everything was ready, even to torn pieces of newspaper in which +the things bought were to be wrapped. Splash was on hand with a basket +tied to his neck to deliver the goods. And each customer had picked out +a certain part of the barn as his or her "home" where the things were to +be delivered. + +"All ready!" called Bunny Brown. He and Sue were to be clerks in the +store at first; afterward they would take a turn at being customers. + +"I want a pound of sugar!" ordered Sadie West, coming up to Bunny, +standing behind his part of the front counter. + +"Yes, Ma'am. A pound of sugar!" repeated Bunny, scooping up some sand in +a clam shell. "Nice day, isn't it--Mrs. er--Mrs.----" + +"Snyder is my name," said Sadie. "I'm Mrs. Snyder and I live at 756 +Oatbin Avenue," she added, as she looked toward the part of the barn she +had picked out for her "house." It was near Toby's oat bin. + +"Yes, Ma'am," answered Bunny. "I'll send it right over to Oatbin +Avenue." + +He wrapped up the sand-sugar in a piece of paper and took the black +mussel shell which Sadie handed him as her "five-dollar bill." Bunny +placed the shell in the automobile, and started it up the plank to where +Charlie waited. Taking out the large shell, Charlie put in two smaller +ones and a white stone. This was "change." + +Back whizzed the auto down the plank until it reached Bunny, who took +out the "change" and handed it to "Mrs. Snyder." + +"Please send my sugar right over," she ordered. + +"Yes, Ma'am, it will go on the first delivery," Bunny answered, as he +had heard Mr. Gordon, the real grocer, often say. + +"Here, Splash!" called Bunny, and his dog, with the basket on his neck, +came running up, wagging his tail. + +"Oh, look out!" cried Sue, who was acting as a clerk next to Bunny. + +"What's the matter?" Bunny asked. + +"Splash is wagging his tail so hard that he'll knock down my eggs!" +complained Sue. + +Of course the "eggs" were only pine cones from the woods near by, but +when you are playing store you must pretend everything is real, or else +it isn't any fun. + +"Keep your tail still, Splash!" cried Bunny. But the dog seemed only to +wag it the harder. + +Splash might have knocked down all the "eggs" and done other damage in +the store had not Bunny placed Mrs. Snyder's sugar in the basket and +sent his pet to deliver the make-believe sweet stuff. + +And Splash delivered it very carefully, too. Sadie had gone back to her +home at "756 Oatbin Avenue" to wait for her sugar, and when it came she +took it from the basket on Splash's neck. Then the dog went back to the +barn store to run on more delivery errands. + +This was a sample of the way Bunny, Sue, and their friends played that +Saturday morning. Now and then they would change about, some who had +been clerks becoming customers and the customers clerks. + +Of course accidents happened. Splash wagged his tail so hard that he +knocked over a box of prunes, scattering them on the barn floor. Even if +the prunes were only little black stones it wasn't just the thing for +Splash to do, and Sue scolded him for it. But Splash didn't seem to +mind. + +Another time, when the dog had been sent to deliver some ice-cream +(which was really some white sand from the brook) to Mrs. Leland Sayre, +who lived at 1056 Straw Terrace (Mrs. Sayre being Mary Watson), an +accident happened. Splash was on his way to Mrs. Sayre's home when he +heard another dog barking outside the barn. + +With a bark of greeting Splash dashed out, spilling the "ice-cream" all +over the barn floor. + +"Oh, dear! And I wanted it for a party!" said Mrs. Sayre. + +But of course it was all in fun. + +More than once the change auto ran off the plank, either on its way to +the cashier or coming back, and spilled the money all over the barn +floor. But that could not be helped. + +"Only it isn't good for my auto," said Charlie. + +"We'll put some straw down on the floor so when it falls it won't get +bent," said Bunny, and this was done. + +All morning the children played store in the barn, selling the things +over and over again. Splash got tired of being a delivery dog after a +while, and Bobbie Boomer said he'd take his place. Bobbie was more to be +depended on than Splash, who, try as he did, would sometimes deliver +things to the wrong houses. + +When noon came the neighboring children were talking of going home to +lunch, but Mrs. Brown gave them all a pleasant surprise, including Bunny +and Sue, by asking all the boys and girls to remain and have something +to eat, served in the barn. + +"Oh, what fun!" cried Sadie West. + +"The best ever!" declared Charlie Star. "I'm glad I came!" + +Lunch over, the playing of store went on again, until first one and then +another began to tire, and it was given up. Then they put away the +planks and boxes and played tag and hide and seek until it was time for +supper, when the boys and girls went home. + +"We've had a lovely time!" they said to Bunny and Sue. + +Just before supper Mrs. Brown needed something from the store. + +"I'll go get it," offered Bunny. "I'll get it at Mrs. Golden's." + +"I'll go with you," said Sue, and soon they were at the little corner +grocery. + +"How are you to-day, Mrs. Golden?" asked Bunny, as the old woman was +getting the yeast cake he had been sent for. + +"Oh, pretty well," she answered, with a cheery smile on her kind but +wrinkled face. "I'd like it if I wasn't so stiff, but then we can't have +all we want in this world." + +"We played store in our barn to-day," said Sue, looking around at the +various shelves filled with many articles. + +"Did you, dearie? That was nice. I guess it's easier to play store than +it is to keep one really," said Mrs. Golden. + +"Oh, I'd like to keep store!" declared Bunny Brown. "Only, how do you +remember where everything is?" he asked. "There's such a lot of stuff!" + +"Yes, there is," agreed Mrs. Golden. "And sometimes I forget. But I'm +getting old, I reckon. There's your yeast cake. Now run along, and be +careful when you cross the street." + +"Yes'm, we will!" promised Bunny, as he took Sue's hand. + +"Maybe, when vacation comes, Mrs. Golden will let us help her in her +store," said Bunny to his sister, as they neared their home. + +"Oh, maybe!" Sue agreed. "And it soon will be vacation, won't it?" + +"Yes," said Bunny. "I wonder where we'll go this summer." + +"I wonder, too," mused Sue. "If we could stay at home and have a real +store it would be fun!" + +Bunny agreed to this. + +Several days passed. The hole in the school yard was filled up so there +was no further danger of any of the boys or girls falling in. Charlie +did not again bring his toy auto to school. + +But something else happened. + +One afternoon Charlie Star walked home with Bunny and Sue from school. +Bunny had made a new sailboat, and he wanted Charlie to see it make the +first voyage down the brook which ran back of the Brown home. + +"May I come, too?" asked Sue, as Bunny carried his little vessel down to +the stream. + +"Sure, let her come," advised Charlie. + +"All right," called Bunny, and Sue ran along after the boys. + +But Bunny and Charlie were so interested in sailing the new boat that +they did not pay much attention to Sue after reaching the brook. They +watched the wind puff out the sails and Charlie was just going to ask +Bunny if he would trade the boat for the toy auto when there came a loud +scream from Sue, who had wandered off by herself. + +"Oh, Bunny! I've falled in! I've falled in!" cried Sue. + +"Oh, she is in!" exclaimed Charlie, glancing upstream. + +"And there's a deep hole there!" shouted Bunny, darting away. "Come on, +Charlie! Help me pull Sue out of the hole!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +UP A LADDER + + +Charlie Star needed no second urging. Bunny had forgotten all about his +toy ship, but Charlie gave one look and saw that it had safely blown on +shore. Then Charlie sped after his chum. + +"We're coming, Sue! We're coming!" cried Bunny. "Don't be afraid!" + +"We'll get you out!" added Charlie. + +The brook that ran back of the Brown house was rather deep in places, +and some of these places were near shore where the bank went steeply +down into the water. It was at one of these places that Sue had fallen +in. + +The little girl had been looking for "sweet-flag." This is the root of a +plant something like the cat-tail in looks--that is, it has the same +kind of long, narrow ribbon-like leaves. + +But while the root of the sweet-flag is pleasant to gnaw, though a +trifle smarty, the root of the cat-tail is of no use--that is, as far as +Sue could tell. She wanted some sweet-flag, but not cat-tail root, and +to find out which was right she had to pull up many of the long, green +streamers. If Sue had known how to tell the difference otherwise it +would have been easier. + +It was in bending over to pull up some of the flag roots that she had +leaned too far, and suddenly she found herself in the water. She had +slipped off the muddy bank at a place where it was steep and the water +was deep. + +Luckily Sue had slipped in feet first, and now she was standing in water +over her waist, yelling for Bunny to come and help her. + +Breathless, the two boys reached the little girl. They could see then, +that she was in no special danger, since the water was not over her +head. If Sue had fallen in head first instead of feet first that would +have been sadly different. + +"Come on out! Come on out!" cried Bunny, reaching his hand toward his +sister. + +"I--I can't!" she answered. + +"Why not?" Charlie asked. + +"'Cause I'm stuck. I'm stuck in the mud!" Sue answered. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Bunny. "Then we have to pull you out!" + +"That's right!" said Charlie Star. "I'll help!" + +"Look out you don't fall in yourselves!" warned Sue, as they held out +their hands to her. "It's awful slippery!" + +And the bank was, as Charlie and Bunny soon found, for Charlie nearly +slid in as Sue had done and Bunny almost followed. But by digging their +heels in the slippery mud they held on and soon they had pulled Sue out +of the hole. + +But, oh, in what a sad plight was the little girl! + +She was soaking wet to a line above her waist, and she was splashed with +water above that, some mud spots being on her face, one on the end of +her nose making her appear rather odd. Her shoes and stockings were +covered with black, mucky mud. + +"Oh! Oh, dear!" exclaimed Sue, looking down at her legs, and began to +cry. + +"Don't cry!" advised Charlie. + +"I--I can't help it!" wailed Sue. "And there's something on my nose, +too!" + +"It's only a blob of mud," said Bunny. "I'll wipe it off," and he did, +very kindly. + +"Look--look at my shoo-shooes!" sobbed Sue. + +"Splash 'em in the water," advised Charlie. "Sit down on the bank, Sue, +and splash your feet in the water." + +"What'll I do that for?" she asked, through her tears. "I'm wet enough +now!" + +"Yes, I know," said Charlie. "And you can't get any wetter by dabbling +your feet and legs in the water. But it will wash off the mud. You might +as well wash it off." + +"That's right," agreed Bunny. "Your legs will dry better if they are +just wet, instead of being wet and muddy, Sue. Dabble 'em in the brook." + +Sue thought this must be good advice, since it came from both boys. She +was about to sit down near the place where she had slid into the brook, +but Charlie said: + +"No, not there! That water's all muddy. Come on down to a clean place." + +This Sue did, sitting on the grassy bank and thrusting her feet and legs +into the water up to her knees, splashing them up and down until most of +the mud was washed from her stockings and shoes. + +"Now we'll take you home," said Charlie. + +"No!" exclaimed Sue. "I don't want to go home!" + +"You don't want to go home?" repeated Bunny. "Why not? You have to get +dry things on, Sue! Mother won't scold you for falling into the brook +when it wasn't your fault!" + +"I know she won't," Sue said. "But--but--I'm not going in the house +looking all soaking wet! There's company--some ladies came to call on +mother before we went out to play--and they'll see me if I go in the +front door. I'm not going to have them laugh at me!" + +"We'll take you in the side door then," offered Bunny. + +"That'll be just as bad," whimpered Sue. "They can see me from the +window." + +"Well, then we'll go in the back way," Charlie proposed. + +"No!" sobbed Sue. "If I go in the back way Mary'll see me, and she'll +say, 'bless an' save us!' and make such a fuss that mother'll come out +and it will be as bad as the front or side door!" complained the little +girl. "I don't want to go home all wet!" + +"But you'll have to!" insisted Bunny. "You can't stay out here till you +get dry. You must go to the house, Sue!" + +"Not the front way nor the side way nor the back way!" Sue declared. + +"Then how are you going to get in?" asked Bunny. "Do you want to go in +through the cellar?" + +"I'd have to come up in the kitchen," objected Sue, "and Mary would see +me just the same and she'd say, 'bless an' save us!'" + +"Well, but how are you going to get in?" Bunny demanded. "There isn't +any other way." + +"Yes, there is!" suddenly exclaimed Charlie. + +"How?" asked Bunny Brown. + +"Up the painter's ladder," went on Charlie. "They're painting the roof +of your sun parlor. And the ladder's right there. We can get Sue up the +ladder to the roof of the sun parlor, and there's a second-story window +she can get in so nobody can see her, and change her things." + +"Oh! A ladder!" gasped Sue, when she heard how Charlie and her brother +planned to get her into the house unseen by company. "A ladder!" + +"Sure!" cried Bunny. "That's the best way! Charlie and I'll help you +up." + +"You won't let me fall?" asked Sue. + +"Course not!" declared Charlie. "I've climbed lots of ladders!" + +"So have I!" boasted Bunny Brown. "And so have you, Sue Brown!" + +"And can't anybody see me if I go up the painter's ladder?" asked Sue, +who was feeling most uncomfortable, being clammy and wet. + +"Nobody'll see you!" declared Charlie. "The ladder's away off on one +side of the sun parlor. Mary can't see you from the kitchen, and your +mother and the company can't see you." + +"Is the painter there?" Sue went on. She was asking a good many +questions and making a number of objections, I think. + +"No, the painter isn't there," Charlie said. "I saw him going back to +the shop after more paint when we came down here." + +"All right then!" sighed Sue. "Help me up the ladder!" + +Cautiously the children approached it. There the ladder stood, a big +one, on a long slant leading from the ground to the roof of the +one-story sun parlor. From the roof of this extension were several +windows Sue could climb into, one opening from her own room. + +No one was in sight, and the painter had not come back. Sue was just +starting up the ladder, with Bunny going before her and Charlie +following her, when the little girl happened to think of something +else. + +"S'posin' the roof's just been painted?" she asked. "How can I walk on +it?" + +This was a poser for a moment until Charlie exclaimed: + +"If it is I'll get some boards and we can lay them down to walk on." + +Sue had no further excuse for not going up the ladder, and she began to +climb. She reached the top, and it was found that the painter had spread +his red mixture on only part of the roof. There was room enough to walk +on the unpainted part to her room window. + +She was just climbing in, with the help of the boys, when she suddenly +noticed something that made her exclaim: + +"Oh, look! How did that happen?" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE LEGACY + + +"What's the matter? What's happened?" asked Bunny Brown. "Are you going +to fall, Sue?" + +He was helping his sister on one side to climb in the window, and +Charlie was on the other side of the little girl. + +"No, I'm not going to fall," Sue answered. "But look at my dress! It's +all red paint!" + +And so it was! In addition to being wet and muddy her skirt was now +covered with big blotches of red paint--the same kind of paint that was +being put on the roof. + +"How did it happen?" went on Sue, almost ready to cry again. "I didn't +step in any paint, did I?" + +"Even if you did I don't see how it got on your dress," said Charlie +Star. + +"There's some on me, too!" cried Bunny Brown. "There's some on my +pants!" + +"And I'm daubed just like you!" cried Charlie. "We're all three +painted!" + +And they were, only Sue had more of it on her dress than the boys had on +their clothes. + +"It must have been on the ladder," decided Charlie. "The painter man got +some of his red stuff on the ladder and we got it on us." + +"Oh, dear!" sighed Sue. "Now after my dress is dry and I brush the mud +off mother will see the red paint. Course I'd tell her, anyhow, but I +wish she wouldn't see it first!" + +However, there seemed no help for it. All three of the children had red +paint on their clothes, and paint, you know, can't be brushed off. When +it's on it stays, unless turpentine, or something like that, is used to +take it off. + +Sue, and the boys, too, had hoped that Mrs. Brown would not know what +had happened. It wasn't that they wanted to deceive, or fool, her, but +Sue wanted to tell of the accident at the brook in her own way and time. +She really did not want to cause her mother worry when Mrs. Brown had +company. And Mrs. Brown would certainly begin to ask questions when she +saw those red spots on Sue's dress. + +"Oh, dear!" sighed Sue again, and she seemed about to burst into tears. +Neither Bunny nor Charlie knew what to do. + +"Oh, dear!" sighed Sue for the third time. + +Suddenly the three children saw the upper end of the ladder--the part +that was raised up over the roof of the sun parlor. They saw this part +of the ladder moving. + +"Oh, somebody's coming up!" exclaimed Charlie. + +"Maybe it's mother!" wailed Sue. "Oh, help me get in the window! I don't +want her to see me this way!" + +"Mother wouldn't be coming up the ladder!" declared Bunny. "What would +she be coming up the ladder for?" + +"That's so!" agreed Charlie. "I guess she wouldn't." + +"But somebody's coming up!" declared Sue, and this was very plain to be +seen. The ladder shook more and more. + +Wonderingly the children watched it, and then there came into sight, +above the roof of the sun parlor, the head and shoulders of the +painter. He looked surprised as he saw the children, and then a cheerful +smile spread over his face as he said: + +"Well, you've been getting daubed up, I see!" + +"Ye-yes," faltered Bunny. "We got some of your paint on us!" + +"'Tisn't my paint!" laughed the painter. "It's your father's, Bunny. I +got this paint down at his boat dock to paint the roof of this sun +parlor. I don't mind how much of it you daub on yourselves. 'Tisn't my +paint, you know!" + +"But we don't want it on us!" exclaimed Sue. "Oh, I fell in the brook +and I got all muddy and now I'm all covered with paint! Oh, dear!" + +Sue was almost crying again, and the painter who at first had thought +the children were merely playing, now began to understand that something +was wrong. + +"What's the matter?" he asked. + +Then the story was told, of why the boys had helped Sue climb up the +ladder to get into her room so her mother and the company would not see +her in her soiled dress. + +"But now we're all paint!" wailed Sue. + +"Well, never mind!" said the good-natured painter. "I can take those +paint spots out for you, if that's all you're worrying about." + +"Oh, can you?" eagerly cried Sue. + +"How?" asked Charlie Star, who was a rather curious little chap. + +"Will you?" asked Bunny Brown, which was more to the point. + +"I can and will!" said the painter. "Wait until I get some clean rags +and my turpentine." + +He want back down the ladder, but soon came up again, with a can of +something with a strong, but not unpleasant smell. Bunny remembered that +smell. Once when he was little, and had a bad cold, his mother had +rubbed lard and turpentine on his chest. + +"This turpentine will take the paint out when it's fresh," said the +painter. "Stand still now." + +He wet the rag in some turpentine, which, as you know, is the juice, or +sap, of the pine and other trees. It is used to mix with paint, which +it will dissolve, or melt away after a fashion. It also helps the paint +to dry more quickly when spread on a house or bridge. + +With the turpentine rag the painter rubbed at the red spots on Sue's +dress, and then, having taken those out, he began on Bunny and Charlie. +But the boys wanted to take out their own paint spots, and the painter +let them do it. + +"There you are," he finally said. "I guess they won't show now." + +"And my dress is nearly dry!" exclaimed Sue. "Oh, I'm so glad. Mother +won't know until I tell her. And of course I'll tell her," she quickly +added. + +Sue was as good as her word. After she got into her room and the boys +had climbed down the ladder to go back and play with Bunny's little +ship, Sue changed into dry clothes. + +Then, after the company had gone, she told her mother all that had +happened. + +"I suppose it couldn't be helped," said Mrs. Brown with a smile. "I mean +about falling into the brook. But it would have been just as well to +come and tell me at once, Sue, instead of climbing the ladder. You +might have fallen." + +"I didn't want the company to know about it, Mother!" + +"That was thoughtful of you. But if you had fallen off the ladder the +company would have known about that, and it would have been much worse +than just being seen in a wet and muddy dress." + +"Oh, I couldn't fall with Bunny and Charlie to help me!" declared Sue. + +That evening, just before supper, after Charlie Star had gone home and +Bunny and Sue were playing out in the side yard, Mary called to them, +asking: + +"Do you children want to run to the store for me?" + +"Yes," answered Bunny, and Sue inquired: + +"What do you want?" + +"A little pepper," was the answer. "I forgot that we were out and didn't +order any when the grocery boy called to-day." + +"We'll get it at Mrs. Golden's corner store!" said Bunny. "She keeps +pepper." + +"All right," Mary agreed. "Wait and I'll get you the money. We don't +charge things at her store." + +A little later Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, hand in hand, entered +Mrs. Golden's little store. + +"Well, my dears, what is it to-day?" asked the old lady, with a smile. + +"Some pepper, if you please," answered Sue. + +"Red or black?" asked Mrs. Golden. + +Bunny and Sue looked at one another. This was something they had not +thought about. Which did Mary want--red or black? + +Seeing that the children were puzzled, Mrs. Golden said: + +"What is your mother going to use it for, my dears?" + +"Mother didn't tell us to get it," replied Bunny. "It was Mary, our +cook, who sent us after it, 'cause she forgot to get any for supper." + +"Oh, then it's black pepper she wants, I suppose," said Mrs. Golden. +"She wouldn't want red pepper unless she were putting up pickles or +something like that. I'll give you black pepper." + +She started to rise from her chair, for she had been seated near the +back of the store, but seemed so old and feeble that Bunny and Sue felt +very sorry for her. When ladies got as old as Mrs. Golden seemed to be +they ought always to rest in easy chairs, Bunny thought, and not have to +get up to wait on a store. + +Mrs. Golden grunted and groaned a little as she pushed herself up from +the arms of the big chair. + +"Are you terrible old?" asked Sue. + +"I'm pretty old, yes, my dear," said Mrs. Golden. "But I don't mind +that. It's the stiffness and the rheumatism. It's hard for me to get +about, and the black pepper's on a high shelf, too. If my son Philip was +only here he'd reach it down for me." + +"Where is Philip?" asked Sue. + +"Oh, he's gone to the city on business. He hopes to get a little +legacy." + +"What's a leg-legacy?" asked Bunny. "Is it something to sell in the +store?" + +"Bless your heart, no!" laughed Mrs. Golden. "A legacy is money, or +property, or something like that which is left to you. If some of your +rich relations die they leave money in the bank, or a house and lot, and +it comes to you. That's a legacy." + +"Did some of your rich relations die?" asked Sue. + +"Well, an old man, who wasn't a very close relation, died," said the +storekeeper. "There was some talk that he might leave me something, and +Philip went to the city to see about it. + +"But, dear, me! things are so uncertain in this world that I don't +believe I'll get anything. There's no use thinking about it. I don't +want to be disappointed, but I would like to get some money!" + +Poor old lady! She seemed very sad and feeble, and the children felt +sorry for her. + +"Let me see now," went on Mrs. Golden. "Was it salt you said you wanted, +Bunny?" + +"No'm, pepper--black pepper." + +"Oh, yes, black pepper! And it's on a high shelf, too. I wish Philip was +back. He'd reach it down for me. I don't believe he'll get that legacy +after all. Let me see now--pepper--black pepper----" + +"Let me get it!" begged Bunny. "I can climb up on a high shelf!" + +"So can I!" cried Sue. "I went up on a ladder, after I fell in the +brook, and I got red paint on my dress!" + +"My, what a lot of things to happen!" murmured Mrs. Golden, as slowly +and feebly she made her way around the store to the side where she kept +the groceries. + +"Let me get the pepper!" begged Bunny, as he saw the old woman looking +toward a top shelf. "I can climb up." + +"Well, my dear, if you're sure you won't fall, you may get it," said +Mrs. Golden. "I've got some sort of a thing to reach down packages and +boxes from the high shelf. My boy Philip got it for me. But I can hardly +ever find it when I want it. Be careful now, Bunny." + +"I will," said the little fellow, as he began to climb. + +Sue watched her brother, thinking over what Mrs. Golden had told them +about a legacy. + +"If she got a lot of money," mused Sue, "she could get a big store, all +spread out flat and she wouldn't have to have any high shelves. I hope +she gets her legacy." + +Bunny was just reaching for the box of pepper when there was a sudden +barking of dogs outside the store and something black and furry, with a +long tail, rushed in, leaped up on the counter, and thence to the top +shelf, knocking down a lot of boxes and cans. + +"Oh! Oh!" screamed Sue. "Look out, Bunny!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE LAST DAY + + +Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything. She just stood +still, looking up at Bunny. As for the little boy, he had been so +startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of +wood that held up the shelves. But he did not quite unclasp his hand, +and so he clung there. Sue was dancing up and down in her excitement. + +Then into the store rushed a big dog, barking and leaping about, his +eyes fixed on that scrambling object in brown fur which had sprung to +the highest shelf. + +"Mercy me! What's that?" cried Mrs. Golden. + +"It's Wango, Mr. Winkler's monkey," Sue answered. + +And that is what it was. + +Wango had got loose--nothing new for him--and had wandered out into +the street. There a strange dog, catching sight of the animal, had +chased him. Bunny and Sue knew it was a strange dog, for their own dog, +Splash, and most other dogs in the neighborhood, were used to Wango and +liked him. They seldom ran after him or barked at him. But this was a +strange dog. + + +[Illustration: "GO ON OUT OF HERE!" SUE ORDERED. + _Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store._ _Page_ 109] + +"Go on out of here!" Sue ordered this dog. The animal stood looking from +her to Wango on the high shelf, barking loudly now and then. "Go on out +and let Wango alone!" Sue ordered. + +The dog did not seem to want to go, however, and Mrs. Golden was getting +a bit worried. She feared the monkey would leap about and knock down +many things from her shelves. + +"Wait a minute," called Bunny Brown. "I've got the pepper. I'll come +down there and make the dog sneeze with it if he doesn't go out." + +Bunny started to climb down, but there was no need for him to sprinkle +pepper on the dog's nose to make him sneeze. For just as Bunny reached +the floor in came Jed Winkler himself, looking for his pet monkey. Mr. +Winkler drove out the strange dog, closed the door, and then coaxed +Wango down from the high shelf. + +"Did he do any damage, Mrs. Golden?" asked the old sailor. "If my monkey +did any damage I'll pay for it." + +"No, he didn't do any harm," she answered. "He just startled us all a +little." + +"Wango's a good monkey, but he will run away," said Mr. Winkler, petting +his furry companion. "I'm glad he didn't do any damage. My sister said +he'd be sure to this time, but I'm glad he didn't." + +"He's a good climber," said Sue. "If you had a monkey, Mrs. Golden, he +could reach things down from the high shelves for you, when your son +goes off after leg-legacies." + +"I'm afraid, dearie, that a monkey would be more bother than he was +worth to me, just to lift things down off high shelves," laughed the old +lady. "Wango is a lively chap, though." + +"What's this about a legacy?" asked Mr. Winkler, for he was an old +friend of Mrs. Golden. + +"I don't count much on it," she answered. "Philip has gone to see about +it. I got word that an uncle of mine had died and left some money and +property. We may get a share of it and we may not." + +"I hope you do!" exclaimed Mr. Winkler. "I most certainly hope you do!" + +So did Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, for they were getting quite fond +of Mrs. Golden, and liked to buy things at her store. + +When the children were on their way home with the pepper, Mr. Winkler +walking with them part of the way carrying Wango on his shoulder, Bunny +said: + +"When I keep a store like that I'm going to have a monkey to reach +things down off the high shelves for me." + +"He might get the wrong things," Sue objected. + +"Maybe he would first," said Bunny. "But I'd train him. It would be fun +to have a monkey in a store, wouldn't it, Sue?" + +"Lots of fun!" agreed Sue. + +"My goodness, children!" laughed Mary, as they entered the kitchen with +the pepper, "it took you quite a while, and I was in a hurry. Didn't +Mrs. Golden have any pepper?" + +"Yes, but Wango got in the store," explained Bunny. "When I keep a store +I'm going to keep a monkey, too!" + +"Bless and save us, what does the child mean?" murmured Mary, but she +did not stop for an answer, as she was in a hurry to get the supper on +the table. + +Some days after this, during which time Bunny Brown and his sister Sue +had had much fun with their playmates keeping store and doing other +things, the two children came down dressed to go to school. But they +were singing and laughing in a way they seldom did unless something +different was happening, or going to happen. + +"Bless and save us!" exclaimed Mary, as she saw Bunny and Sue start out +of the house hand in hand. "You're very joyful this morning. What's +going on?" + +"It's the last day of school!" explained Bunny, laughing still more. + +"We'll have hardly any lessons," Sue added. "And when we come home +to-day we don't have to go back to school for a long, long while. It'll +be vacation!" + +"Oh, so that's the reason!" laughed Mary. "No wonder you feel so pert +and chipper--no school! Well, have a good time when you're young." + +Bunny and Sue certainly had good times if ever children did. + +As Sue had said, there were hardly any lessons at school that day. +Reports were to be given out, little gifts were to be made to the +teachers, and there were to be "exercises." That is, the pupils would +recite or sing in their different classrooms. + +Bunny and Sue were each to "speak a piece," and they had been preparing +for some time, going over their recitations each night at home to make +sure they would not forget and stumble and halt when they stood on the +platform. + +Miss Bradley was such a great favorite with her children that many had +brought her little gifts. + +These were placed on her desk, and then, after a few lessons, which no +one took very seriously, Miss Bradley read the class a story. Then came +the speaking of "pieces." + +This was always one of the things that took place on the "last day," and +was much enjoyed. No one had to recite unless he or she wanted to, and +so no one was nervous or afraid, except about forgetting the lines. + +Sadie West recited a verse about bees and flowers, and very pretty it +was, too. Sue had picked out a funny verse about a little mouse, a trap, +and a piece of cheese. I think most of you know it, so I'll not tell you +about it. + +Then came the turn of fat Bobbie Boomer. Bobbie was funny just to look +at, and he was funnier when he got up to recite. He had picked out as +his recitation that old, old poem about Mary and her lamb, for it was +easy for him to remember that. + +Now Bobbie had been very sure that he would not forget any of the verses +when he got up on the platform. He had practiced his "piece" at home +over and over until he knew it "by heart," and could almost say it in +his sleep, his father remarked. + +But when Bobbie got up on the platform and after he had made a funny, +jerky, fat, little bow, all of a sudden every word of that poem seemed +to slip from his mind! He stood there, looking around the room, now up +at the ceiling and now down at the floor. His face grew red, and he +began pulling at the buttons on his coat. + +Miss Bradley felt sorry for him, and she laid her finger over her lips +when she heard some of the children beginning to laugh. + +"What is the name of your selection, Bobbie?" the teacher asked kindly. + +"It--it's about Ma--Mary and her--her little lamb!" + +"That's a cute little poem. Don't be afraid. I'll start you off, and +then perhaps you can remember the rest. Now begin," and Miss Bradley +said the first line. + +This helped Bobbie very much, and he got along all right until he came +to the verse about the lamb following Mary to school. Bobbie got as far +as, "It followed her to school one day which was----" + +And there poor Bobbie "stuck." He couldn't think what came next. + +"It followed her to school one day--school one day--one day," he said +slowly. + +"Yes," said Miss Bradley kindly. "And what comes next, Bobbie? Was it +right for the lamb to follow Mary to school?" + +Miss Bradley wanted Bobbie to say, "which was against the rule," but +Bobbie couldn't just then remember that. Suddenly his eyes opened wide. +He pointed to the back of the room, where a clattering sound was heard, +and cried: + +"Look! Look what's coming in!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +WATERING THE GARDEN + + +Instantly all the children turned around to look at what Bobbie Boomer +was pointing to. And gasps of surprise came from Bunny Brown and Sue, as +well as from the other pupils and the teacher. + +For, standing in the doorway of the classroom, which was on the ground +floor, was Toby, the Brown's Shetland pony. He stood there looking in, +the wind blowing his fluffy mane and forelock, and his bright eyes +looking around the classroom as if for a sight of Bunny and his sister. + +"Oh, Toby!" cried Bunny. He had spoken out loud in school, but as it was +the last day it did not so much matter. + +"He came to school, just like Mary's lamb!" exclaimed Charlie Star. + +Fat Bobbie Boomer seemed to be forgotten, but the sight of the pony +appeared to have brought back to the little boy's mind the line he had +missed. + +"Which was against the rule!" he suddenly exclaimed. + +Every one laughed, even Miss Bradley, and she added: + +"Yes, it was against the rule for the lamb to follow Mary to school, and +I suppose it's just as much against the rule for the pony to follow +Bunny Brown and his sister Sue." + +"Please, Teacher, he didn't follow me!" said Bunny. + +"Nor me!" added Sue. "We didn't know he was coming! He was in the stable +when we came from home." + +This was very true, and they were all wondering how it had happened that +Toby had followed the children. It was something he had never done +before, and, though he was a great pet, he was not exactly Mary's +lamb--he did not follow Bunny and Sue everywhere they went. + +"Suppose, Bunny, you take Toby out of the room," suggested Miss +Bradley, for the Shetland pony did not seem to want to go of his own +accord. "Can you manage him?" the teacher asked. + +"Oh, yes, I can ride home on his back, if you'll let me," said the +little boy. + +"School is almost over for the day, and also for the term," said the +teacher with a smile. "You may be excused." + +But Bunny did not have to leave. For just then in came Bunker Blue, the +young man who worked for Mr. Brown at the fish and boat dock. + +"Oh, you're in here, are you?" asked Bunker, speaking to Toby and taking +hold of the thick mane of the little horse. + +"Did he run away?" asked Bunny of Bunker. "Did he get out of his stall?" + +"Not exactly," explained the tall young helper. "I was taking him down +to the blacksmith shop to have new shoes put on him. I left him in front +of the hardware store while I went in to get something for your father, +Bunny, and when I came out Toby had slipped from his halter. I didn't +know where he was until some one said they saw him come into the +schoolhouse." + +"He hasn't done any harm," remarked Miss Bradley. + +"How did he get loose from the pony cart?" Sue asked. + +"He wasn't hitched to the pony cart," answered Bunker Blue. "I was just +leading him by the halter, but I guess I didn't have it strapped tight +enough. Come along, Toby," he added. "I guess you've said your lessons," +and the whole class, teacher and all, joined in the laugh which Bunker +Blue started. + +Toby whinnied, which was his way of laughing, I suppose, and then Bunker +Blue led him forth from the classroom. So Bunny didn't have to leave +school to ride his pet home, though I believe the little boy would have +been very glad to do so--as would, in fact, any boy in the class. + +"Well, now we will go on with our exercises," said Miss Bradley. "Can +you remember your recitation now, Bobbie?" + +The appearance of Toby seemed to have had a good effect, for Bobbie +began again about Mary and her lamb, and gave all the verses, without +forgetting a single line. Every one clapped his or her hands when he +finished and made his bow. + +In turn the other children recited. Then came the singing of some songs +in which the whole school joined in the big assembly hall, and the "last +day," ended. + +"Now for the long vacation!" cried Bunny Brown, as he raced out of the +schoolyard with the other boys. + +"And lots of fun!" added Charlie Star. + +"We'll go camping!" said George Watson. + +"And sail boats!" added Harry Bentley. + +The girls, too, were no less joyful. They talked of what they would do, +of the play parties they would have and of picnics in the woods. + +"Will you play store any more?" asked Mary Watson of Sue. + +"Oh, I guess so," was the answer. "Bunny and I like that fun. Bunny +wants to keep a real store when he grows up. Sometimes he lifts things +down from the shelves for Mrs. Golden in her store." + +Laughing, shouting, tagging each other, and running away, talking of +what they would do during the long vacation, the school children ran on +through the streets of Lakeport. + +"Let's have a race!" cried Bunny. + +"I can beat you!" declared Charlie Star. + +Off they ran, feet fast flying, and Bunny was first to reach the +hitching post in front of his house, this being the end of the race +course for that particular time. + +"Did Bunker Blue come back with Toby?" asked Bunny of his mother, after +he had been given a piece of bread and sugar by Mary. + +"No," was the answer. "But how did you know Bunker had Toby out? He +didn't come for him until after you went to school," said Mrs. Brown. + +"Oh, Toby came to school!" explained Sue, laughing. + +"Toby came to school?" repeated her mother. + +And then the story was told amid much laughter. + +Just before supper Bunker Blue came back with Toby, and the children +were allowed to hitch the Shetland pony to the basket cart. + +"Do you want anything from the store?" asked Bunny, as he took his seat +beside Sue and grasped the pony's reins. + +"Better ask Mary," was the reply. + +And, as it happened, Mary wanted some sugar. + +"We'll get it at Mrs. Golden's," called Bunny, as he drove out of the +yard. + +"My, the children are getting fond of that old lady store keeper," mused +Mary, as she went back to her kitchen work. + +"I'm glad to have them," said Mrs. Brown. "It does children good to +learn to be kind and thoughtful toward others. And, from what I hear, +Mrs. Golden needs help. Her son works, but does not earn much, and she +can't make a very good living from so small a store. We must buy what we +can from her." + +"Trust the children for that!" laughed Mary. "They'd run there all the +while if we'd let them. Bunny was telling me Mrs. Golden had something +the matter with one of her legs." + +"Oh, no. He said she expected a legacy," explained Mrs. Brown. "That +means she hopes to get a little property or some money from a relative +who has died." + +"Oh, I thought it was her legs, poor old lady!" said Mary. "Rheumatism, +or something like that." + +"Mrs. Golden isn't very well able to get around," admitted Mrs. Brown. +"But that has nothing to do with a legacy." + +Bunny and Sue drove up to the door of the little corner store. + +"My, but you're coming in style!" exclaimed Mrs. Golden, when she saw +them. "Are you going to buy me out?" + +"No, we just want some sugar," said Bunny. "We're going to get five +pounds, 'cause we can carry it in the pony cart." + +"Yes, if it wasn't for the cart I'd be a bit afraid to give you so much +as five pounds," said Mrs. Golden, as she went slowly behind the counter +to weigh out the sweet stuff. "You might drop it. But it'll be safe in +the pony cart. You'll be like a regular grocery delivery." + +"Do you deliver things?" asked Sue. + +"No, dearie. I can't afford to have a delivery wagon and a horse, to say +nothing of one of those automobiles. And it wouldn't pay me to hire a +boy, even when Philip is away. Sometimes he takes heavy things that are +ordered, but mostly folks carry away what they buy. Let's see, now, how +many pounds did you say, Bunny?" + +"Five, Mrs. Golden. And please may I scoop it out of the barrel?" + +"Well, yes, maybe; if you don't spill it." + +"I won't spill any!" promised Bunny eagerly. "And may I put it on the +scales? You see I'm going to keep a store when I grow up," he went on, +"and I'll want to know how to weigh things on the scales." + +"I hope you make more money than I do," sighed Mrs. Golden. "Now be +careful of the scoop, dearie!" + +Bunny felt quite proud of himself as he leaned down in the sugar barrel +and dipped up the sweet, sparkling grains. Mrs. Golden guided his hands +as he poured the sugar into the scoop of the scale, and of course she +watched to make sure the weight was right, for Bunny was hardly old +enough to know that. + +But he did it nearly all himself, and he told his father so that evening +after supper. + +"My! I'll have to be on the lookout for a vacant place to rent so you +and Sue can keep a store during vacation," replied Mr. Brown, laughing. + +"Oh, we don't want to start a store unless Mrs. Golden gets her legacy +so she'll be rich," declared Sue. "If we had a store she wouldn't sell +so much and she'd be sorry." + +"Well, maybe that's so," agreed her father, with a smile. "We'll wait +until we find out about the legacy before we start you and Bunny in the +store business. When will Mrs. Golden know about it?" + +"When her son Philip comes back. He's gone to see about the legacy," +said Bunny. + +When they went to bed that night Bunny and Sue talked of what they would +do during the long vacation. On account of some business matters, Mr. +Brown could not take his family away that summer until about the middle +of August. This left them with a good part of the vacation to spend in +Bellemere, and the two children were beginning to plan for their fun. + +One of the first things Bunny found to do the next morning--the first +morning of the vacation--was to water the garden. + +"May I take the hose and sprinkle?" he asked. + +"If you don't get yourself wet through," his mother answered. + +"I'll be careful," Bunny promised. + +There was a vegetable garden at the side of the house, a garden which +Uncle Tad had made and of which he was very proud. As there had been no +rain for some days the garden was in need of water. + +The hose was attached to the faucet, for Uncle Tad had been watering the +garden the night before, and he had gone away, leaving word that if any +one had time to spray more water on the vegetables they should do so, as +the ground was very dry. + +"I like to water the garden," said Bunny, and he took great delight in +directing the stream from the hose over the cabbages, beets and potatoes +which were coming up. + +After watering for some time Bunny began to feel hungry, as he often +did, and started in to ask Mary for some bread and jam. He laid the hose +down, with the water still running, but he turned the stream so it would +spray on the grass and not on the garden, so it would not wash out any +of the growing things. + +Bunny was coming out again, with a large slice of bread and jam, when +from the front street he heard a man's voice crying: + +"Here! Look out what you're doing! Be careful with that hose! You're +soaking me!" + +"Oh, oh!" cried Bunny Brown. "Sue must have picked up the hose that I +left and squirted water on somebody!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +HELPING MRS. GOLDEN + + +Almost dropping his slice of bread and jam, so excited was he, Bunny +Brown ran toward the hose. Before he reached it, for it was around the +corner of the house, he heard the man's voice again calling out: + +"Here! Stop that I say! Can't people go along the street without being +wet with water from a hose? Pull your hose farther back!" + +"Sue! Sue! Don't do that! Be careful! You're wetting some one," cried +Bunny, as he ran along, not yet seeing the hose. But he could guess what +had happened. + +Sue, coming along and seeing the hose turned on, with the water spurting +out, had picked up the nozzle end and was watering the garden. Only she +held the hose so high that the water shot over the high front hedge and +was wetting some man passing in the street. + +That is what Bunny thought. But that is not what had happened. + +Just before he turned the corner of the house he heard the man's voice +once more saying: + +"Say, isn't it enough to wet me once? What are you keeping it up for? I +am trying to get out of the way, but you follow me. I'm coming in and +see about this!" + +Something very like trouble seemed about to happen. + +"Sue! Sue!" cried Bunny, still thinking his sister was to blame. "Let +that hose alone!" + +But when he turned the corner of the house and could see the garden, Sue +was not in sight. And, stranger still, no one was at the hose. There it +lay, still spurting water out on the thick, green grass. + +Who had picked up the nozzle and sprayed the unseen man in the street? +If it was Sue where had she gone? + +"Sue! Sue!" called Bunny. "Were you playing with the hose?" + +Sue's head was thrust out of the window of her room upstairs. + +"What's the matter, Bunny?" she asked. + +"Oh, you're up there, are you?" exclaimed the little boy, much +surprised. "Were you down here at the hose?" + +"No. I'm getting dressed. I haven't been down in the yard at all yet." + +"Then who did it?" thought Bunny. "I wonder----" + +But just then a man, who seemed to have been out in a rain storm without +an umbrella, came hurrying around the side path. He caught sight of +Bunny standing near the hose. + +"Look here, my little boy," said the man, trying not to speak angrily, +though he was rightfully provoked, "you must be more careful with your +hose. You have wet me very much. Does your mother know you are doing +this?" + +"She--she knows I'm watering the garden," Bunny answered. + +"Does she know you were watering me?" asked the man, with a half smile. + +"No--no, sir," replied the small boy. "I didn't wet you!" + +"You didn't! Then who did?" + +"I--I don't know," stammered Bunny. "I left the hose here while I went +in to get some bread and jam. Here's some of it now," and he held out +what was left of his slice. "I heard you calling, and I thought maybe it +was my sister Sue. Course she wouldn't 'a' done it on purpose. But it +wasn't Sue. She hasn't been downstairs yet." + +"Then who was it?" insisted the man. "Surely the hose didn't wet me all +by itself." + +"No," admitted Bunny. "But it might have been Mr. Winkler's monkey." + +"Who's Mr. Winkler's monkey, and how could he wet me with a hose?" +demanded the man. + +"His name is Wango--I mean the monkey's is," explained Bunny. "Sometimes +he gets away and does things. He climbed up on Mrs. Golden's +shelves--she keeps a store. Maybe Wango got loose and came over here and +picked up the hose to get a drink or something, and so wet you." + +"Well, that's possible," admitted the man. "And if that's the case I beg +your pardon. Do you see Wango around here?" he went on, while Sue, +looking from her upper window, wondered who the stranger could be. + +"No, I don't see Wango," replied Bunny, looking about. "But I'll look +for him. Maybe he's hiding." + +"Maybe he is," and the man now laughed. "I'll help you search. For if +the monkey is up to tricks like that he ought to be stopped. He may wet +some one else if you go away and leave the water turned on." + +"That's right," agreed Bunny. + +He left the hose, still spurting, on the grass, and, followed by the +man, walked around the yard, looking for Wango. But the mischievous +monkey was not in sight, nor did he come when Bunny called, though Mr. +Winkler's pet nearly always did this. + +"I guess he isn't here," said Bunny at length. "But I didn't wet you +with the hose." + +"Then who----" began the man, but he stopped short to point and cry: +"Look at that!" + +As Bunny and the stranger were walking back toward the hose, Splash, the +big dog, ran out from under the back porch and took hold of the hose in +his teeth. He began to shake it as he often shook things with which he +played. + +"There!" laughed the man. "That's how I was sprayed! Your dog picked up +the hose after you left it, and raised it high, so the water shot over +the hedge and on me! Now the mystery is explained! It was the dog that +did it!" + +And so it was. + +"Splash!" cried Bunny. "Drop that hose!" + +Splash dropped it, and with a bark came running up to be petted. He did +not know he had done wrong. + +"I'm very sorry," said Bunny. "Splash, you're a bad dog!" he declared, +and Splash drooped his tail between his legs. + +"Oh, don't scold him," the man begged. "I like dogs, and I know they +don't like to be scolded any more than we do--or than boys or girls do. +It wasn't his fault. He thought the hose was left there for him to play +with." + +"Is anything wrong?" asked Mrs. Brown. Sue had told her mother about a +strange man, all wet, in the yard talking to Bunny, and Mrs. Brown had +come down to see about it. + +"Just a little accident," explained the stranger. "I was passing in the +street when it suddenly began to rain--or at least I thought at first it +was rain. Then I knew it was some one using a hose and spraying me. I +called to them, but that did no good, and I came in. I saw this little +boy and the hose, and naturally thought he had wet me by accident. But +it seems it was his dog," and he explained how it had happened. + +"I am very sorry," apologized Mrs. Brown. "If there is anything I can +do----" + +"Oh, I will soon dry in the sun!" laughed the man. "I wasn't really +angry, only I know children will get careless when they have a hose, and +I was going to tell them to be more careful. But I don't suppose I can +make Splash understand," and he patted the dog, whose tail was now +wagging again. + +"I'm glad you are so kind about it," said Mrs. Brown. "Bunny generally +is careful when he waters the garden. If you will come in and get +dry----" + +"Oh, no, thank you! I'll dry better in the sun. Clean water will hurt +no one, and I might just as well have been caught in a shower. +Good-bye!" he called, and hurried away. + +"After this, Bunny," advised his mother, as he kept on wetting the +garden, "it will be best to turn off the water if you leave the hose." + +"Yes, Mother, I will," he promised. + +So that little happening passed off all right, and later Bunny and the +gentleman--who was a newcomer in town, Mr. Halsted by name--became good +friends. + +One day, about a week after vacation had started, during which time +Bunny and Sue had had much fun, the two children went to the little +corner store kept by Mrs. Golden. Bunny and Sue each had two cents to +spend, and they were allowed to get some candy. + +As they entered the store they saw Mrs. Golden trying to sweep, but the +way in which the old woman used the broom showed that she was in pain. +As the children entered she stopped, held her hand to her side, and +tried to stand up. + +"Oh!" she murmured, in a low voice. + +"Is it your rheumatism?" asked Bunny. + +"That, or something worse," replied the old lady, with a sigh. "I get a +pain in my side every time I sweep." + +"Let me do it!" begged Sue. "I love to sweep, and I'd like to help you." + +"So would I!" exclaimed Bunny. "I can sweep, too. Please let me!" + +Almost before she realized it, Mrs. Golden had given up the broom to +Sue, and the little girl was sweeping the store, while Bunny waited for +his turn. + +Suddenly the doorway was darkened, and a big man with a bushy black +beard came stalking in. + +"Where's Mrs. Golden?" he asked, looking at some papers in his hand. "I +want to see Mrs. Golden," and his voice was cross. + +"I'm Mrs. Golden," answered the old lady. "What can I do for you?" + +"The best thing you can do is to pay that money!" snapped the man. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE CROSS MAN + + +Bunny and Sue had at first paid no attention to the big man with the +black beard who entered the little corner grocery store so suddenly. The +children thought he was a customer come to buy some groceries. + +But when the man, in that cross voice, said Mrs. Golden had better pay +him some money, Bunny and Sue looked sharply at him, Sue holding on to +the broom. + +"'Cause I thought maybe he was a robber coming after Mrs. Golden's +money," she explained later. + +"What would you have done if he had been a robber?" asked Uncle Tad. + +"I'd 'a' hit him with the broom," Sue replied. + +"And I'd have helped her!" exclaimed Bunny. + +But this was afterward. The man, however, as the children looked at +him, did not appear to be a robber. He was big, and not very pleasant to +look at, and his black beard was as bristling as some of those worn by +moving-picture pirates. But he did not seem to be going to take any +money from the cash drawer. + +From the way poor Mrs. Golden looked, though, the children were sure the +man had frightened her. She sank down in a chair, and stared silently at +the man. + +"Well!" exclaimed the cross man more crossly than at first, "I'm Mr. +Flynt of the Grocery Supply Company. If you're Mrs. Golden, I want to +know why you don't pay me that money?" + +"I--I wish I could, Mr. Flynt," murmured the old lady store keeper. "I +really thought I'd have it for you last week." + +"But you didn't!" snapped out the man. "You told our agent who called +two weeks ago that you'd have it last week. But you didn't pay it. Then +you said you'd send it this week, and you didn't. Now I've come for it. +You can't fool me!" + +Truly, thought Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, no one could fool this +man, nor play with him nor do anything with him except dislike him. + +"Come, come, Mrs. Golden!" went on Mr. Flynt. "You owe us this money, +you know, and you'll have to pay it!" + +"If you'll only wait until my son Philip comes back," murmured the old +lady, "he'll pay you some, I'm sure. He's gone away to get a little +legacy, and if he gets it I'll have enough to pay you all I owe and +more!" + +"Yes, _if_ he gets it!" sneered the cross man. "I've heard those stories +before. But if your son doesn't get that legacy what then?" + +"Oh, I'm sure he'll get it!" said Mrs. Golden, trying to smile. "But +if--if he doesn't, why, I'll just have to owe you the money, that's +all!" + +"That isn't all!" exclaimed Mr. Flynt. "We've got to have money. We've +been as easy on you as we could be. We've let your bill run a good deal +longer than we do most folks' bills. You've got to pay your debts, just +as we have to pay ours. Come now, I want some money!" + +Bunny and Sue looked at each other. Both had the same thought. Sue +dropped the broom and began feeling in her pocket beneath her +handkerchief. Sue had only one pocket, and she was lucky, being a girl, +to have that. Bunny had any number of pockets, and he was going through +first one and then the other, finding different things in each--a top, +pieces of string, his knife, odd bits of stone, a very black piece of +licorice, and some nails. Bunny never knew when he might want some of +these things. + +"Here, Mrs. Golden!" exclaimed Sue, she being the first to get what she +was after in her pocket. "Here's two cents I was going to spend for +candy. You can have it to give to the man!" + +"Bless your heart, dearie!" murmured Mrs. Golden, "I can't take your +money." + +"And here's my two cents!" exclaimed Bunny. "You can keep it. And you +don't need to give us any candy either." + +"No!" added Sue, though she had a catch in her breath as she said it, +for she really wanted a bit of sweet stuff that day. + +"No, no, my dear," said Mrs. Golden, trying to smile, though there were +tears in her eyes. "Keep your money. I'll sell you some candy if you +want it, but you mustn't give your pennies away. Anyhow, I must pay Mr. +Flynt a great deal more than that." + +"I should say so!" exclaimed the black-bearded man, though, somehow or +other, his voice was not quite so cross as before. "Four cents wouldn't +pay postage on the bills we have sent you! + +"But now, Mrs. Golden," he went on, "I don't want to be any harder on +you than I have to. If you're going to get some money in, or your son +is, and you can pay us what you owe we won't sell you out." + +"Sell me out!" cried the old lady. "Were you thinking of doing that?" + +"We'll have to if you don't pay," was the answer. "You bought a lot of +goods of us, and you must pay for them. If you don't we'll have to take +these things away," and he looked around at the shelves of the store. + +"If you take things away from her how can she sell them?" asked Bunny +Brown. + +"She can't," said Mr. Flynt. "But she must pay. Everybody must pay what +they owe or be sold out. Now I'll give you a little more time," he went +on. "I'll tell them, back at the office, that you expect a legacy, and +when that comes you must pay." + +"Yes, yes! I'll pay!" promised Mrs. Golden. "Only give me a little more +time and I'll pay." + +"Well, see that you do!" grumbled the black-bearded man, who appeared to +be crosser than ever now. "When I come again I want money!" + +He stalked out of the store with a scowl on his face, and Bunny and Sue +looked first at each other and then at poor Mrs. Golden. + +"I don't like that man!" declared Sue, as she picked up the broom. + +"I don't, either!" said Bunny. "What makes him so cross, Mrs. Golden?" + +"Maybe he can't help it, dearie. Going around making people pay up is a +cross sort of work, I guess." + +"But what makes him want you to give him money?" asked Sue. "I thought a +store was a place where people paid you money. I didn't think you had to +pay money out. Bunny's going to keep a store when he grows up. Will he +have to pay out money?" + +"No, I'm not going to!" cried the little boy. "People have got to pay me +money, but I don't pay any." + +"You have lots to learn about a store, little man!" said Mrs. Golden. +"It isn't all fun, as you and Sue suppose. Do you see all these things +on my shelves?" she asked. + +The children looked around at them and nodded their heads. + +"To get them I have to buy them from other people--from the wholesalers, +as they are called," explained Mrs. Golden. "The Grocery Supply Company +is one of them. I buy barrels of sugar, barrels of flour, big boxes of +prunes, and so on, from this company. Then I sell a few pounds of sugar, +flour or prunes at a time and make a little money each time I sell. You +see I don't pay as much for the flour and sugar as I sell it for. The +difference in price comes to me, and is what I live on, and sometimes +it's little enough. + +"And now the trouble is I have bought a great many things from this Mr. +Flynt's company, and I haven't the money to pay for them. That's why +he's cross. He has a right to his money, but I haven't it to give him." + +"Why not?" Bunny asked. + +"Well, because I don't sell very much in my little store. If I sold more +I'd have the money to pay my bills." + +"Oh, Bunny, I know what we can do!" cried Sue. "We can tell mother to +buy everything here--all her groceries and things--and then Mrs. Golden +will have money to pay the cross man." + +"Your mother is very kind as it is," said the old lady. "I'd like to +have her trade here, but of course I don't keep the best of everything. +I have to sell cheap goods. But of course if I sold more of them I'd +have more money and then I could pay my bills. + +"But there, my dears, this isn't any fun for you. You came to get your +pennies' worth of candy, and I'll pick it out for you. An old woman's +troubles aren't for little ones like you." + +"My father had troubles once," said Bunny, "and we hugged him and kissed +him; didn't we, Sue? That was when there was a fire on his boat dock." + +"Yes, we were sorry a lot," Sue replied. "And we're sorry for you now, +Mrs. Golden, and I'm going to tell mother to buy all her things here." + +"That's very kind of you," said the woman. "But if Philip only gets that +legacy I'll have money enough to pay all my debts and a little left +over. Now don't worry about me. Try to have a good time. I'll get your +candy!" + +"And I'll finish this sweeping," laughed Sue. + +"I'll help," said Bunny Brown, and then, in spite of the cross man, +there seemed to be a little bit of sunshine in Mrs. Golden's store. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE BROKEN WINDOW + + +"Daddy," said Bunny Brown that night, as the family were in the pleasant +living room, "have you much money in the bank?" + +"I have a little, Bunny, yes. But why do you ask?" Mr. Brown wanted to +know. + +"I have some in my bank!" cried Sue, before her brother could answer. "I +guess maybe I have a hundred and seventy dollars!" + +"Pennies you mean, dear! Pennies! Not dollars!" laughed her mother, for +the children each had a penny bank. + +"Well, pennies, then," agreed Sue. "But aren't a hundred and seventy +pennies 'most the same as a hundred dollars?" + +"Pooh! No!" said Bunny. "It takes a hundred pennies to make even one +dollar!" + +"Oh--o--o--! Does it?" exclaimed Sue. "What a terrible lot of money!" + +"Yes, it does seem a lot," laughed Mr. Brown. "But why are you talking +about money?" and he looked at his little son. "Why did you ask if I had +any money in the bank?" + +"I was wondering if Mrs. Golden had any in her bank," said Bunny. + +"I don't believe she has very much," said Mr. Brown. "I was past her +store to-day. It's a very small one. I don't see how she makes a living +there." + +"We were in there to-day," went on Bunny, "and a man came in and wanted +a lot of money. He said Mrs. Golden owed him. He was from the grocery +company." + +"Yes, the wholesale house, I presume," remarked Mr. Brown. "Well, Bunny, +did Mrs. Golden pay her bills?" + +"No," said Bunny, a bit sadly, "she didn't. And Mr. Flynt was cross. I +was thinking maybe if you had a lot of money in the bank you could take +some out and give it to Mrs. Golden, and then she wouldn't have to cry +when cross men came in. And she could pay you back when she got her +leg--her legacy!" and Bunny brought the last word out with a jerk, for +it was rather hard for him to remember. + +"What's all this about?" asked Mr. Brown, looking at his wife in some +surprise. + +"I don't know," answered the children's mother. "It's the first I've +heard of it. Bunny and Sue often go to the little corner store. It's +handy when Mary wants something in a hurry." + +"Tell me more about Mrs. Golden, Bunny," asked his father. + +Thereupon the story of the cross man and the money the old lady owed to +the grocery company was told as well as the children could tell it. + +"It's too bad!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "I want you children to be as kind +as you possibly can to Mrs. Golden. Help her all you can, Bunny and +Sue." + +"And will you buy things there?" asked Sue. + +"Why, yes," agreed her mother. "We will trade there all we can. Mr. +Gordon, the big grocer, can afford to lose a little of our custom." + +"Do you think you could give her any money out of your bank, Daddy?" +asked Bunny. "And she could give it back after she got her legacy." + +"I'll see about it," was the smiling answer. "I know some of the men in +the Grocery Supply Company," went on Mr. Brown, "and I'll ask them to be +a bit easy with the old lady. But you didn't tell us about this legacy, +Bunny. You told us about the cross man, but not about the legacy." + +"The children have spoken of it to me several times," said Mrs. Brown. +"It seems some relative of Mrs. Golden has died, and her son has gone to +see about some money or property that may come to his mother." + +"She'll have plenty of money when she gets her legacy," remarked Bunny. +"She told me so." + +"Then let us hope that she gets it," said Mr. Brown. "And now don't you +children worry any more about it," he told Bunny and Sue. "I'll help +Mrs. Golden if she really needs it." + +"And we'll help her, too," said Bunny to his sister, as they went to bed +that night. + +"Hey, Bunny! Hi, Bunny Brown!" called a voice under Bunny's window +early the next morning. + +"Hello! Who's down there?" Bunny asked, jumping out of bed. + +"Come on down!" cried Charlie Star. "We're going to have a ball game! +We're waiting for you! Bobbie Boomer, Harry Bentley, George Watson, and +all the fellows are over in the lots waiting. Come on have a ball game!" + +"I didn't know it was so late!" murmured Bunny, rubbing his eyes. "I'll +be right down!" + +He had, indeed, slept later than usual, and as this was vacation time, +his mother had not called him, though Sue had got up and had gone off to +play with some of the girls. + +Bunny had his breakfast and then he ran over to the big lots with +Charlie. A number of boys were tossing and batting balls, and when Bunny +arrived there were enough to make up two "sides" and have a game. Bunny +was captain of one team and Charlie Star of the other. + +"Now, fellows, we want to beat!" cried Bunny, as he took his place to +pitch the first ball of the game. + +"Yes! Ho! Ho! I'd like to see your side win!" laughed Charlie. "We won't +let you get a single run!" + +It was all jolly good fun, and though each side tried to win it was in +good-nature, which is how all games should be played. First Bunny's team +was ahead, and then Charlie's, until it came close to noon, when the +boys knew they would have to stop playing and go home to dinner. + +"Now, fellows," said Bunny Brown, as it was his turn to bat, "I'm going +to knock a home run and that will win the game for us!" + +"Pooh! You can't knock a home run!" laughed Charlie, who was pitching +for his side. + +Bunny swung hard at the ball which Charlie pitched to him. And Bunny +himself was a little surprised when his bat struck it squarely and the +ball sailed away, much farther than he had ever knocked a ball before. + +"Run, everybody! Run!" cried Bunny Brown, dropping the bat and starting +for first base himself. Two of his side were on the other bases, and if +they could all get in on his home run it would mean that his side would +win. + +Higher and higher and farther and farther sailed the ball Bunny had +knocked, away over the head of fat Bobbie Boomer, who was playing out in +center field. It surely was going to be a home run. + +"Oh, look where that ball's going!" cried Charlie Star, turning to watch +it. "Oh, it's going to break one of Mr. Morrison's windows!" Mr. +Morrison was a rather crabbed, cross old man who had a house on the edge +of the vacant lots where the boys played ball. + +Bunny was too excited over his home run to pay much attention to where +the ball went, and Tom Case and Jerry Bond, who were running "home," +thought only of how fast they could run. But the others watched the +ball, and a moment later saw it crash through one of Mr. Morrison's +windows. + +By this time Bunny was at third base. He did not stop there, but ran on +in, touched home plate, and sank down to rest, very tired but happy +because he was sure his side would now win the ball game. + +Out in the field, near the fence that was around Mr. Morrison's house, +Bobbie Boomer was calling: + +"I can't get the ball! I can't get the ball! It's in Mr. Morrison's +house!" + +And, surely enough, that's where it was--right in the house. It had gone +through the window. + +"I--I made the home run all right!" panted Bunny Brown. "I told you I +would, Charlie Star!" + +Bunny had run so fast that he had not heard the tinkle of the breaking +glass, nor had he seen where his ball went. + +"Yes, you made a home run all right!" yelled Charlie. "And now we'd +better all _run home_ or Old Morrison will be after us for busting his +window. Come on, fellows! Let's run home!" + +The game was practically over, and a number of the boys, fearing the +anger of Mr. Morrison, started after Charlie, running away from the +lots. But this was not Bunny Brown's way. + +"Did I--did the ball I batted break a window?" he asked. + +"You ought to 'a' heard the crash!" panted Bobbie Boomer, running in +from center field. "Old Morrison will be here in a minute! You'd better +run, Bunny!" + +Surely enough, a moment or two later Mr. Morrison came out on his back +porch, from which he could look into the lots. He saw the boys, some of +them running away. In his hand he held the baseball that had crashed +through his window. + +"Hi, there!" he cried. "Who did this?" + +One or two boys, seeing that Bunny was not going to run, had stayed with +him. + +"Who did this?" cried Mr. Morrison again. + +Up spoke Bunny Brown, walking toward the angry man. + +"I--I knocked the ball," he said. + +"Well, you broke my window, young man, and you've got to pay for it!" + +"I--I will!" faltered Bunny. "I have some money in my bank, and if you +come home with me I'll take it out and pay you." + +Mr. Morrison seemed surprised at this. In times past when his windows +were broken the boys had run away, or, if they had not, they had been +saucy to him and had refused to pay for any glass. This was something +new. + +"What's your name?" asked Mr. Morrison. + +"Bunny Brown," was the answer. + +"Does your father keep the boat dock where Bunker Blue works?" + +"Yes, Sir." + +"Oh," said Mr. Morrison, not so angry now. "Well, of course this window +has to be paid for, but I know your father, Bunny Brown. He and I do +business together. And Bunker Blue does me favors once in a while. I +guess there won't be any hurry about paying for this glass. You can pay +me five cents a week if you want to. And I should think the other boys +ought to chip in and help you pay for it. That's what we used to do when +I played ball. If a window was broken we all helped pay for it." + +"I'll help," offered one boy. + +"So will I!" said another. + +By this time Charlie Star and the boys who had started to run away began +straggling back. They wondered why Bunny and his companions were not +being chased by Mr. Morrison. And when Charlie and his chums heard about +the offer to pay shares for the broken glass Charlie said: + +"I'll pay my part, too!" + +"So will I!" cried his players. + +"That's more like it," chuckled Mr. Morrison, and, somehow or other, the +boys began wondering why they had ever called him cross. Certainly he +seemed quite different now. Perhaps it was the way Bunny had acted, so +bravely, that made the change. + +"Now look here, boys," went on the uncross Mr. Morrison. "I know you +have to play ball, and this isn't the first time you have broken my +windows. But it's the first time any of you have had the nerve to stay +here and offer to pay. I like that. And now that you all offer to chip +in and pay for it, it'll not be too hard for any one boy. It's the right +spirit. And I want to say that if you always do that there'll not be +any trouble. + +"Not that I want any more windows broken," he added, with a laugh. "But +if they are smashed, chip in and pay for them. And now I'll have the +pane of glass put in and you can take up a collection among yourselves +and pay me later on. I'm in no hurry as long as you act fair. + +"And now if you'll come in here I think maybe I can find something that +you boys would like to have," he added. "Don't be afraid, come on in," +he invited, opening a gate in his side fence. + +The boys hesitated a moment, and then, led by Bunny Brown, they entered. +What could Mr. Morrison have in mind? + +They soon found out. He led them down into the cellar and showed them +some old baseballs, some bats, some gloves, and, best of all, a good +catcher's mask. + +"Here are some old baseball things," said Mr. Morrison. "I got them in a +lot of junk I bought a year ago, and I've been wondering what to do with +them. I like the way you boys acted--especially some of you," and he +looked at Bunny. "I'm going to let you have these things for your team," +he said. "But try not to break any more of my windows!" he laughed. + +"We won't!" promised Bunny Brown. "Or, if we do, we'll pay for 'em!" + +"Crackie! What dandy stuff!" cried Bobbie Boomer. + +"Now we can have regular league games!" exclaimed Charlie Star, who was +perhaps the best player of all the boys. + +"And a real mask, like the Pirates have!" cried Harry Bentley. + +"Take 'em along," said Mr. Morrison. "They're only cluttering up my +cellar. I'm glad to get rid of 'em, and especially to good boys." + +"We--we were afraid of you at first," said Charlie. + +"Well, you needn't be any more," chuckled Mr. Morrison. "Just pay for my +window, when you get the money together, and we'll call it square!" + +Talking, laughing gleefully, and wondering at their good fortune, the +boys hurried from the cellar. And they had another game that same +afternoon, with the balls, bats, gloves and mask that Mr. Morrison had +given them. Only Bunny knocked no more home runs, and Charlie's team +won, which was, perhaps, as it ought to be. And, best of all, no more +windows were broken. + +It was quite an adventure for Bunny Brown, but it was not the last he +and his sister Sue were to have, for many good times were ahead of them +for the long vacation. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +LITTLE STOREKEEPERS + + +"Here, Bunny! Here, Sue!" called Mrs. Brown, one bright, sunny morning. +"Where are you?" + +"We're coming, Mother!" answered Bunny. + +He and his sister were playing in the yard down near the brook. Bunny +had carried to the brook a little boat, and Sue had with her one of her +very small dolls which was having a voyage on the small vessel. She had +picked out a celluloid doll. + +"'Cause then if she falls off into the water it won't hurt if she gets +wet," said Sue. + +"That's right!" agreed Bunny. + +But now the children left their play and ran to see what their mother +wanted. + +Before doing so, however, Bunny made fast the little boat to a tree on +the bank of the brook, tying it by a long string. And Sue took the +celluloid doll off the deck and laid her on the grass in the shade. + +"'Cause she might go off sailing by herself," Sue explained. + +"Pooh! She couldn't sail my boat!" laughed Bunny. + +"Well, she might," said Sue. + +Then they ran to their mother--who was waiting for them on the back +steps. + +"What do you want, Mother?" asked Sue. + +"Is it time to eat?" is what Bunny Brown asked. Bunny, like many +children, was always ready for this. + +"No, it isn't time for lunch," laughed Mrs. Brown. "But I want you to +bring some things from the store so Mary can get lunch ready. And this +is a chance for you to help your friend Mrs. Golden." + +"What do you mean--help her?" asked Bunny. "Is daddy going to give her +some money out of his bank so she can pay the cross man?" + +"I don't know about that," replied Mrs. Brown. "But I mean you can help +her now by getting some groceries from her. The more we buy and the +more other families buy, the more money she will make, and then she can +pay her bills." + +"That's so!" exclaimed Bunny. "I'm going to ask all the fellows to buy +their things of Mrs. Golden instead of going to Gordon's." + +"And I'll ask the girls!" exclaimed Sue. + +"We mustn't desert Mr. Gordon altogether," said Mrs. Brown. "He wants to +do business, too. But Mrs. Golden needs our trade most, I guess, so get +these things of her. I've written them down on a paper so you'll not +forget, and as there are a number of them you had better take a basket, +Bunny." + +"I will," he said. "Do we have to hurry back, Mother?" he asked. + +"Oh, there is no special hurry," his mother answered. "But what did you +want to do? Play another game of ball and break another window?" and she +smiled at Bunny, for she had heard the story. Mr. Morrison's window had +been paid for by all the boys "chipping in," or clubbing together. + +"I'm not going to play ball," said Bunny. "But Sue and I might stay with +Mrs. Golden a little while and help her in the store if you weren't in +a hurry." + +"No, I'm not in a hurry," Mrs. Brown said. "Help Mrs. Golden all you +can, poor old lady!" + +Together Bunny and Sue went around the corner to the little grocery and +notion store. They were talking of what they might do to help the +storekeeper, and they were planning what fun they could have with the +little boat and doll when they reached home again. By this time they +were at the store, but, to their surprise, the front door was closed, +though this was summer, and it generally stood wide open. + +And in one corner of the door was a piece of paper on which something +was written. Bunny and Sue saw this notice and they at once guessed that +something had happened. + +"Maybe she's gone away with her son Philip to get the leg-legacy!" +exclaimed Bunny. + +"Maybe," said Sue. "Go on, Bunny, you can read better'n I can. Read what +it says." + +Slowly Bunny read the little notice on the front door. It said: + + "_Please come to the side door._" + +Wonderingly the children went along the path to the side door, for the +grocery of Mrs. Golden was in an old-fashioned house which had been +built over so she could sell things in it. The side door was almost +closed, but, though open a small crack, Bunny and Sue did not want to +push it open further and go in. Instead they knocked. + +"Yes? What is it? Who's there?" called the voice of Mrs. Golden. It was +a weak, quavering old voice. + +"We're here," answered the little boy. "Bunny Brown and his sister Sue!" + +"Oh, my dears! I'm glad it's you and not Mr. Flynt!" said Mrs. Golden. +"Push the door open and come in. I have such a dreadful headache that I +couldn't keep the store open. I had to come to my room back here and lie +down. I just had to close the store!" + +The children entered to see their friend lying on a sofa in the room +back of the store. She had her head tied in a rag. + +"Are you very sick?" asked Sue. + +"'Cause if you are I'll go for the doctor," offered Bunny. + +"Oh, no, thank you, my dears, I'm not ill enough for that," answered +Mrs. Golden. "Just a bad sick-headache. I'll be better to-morrow. But I +couldn't keep the store open to-day." + +"That's too bad," said Bunny. "We came to get some things," and he took +out the list his mother had written for him. + +"Well, I want to sell things, but I am too ill to get up and wait on +you," said the storekeeper. "I put that sign in the front door so if any +wholesale wagons came to leave stuff they could find me. But, really, I +don't feel able to get up." + +Then Bunny had an idea. + +"Couldn't Sue and I wait on ourselves?" he asked eagerly. "We want to +get these things here, and if you told me where to find them--though I +know where to find some myself--and if you told me how much they were, I +could pay you, and it would be all right. I have the money." + +"Yes, you might do that," said Mrs. Golden. "It would be fine if you +could. Now let me see what you want, and then see if you can get it from +the shelves." + +"I can climb like anything!" said Bunny gleefully. + +"Well, don't fall!" cautioned Mrs. Golden. Together, with the help of +their friend, Bunny and Sue picked out from the closed store the things +their mother had written on the list for them to get. Mrs. Golden told +them where certain groceries were kept, and the price. + +"Why, you are regular little storekeepers!" declared Mrs. Golden, trying +not to think of her aching head. "You have waited on yourselves as well +as I could have done." + +"I wish we could wait on some regular customers!" boldly exclaimed +Bunny. + +"Wouldn't it be fun!" laughed Sue. + +There came a knock on the side door, and a woman's voice called: + +"Are you there, Mrs. Golden? I want a few things. May I come in?" + +"Oh, yes, come in, Mrs. Clark," replied the storekeeper, as she +recognized the voice of one of her customers. "If I can't wait on you +you can help yourself, as Bunny and Sue did." + +A woman came in the side door. + +"Let us wait on you, please!" begged Bunny. "My sister and I can get +what you want." + +"Why, yes, I guess you can!" agreed Mrs. Clark, with a laugh. "I want a +yeast cake and some sugar. It's too bad you two children couldn't stay +and help Mrs. Golden," she added, as Bunny and Sue brought what she +wanted and she was giving the money to the store owner. + +"We'd love to stay!" cried Bunny. + +"And we can, for a while," added Sue. "Mother said we didn't have to +hurry." + +"Oh, could we open the front door and tend store for you really?" asked +Bunny, his eyes sparkling in delight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +TWO LETTERS + + +Mrs. Golden thought it over for a minute. Really, with her head aching +as it did, she was in almost too much pain to think, but she felt that +something must be done. She needed all the money she could take in, and +if customers were turned away from her store, because the door was +closed, she would lose trade. Not many would come around to the side as +Mrs. Clark had done. + +"Couldn't we tend store for you--a little while?" asked Bunny again, as +he saw Mrs. Golden thinking, as his mother sometimes thought, when he or +Sue asked her if they might do something. + +"We could ask you where things are that we don't know about," added Sue, +"and we wouldn't talk loud or make a noise." + +"Bless your hearts, dearies!" sighed Mrs. Golden. "You are very kind; +but I'm sure I don't know what to say." + +"Then let me say it," advised Mrs. Clark. "I say let the children tend +store for you, Mrs. Golden. Bunny and Sue are a lot smarter for their +age than most children. You let them tend store for you, and I'll run +over once in a while to see if everything is all right." + +"Very well," said Mrs. Golden. "You may keep store for me, Bunny and +Sue." + +"Goodie!" exclaimed Sue, clapping her hands. Then she happened to +remember that she must not make too much noise, and she grew quieter. + +"I'll open the front door and take down the sign," said Bunny. "We'll +wait on the customers for you, Mrs. Golden." + +Bunny felt quite like a grown man as he removed the card and turned the +lock in the front door, swinging it open. The shades had been pulled +down over the show windows, and Bunny and Sue now ran these up. + +"I'll run along now," said Mrs. Clark, going out the front door and +nodding in friendly fashion at the children. "I guess you'll make out +all right, and I'll be back in a little while. If she gets any worse, or +anything happens, just come and tell me--you know where I live," she +said in a low voice, so Mrs. Golden, in the back room, would not hear. + +Sue nodded and Bunny smiled. They were rather anxious for Mrs. Clark to +go, so they would be left in charge of the store. And when this +happened, when really, for the first time, Bunny Brown and his sister +Sue were truly storekeepers you can hardly imagine how pleased they +were. + +"You go to sleep now, Mrs. Golden," said Sue, going on tiptoe to the +rear room, to look at the old woman lying on the couch. "You go to +sleep. Bunny and I will tend store." + +Then she went back to Bunny, who sat on a stool behind the grocery +counter. He had decided he would sell things from that side of the +store, while Sue could wait on the dry-goods and notions side. + +"All we want now is some customers," remarked the little boy. + +"Yes," agreed Sue. "We want to sell things." + +They waited some little time, for the corner store was not in a busy +part of town. Several times, as footsteps were heard outside, Bunny and +Sue hardly breathed, hoping some one would come in to buy. But each time +they were disappointed. + +Finally, however, just when they were about to give up, thinking they +would have to go home, a woman came in and looked around, not at first +seeing any one. + +"What can I do for you to-day, lady?" asked Bunny Brown, as he had often +heard Mr. Gordon say. + +"Oh, are you tending store?" the lady asked. She was a stranger to Bunny +and Sue. + +"Yes'm, I and my sister--I mean my sister and I--are keeping store for +Mrs. Golden. She's sick," said Bunny. "I can get you anything you want." + +"All I want is a loaf of bread," the lady answered. + +Bunny knew where to get this, and also the kind the lady wanted, as it +was the same sort of loaf his mother often sent him for. He put it in +a paper bag and took the money. The lady gave the right change, so Bunny +did not have to trouble Mrs. Golden. + +All this while Sue stood on her side of the Store, rather anxiously +waiting. She wished the customer would buy of her. + +"You are rather small to be in a store, aren't you?" asked the lady, as +she started to leave with the bread. + +"Oh, we know lots about stores," said Bunny. "We often play keep one, +but this is the first time we ever did it regular." + +"I know how to keep store, too," said Sue, unable to keep still any +longer. "Would you like some needles and thread?" + +"Yes, now that you speak of it, I remember I do need some thread, my +dear," the lady answered, with a smile. "Can you get me the kind I +want?" + +"I--I guess so," Sue answered, yet she was a bit doubtful, as there were +so many things among the notions. + +"Well, perhaps I can help you," said the lady. "I see the tray of spools +of silk right behind you, and if you'll pull it out I'll pick the shade +I want. I have a sample of dress goods here." + +[Illustration: SUE HELPED HER CUSTOMER MATCH HER SAMPLE. + _Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store._ _Page_ 174] + +Sue had often been with her mother when Mrs. Brown matched sewing silk +in this way, and the little girl pulled out the shallow drawer of small +spools. She saw the sample and knew the lady needed red sewing silk; so +she at once pulled out the right drawer. Then she helped the customer +match her sample until she had what she wanted. + +"How much is it?" asked the lady, taking out her purse. + +Here was Sue's trouble--she did not know exactly, and she did not want +to go ask Mrs. Golden, for the storekeeper might be sleeping. To call +her might make her head suddenly ache worse. + +"I generally pay ten cents a spool," said the customer, "and I suppose +that's what it is here. If it's any more I can stop in the next time I +pass. That is, unless you can find out for sure." + +"Oh, I guess ten cents is all right," said Sue, and she found out later +that it was. + +Then the lady left with her bread and thread. The children had waited on +their first customer all alone. + +In the next hour, during which the children remained in the store, they +waited on several customers, and did it very well, too, not having to +ask Mrs. Golden about anything, for which they were glad. Of course the +things they sold were simple articles, easy to find, and of such small +price that the men or women who bought them had the right change all +ready. + +Once a boy came in, and you should have seen how surprised he was when +Bunny waited on him. He was Tommy Shadder, a boy Bunny knew slightly. + +"Huh! you workin' here?" asked Tommy, as he took the sugar Bunny put in +a bag, not having spilled very much. + +"Sure, I'm working here!" declared Bunny. "That is, for a while," he +added, for he knew he would soon have to go home. + +"Huh!" said Tommy again, as he went out. "Huh!" + +"Mail!" suddenly called a voice, and the postman entered the store. +"Where's Mrs. Golden?" he asked, as he saw Bunny and Sue, whom he knew. + +"She's got a headache, and we're tending store," Sue answered proudly. + +"Oh, all right. Here's a couple of letters for her. She's been asking me +for letters all week, and I didn't have any for her. Now here are two." + +He tossed them on the counter and went out into the sunlit street. Bunny +looked at the two letters. + +"Oh!" he exclaimed. "One's from Mrs. Golden's son Philip. Maybe it's +about the legacy!" Bunny had seen the name Philip Golden in the corner +of the envelope. + +"Who's the other from?" asked Sue. + +"The Grocery Supply Company," read the little boy from the other +envelope. + +"Oh, dear!" sighed Sue. + +"What's the matter?" asked Bunny. + +"Maybe that's a bill," Sue said, for she had often been in her father's +office on the dock when the mail came in, and when he received a thin +letter Mr. Brown would hold it up to the light, laugh, and say: + +"I guess this is a bill." + +Sue knew what bills were, all right, and she seemed to feel that bills +coming to Mrs. Golden, who had little money, would be worse than those +which came to her father's office, for Mr. Brown never seemed to worry +about the bills. + +As the children looked at the letters on the counter, wondering whether +or not to take them in to Mrs. Golden, she herself came out of the back +room. She looked at the children and then at the letters. + +"Oh, some mail!" she exclaimed. "I hope it's from Philip about the +legacy! If it is, I'm sure it will completely cure my headache, which is +much better." + +Eagerly Bunny and Sue watched to see Mrs. Golden open the letters. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +BUNNY HAS AN IDEA + + +Mrs. Golden read first the letter from her son, sent to her from the +distant city. But if Bunny and Sue thought to see a look of joy spread +over the store owner's face they were disappointed. + +"Did he--did your son send you the legacy?" asked Bunny, as the letter +was folded and put back in the envelope. + +"Well, no, not exactly," was the answer. "It seems there is some trouble +about it. I hoped Philip could come home to help me, but he can't, and +it will be some time before we'll get any money from that legacy--if we +ever get it. Oh, dear! So many troubles!" + +Mrs. Golden sighed and opened the other letter. Her troubles seemed to +be more now, for she sighed again as she laid this letter aside. Sue +could not help asking: + +"Is it a bill?" + +"Something like that, yes," answered the old lady. "It's from Mr. +Flynt's grocery company. It says if I don't pay soon I'll be sold out." + +Mrs. Golden sighed again. The children did not know exactly what it was +all about, but they knew there was trouble of some kind and they wanted +to help. But they felt, too, that it was time they went home. + +Mrs. Golden must have seen the worried looks on their faces, for she +tried to smile through the clouds of her own trouble as she said: + +"Never mind, my dears! Run along now, for I'm sure your mother will be +getting anxious about you. You have been a great help to me. I guess +I'll find some way out of my troubles--I hope so, anyhow. Run along now! +It was good of you to help me." + +So Bunny and Sue, taking the things they had bought, started out of the +store. + +"If she could only sell more things she'd have more money and then she +could pay that grocery bill," said Bunny to his sister. + +"Yes," agreed Sue. "We'll tell daddy about it and see what he says. +Daddy has lots of money." + +"But maybe he needs it," suggested Bunny. And very likely Mr. Brown did. + +However, children of the ages of Bunny and Sue are not unhappy for very +long at a time, and trouble seems to roll away from them like water off +a duck's back. On the way home they met some of their playmates, and in +talking over a picnic that was to be held in a few days Bunny and Sue +forgot about Mrs. Golden for a while. + +"You stayed rather a long time," said Mrs. Brown, when Bunny and Sue +finally reached home with the groceries she had sent them for. + +"You said we could stay," said Bunny. + +"And we helped Mrs. Golden by tending store," added Sue. + +"Did you really tend store?" Uncle Tad asked, and he was much surprised +when the children told what they had done. + +"I guess she doesn't do much business," remarked Uncle Tad. "She has a +store on a corner, which is the best place for one, as people on two +streets pass it. But I'm afraid she isn't enough of a hustler." + +"What's a hustler?" asked Bunny, wondering if Mrs. Golden might be made +into one. + +"A hustler," said Uncle Tad, "is a person that does things in a hurry. +Some storekeepers are hustlers for business. If business doesn't come to +them they go after it. That's how they sell things." + +"How could Mrs. Golden sell more things?" Bunny questioned. "She's got +lots of things in her store--heaps and packs of 'em--but she doesn't +sell much." + +"That's the trouble!" said Uncle Tad. "She doesn't advertise, and she +doesn't make any window display." + +"What's a window display?" Sue inquired. + +"I saw you looking at one the other day," replied the old soldier. "Do +you remember when I passed you and Bunny while you were looking in the +drug store window on Main Street?" + +"Oh, yes! Where the rubber bags were!" cried Bunny. + +"A little doll was making believe swim in a rubber bag," said Sue, "and +there was a big crowd looking at it." + +"That's it!" exclaimed Uncle Tad. "That drug store man got a big crowd +in front of his store by putting something in the window that made +people stop and look. That's advertising." + +"Maybe Mrs. Golden could fix up her windows so a crowd would stop in +front!" exclaimed Sue. + +"What good would that do?" Bunny asked. "She wants people to come inside +her store and buy things." + +"That's it," agreed Uncle Tad. "But if you get a crowd _outside_ a +store, because there's something to look at in the windows, some of that +crowd will go _inside_ and buy something." + +"Only Mrs. Golden hasn't any rubber bags," went on Bunny. "But I guess +Sue could lend her a doll if she wanted it to take a swim." + +"Mrs. Golden doesn't need to put rubber bags in her window," said Uncle +Tad. "That wouldn't be the thing for a grocery and notion store. She +should put in something that people would stop to look at, or have a +special sale or something like that. And another thing I've noticed, +when I've been past her place is that the windows are very dirty. You +can hardly see what's inside. If her windows were cleaned and she had +something in them, a crowd would stop and more people would go in and +buy than go in now. Mrs. Golden needs to advertise in that way." + +Uncle Tad went out. Mrs. Brown busied herself about the house, and Bunny +Brown motioned to his sister Sue to come to the side porch. + +"What you want?" asked Sue. + +Bunny put his finger over his lips. + +"I've got an idea!" he said. "I know how we can help Mrs. Golden get a +crowd in front of her store." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE WINDOW DISPLAY + + +Bunny Brown and his sister Sue spent much time during the next few days +out in their barn--that is when they were not going to the store for +their mother. Every chance they had, however, they bought things of Mrs. +Golden, to help her as much as they could by trading at her store. + +"And we ought to get the other boys and girls to go there," Sue said. + +"We will, after a while," agreed Bunny. "Just now we have to do +something else." + +And the something else had to do with his idea and the time he and Sue +spent in the barn. With them, most of the time, was Splash, their dog, +and Charlie Star often came over with a covered basket. + +"What do you think the children are doing?" asked Mrs. Brown of Mary, +the cook, one day. + +"Oh, I guess they're getting up some kind of a show," Mary answered. "I +can hear Splash barking now and then, and there's a cat mewing." + +"Cat!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "We haven't a cat!" + +"I guess it's Charlie Star's," went on the cook. "He brings it over +every day in a basket and takes it home again. I guess they're getting +ready for a show." + +"Bunny and Sue did have a show once," observed Mrs. Brown. "I hardly +believe they would get up another. I must see what they are up to." + +However, as company came just then and Mrs. Brown had to entertain them, +she forgot all about her two children. Meanwhile things were happening +out in the barn. + +But Bunny and Sue kept it a secret, in which only Charlie Star had a +share, and Charlie did not tell. When Mrs. Brown's company had left some +one telephoned to her and she forgot all about her plan to ask Bunny +what was going on. + +It was a few days after this that Bunny and Sue were again sent to the +store for their mother, and you may easily guess to which store they +went--the little corner one, of course. + +Mrs. Golden was sitting in her usual easy chair, and there were no other +customers in the place. + +"How's business?" asked Bunny, as he had often heard men ask his father. + +"It might be better and not hurt itself," was Mrs. Golden's answer. +"Customers are few and far between." + +"Mrs. Golden," said Bunny, "my Uncle Tad says you ought to have a +special sale. Did you ever have one?" + +"Oh, yes, years ago," she answered. "I had a sale of notions, and a +number of women came in to get things to make dresses with. But I +haven't had a special sale for a long while." + +"Why don't you, then?" asked Bunny eagerly. "I think a special grocery +sale would be good. You could put a lot of things in your window and +mark the prices on them, and people would come in to buy." + +"Yes, I suppose I could do that," agreed Mrs. Golden slowly. "I have a +big stock of a new kind of oatmeal on hand. Some new concern sold it to +me, but it didn't take very well. Lately I got a letter from them saying +I could sell it at a special price. I suppose that would bring in some +trade. I never thought of it. I'm getting too old, I guess, and worrying +too much. When my son Philip comes home I'll have a special sale." + +"No, don't wait!" cried Bunny Brown eagerly. "Let's have it now! Where +are those oatmeal things?" + +Mrs. Golden smiled at his eager, bustling air. + +"They're in the storeroom," she said. "Some of the cases aren't open +yet." + +"We'll open 'em for you!" cried Bunny. "Then we'll stack the oatmeal in +the window, and we'll make a sign saying it's awful cheap and you'll +sell a lot, Mrs. Golden." + +"Well, maybe I will, dearie. I'm sure I hope so. And it's good of you to +help me. Let me see now, I'll put 'em in the left window, I guess. That +has less in it," and she looked toward the window she meant. So did +Bunny and Sue, and Sue's first idea was made plain when she said: + +"Could I wash that window, Mrs. Golden?" + +"Wash the window? Why, yes, I suppose so," answered the storekeeper. "It +is pretty dirty," she added. "I don't very often look at 'em, and that's +a fact. I declare! you can hardly see what I have in my windows, can +you? Dear me, I am getting old. If Philip was here he'd wash 'em for +me." + +"I'll do it!" offered Sue. "I often wash the low windows for mother. She +lets me. Have you got any of that white stuff that makes 'em shine?" + +"Oh, yes, I know what you mean," said Mrs. Golden. "Yes, you can take a +cake from the grocery shelf. My, I never thought of a special sale and +having windows washed. It may bring me trade!" + +"Uncle Tad says it will!" exclaimed Bunny. In a measure it was Uncle +Tad's idea that Bunny and Sue were carrying out. + +"You wash the window," he told his sister, "and I'll open the oatmeal." + +Soon there was a busy time in Mrs. Golden's store. Bunny was hammering +and pounding away opening the oatmeal cases, and Sue was washing the +window, having first taken out the few things Mrs. Golden had on display +there--not that you could see them very well from the outside, however. + +"Could I wash the other window, too?" asked Sue, when she had finished +the first. + +"Are you going to put oatmeal in both windows?" asked Mrs. Golden. +"Seems to me that will be too much. Wash the other window if you want +to, dearie, but two of them filled with oatmeal----" + +"Oh, we aren't going to put oatmeal in _both_!" exclaimed Bunny, with a +queer look at his sister. "We're going to fix up the second window to +make people come in and buy." + +Mrs. Golden did not seem to understand exactly. She shook her head in a +puzzled way and murmured that she was getting old. + +And as the postman came along just then with a letter from Philip, she +was soon so busy reading it that she paid little attention to what Bunny +and Sue were doing. + +The children worked hard and faithfully all morning, and promised to +come back in the afternoon. When they left to go home to lunch, both +windows were brightly shining, though there were a few streaks here and +there where Sue had forgotten to wipe off the white, cleaning powder. +But they didn't matter. + +"I'll pull the shades down," said Bunny, as he was leaving. "We don't +want people looking in the windows until we get 'em all fixed up, and +then we'll surprise 'em." + +"Just as you like, dearie. Just as you like," said Mrs. Golden, in a +dreamy tone. She was thinking of what her son had said in his letter. + +Hurrying through their lunch as quickly as their mother would let them, +Bunny and Sue hastened back to Mrs. Golden's store. They told something +of their plans at home, and Uncle Tad said: + +"That's a fine idea! I'll stop down there later and see how it looks." + +"Come on, Splash!" called Bunny to his dog, as he and his sister started +back. "We want you!" + +"And we must stop at Charlie's house and tell him," said Sue. + +"Yes, we will," Bunny agreed, and Charlie, when he heard the news, said: + +"I'll be at the store in about half an hour." + +Certainly things were getting ready to happen. + +Bunny and Sue found Mrs. Golden lying down on her couch in the back room +when they reached the store again. + +"I'm afraid I have another of my bad headaches coming on," she said. + +"You lie down," said Sue kindly. "Bunny and I will tend store again, and +we'll start the special sale." + +The windows were now dry and clean. All the old goods had been taken +out, and Bunny and his sister were ready to put in the special display +of oatmeal which was to be sold at a low price. Mrs. Golden told Bunny +where to find some price cards to put in the window telling of the +special sale. These cards were of a sort that most grocers keep on hand. + +With the help of Sue, Bunny piled the boxes of oatmeal in the window. +They were stacked up as nearly like a fort as he could make them, and he +knew how to do this, for he had often helped the boys build forts of +snow. Here and there he left holes in the piled-up wall of oatmeal +boxes. + +"Oh, if you only had something like little cannons to put in the holes +it would look more like a real fort!" said Sue. + +Bunny thought this was a good idea, and looked around for something to +use. He saw some round pasteboard boxes, the top covers of which were a +dull black. + +"They'll look just like cannons," he said, as he fitted them in the +holes of the oatmeal box fort. The window shades being down, no one +could see from the street what was going on. Splash, the big dog, was +content to sleep in the store while the children were there. + +"Now for the other window," said Bunny to Sue, when the oatmeal was all +in place, with the low price plainly marked on cards stuck here and +there. + +"We have to wait for Charlie," Sue said. + +"He's coming now," observed Bunny, looking from the door. No customers +had come in while the children were busy fixing the window, and they +were just as well satisfied. They hoped for a rush of trade when the +shades were raised. + +Charlie came in with the covered basket, and the next fifteen minutes +were busy ones for the children. Mrs. Golden had fallen asleep and did +not come out of the back room to see what they were doing. + +"Well, we're all ready now," said Bunny, at last. "Pull up the shades!" + +He and Charlie did this. The sun shone in through the newly cleaned +windows and lit up such a display as never before had been seen in Mrs. +Golden's store. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +IN THE FLOUR BARREL + + +Slowly the heavy green shades, which hid what was in the cleaned windows +from the sight of persons in the street, rolled up. Bunny Brown, his +sister Sue, and Charlie Star waited for what was to happen next. They +looked first at one of the windows in which they had made a display, and +then at the other. + +In one was the pile of oatmeal packages built up like a small fort, with +holes here and there through which stuck round boxes, with black covers +so that they seemed to be small cannon. + +In the other window--but I can best tell you what was in that by telling +you what happened. + +The curtains had not been up very long, and the children were feeling +rather proud of what they had done, especially Sue in making the glass +so clean, when a boy who was passing along the street stopped to look in +one of the windows. + +And the window he looked at was not the one where the oatmeal boxes were +piled. It was at the other. This boy was soon joined by a second. Then a +girl who had been running, as if in a hurry, came to a stop, and she +stood near the two boys, looking in. + +"The crowd is beginning to come!" remarked Charlie Star. + +"But they aren't buying any of the oatmeal," objected Sue. + +"Never mind," Charlie went on. "These kids wouldn't buy anything anyhow; +they haven't any money. Wait till the big folks come." Charlie spoke of +the "kids" as if he were about twenty years old himself. He seemed to +have become much bigger and more important since helping Bunny and Sue +fix up Mrs. Golden's windows. + +And, surely enough, a few minutes later men and women began to stop to +look at the windows of the little corner store. And the men and women +at first looked not at the oatmeal but at the other window. + +"It's making a big hit!" said Bunny Brown. He had learned this saying at +the time when he and his sister Sue gave a show. + +By this time quite a crowd had gathered in the street outside, and there +was some talk and laughter which was heard inside the store. It was even +heard in the back room where Mrs. Golden had gone to lie down, and it +aroused her from her doze. + +"Well, children," she said, as she came slowly out, "have you got the +windows washed, and the special sale of oatmeal started?" + +"Yes, everything is all ready," answered Bunny, with a sly look at his +sister and Charlie. + +Then Mrs. Golden saw the crowd outside. + +"My goodness!" she exclaimed. "I never knew oatmeal to be so popular. I +can sell it all, maybe!" Then she noticed that the crowd was mostly +looking at the other window. + +"What have you in there, Bunny Brown?" she asked. + +"Take a look and see," invited Sue. + +Mrs. Golden peered over the wooden partition that fenced the show window +off from the remainder of the store. And in the window she saw--what do +you think? Well, I imagine you must have guessed by this time. + +Yes, it was Splash, the big dog, and asleep on his back was Charlie +Star's little white kitten! It made the cutest picture you can imagine, +for Splash kept very still, as if he did not want to wake up the +sleeping puss, and the little cat was curled up just as if on a silken +cushion. + +It was this that Bunny and Charlie had been planning in the barn for +several days. At first Splash would have nothing to do with the white +kitten, and the kitten fluffed up her tail and made funny noises at +Splash. + +But finally the boys and Sue had trained the two to be friends, so that +Splash would lie down and allow the kitten to go to sleep on his back. +And it was this that Bunny and Sue, together with Charlie Star, had +planned to attract attention to Mrs. Golden's poor little store. + +The children had succeeded better than they had dared dream. Outside +the crowd was getting larger and larger all the while, and men were +saying: + +"That's a pretty good dog!" + +The women said: + +"What a pretty picture!" + +Little girls said: + +"I wish I had that pussy!" + +The boys wished they owned Splash. Many of them knew him, for they had +often seen the dog with Bunny Brown. But the kitten was new, and few +knew that Charlie Star owned it. + +And then happened just what Uncle Tad had told the children would take +place if they could draw a crowd outside the store. Some began to look +at the special display of oatmeal in the other window, and a few came in +to buy. Some bought not only oatmeal but other things as well, happening +to remember that they were needed at home. + +Mrs. Golden, who felt much better after her sleep, was kept very busy +waiting on customers, and Bunny and Sue helped her, as did Charlie. + +[Illustration: SPLASH AND THE KITTEN DID THEIR SHARE IN DRAWING TRADE. + _Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping Store._ _Page_ 199] + +Splash and the kitten did their share, too, in drawing trade. For soon +the kitten awakened and began playing with a spool which Charlie had +hung up on a string in the window. The little white cat struck at the +spool with her paws as she stood up on the back of the big dog. Splash +did not seem to mind it in the least. In fact, he looked as if he +enjoyed it, and this amused the crowd all the more. + +"Well, I do declare! You children beat anything I ever saw!" exclaimed +Mrs. Golden, when she had time to look and see what was going on in the +special display window. "You've made my store into a regular circus!" + +"But it's good for business, isn't it?" asked Bunny. + +"Indeed it is!" said the old lady, with a smile. "I never was so busy. +That oatmeal is selling fine. I wish I'd had a special sale of it +before." + +Besides the boxes in the window there were packages of oatmeal piled on +shelves ready to be sold. And as the price was lower than oatmeal could +be bought for at other stores, Mrs. Golden did a good trade. + +After a while things became a little quieter in the store, after the +first surprise had worn off. But now people were constantly passing in +the street, and many of them stopped to look at the dog and cat, which +were now playing together, Splash gently pawing at the white kitten +which climbed all over him. + +Bunny had just finished selling a man a package of oatmeal, and Sue was +getting out a paper of pins for a lady when Uncle Tad came into the +store. + +"Hello, children!" he cried in his jolly way. "I see you took some of my +advice and advertised by your show windows," he added to Mrs. Golden. + +"Bunny and Sue did it for me," she said, "with the help of Charlie Star. +It is wonderful." + +"If you'll get me a white piece of cardboard and a pen and some ink I'll +make you a sign to put in that oatmeal window," offered the old soldier. +"Those signs are all right, Bunny," said Uncle Tad. "But for a special +sale you want a special sign. Let me see now," he went on, as Mrs. +Golden got him what he had asked for. "You have made those oatmeal boxes +into the shape of a fort with guns. Now I must make a sign to go with +it. Let me see. Ah, I have it!" + +He was busy with the ink for several minutes, and then he held up a sign +which read: + + FORT-IFY YOUR CONSTITUTION + WITH THIS OATMEAL + +"There!" exclaimed Uncle Tad, "this ought to bring more customers!" + +"Ha! Ha!" laughed Mrs. Golden. "That's a pretty good joke!" + +Bunny, Sue, and Charlie could not see anything funny, or like a joke, in +the sign. But then it was not intended for children, so it did not +matter. + +But men and women passing in the street and pausing to read what Uncle +Tad had printed, seemed to think it was odd, for they stopped, read it, +laughed or chuckled, and then either passed on or came in and bought +some oatmeal. And quite a few came in, so that by night Mrs. Golden had +sold nearly all of the cereal. + +"My goodness!" she said, when it was time for Bunny, Sue, and Charlie to +go home. "This has been a wonderful day. Could you come over to-morrow?" +she asked. "I don't mean to work," she added quickly. "For I'm afraid +your mothers will think you're doing too much for me. But I mean could +you come over and bring your dog and cat to put in the window. They +certainly brought the crowd." + +"Yes, we'll bring Splash," said Bunny. + +"And I'll bring my kitten," offered Charlie. + +"And we'll come and help you sell things!" laughed Sue. "We like it, +don't we?" she asked the boys, and of course they said they did. + +The first attempt of Bunny and Sue to advertise Mrs. Golden's store had +been very successful. Of course Uncle Tad had told them how to do it, +and Charlie Star had helped by bringing his kitten and training her with +Bunny and Sue. So the special oatmeal sale made quite a bit of talk in +that section of Bellemere near the little corner store. + +Of course Mrs. Golden did not make a great deal of money, for the profit +on each thing she sold, even the many boxes of oatmeal, was small. But +it brought new customers to her store, and she was well pleased with +what had happened. + +"And if Philip can only get that legacy," she murmured to herself that +night, "things will be easier for me. But I owe a lot of money to Mr. +Flynt, and I don't know where I'm going to get it to pay--not even if +those dear children help me with a lot more special sales, bless their +hearts! Well, I'll do the best I can." + +The next day Bunny, Sue, and Charlie again came to Mrs. Golden's store. +Charlie could not stay, however, as he had to rake up the leaves around +his home, but he brought his kitten, and again the dog and the white +pussy drew crowds to the store window. + +Besides oatmeal Mrs. Golden also had a special sale on notions, and she +did a fairly good business in them, so that she and Sue were kept busy +behind the counter. Not that Sue could do as much as Mrs. Golden, but +she did all she could. + +Bunny waited on some customers who came in to buy groceries, and when +one lady wanted some flour an accident happened. Bunny was leaning over +to scoop the white stuff out of the barrel, and as it was near the +bottom he had to stand up on a box to reach it. + +Suddenly the lady on whom he was waiting, and who was watching him, gave +a startled cry. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mrs. Golden. + +"That little boy has fallen into the flour barrel!" was the answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +SUE COULDN'T STOP IT + + +There was a banging, kicking sound and several cries of "Oh, dear!" The +cries were faint and muffled, as if they came from the cellar. Then the +lady who had ordered three pounds of flour, which Bunny was trying to +scoop out for her, ran behind the counter. + +Sue followed. So did Mrs. Golden. All they saw were Bunny's heels +sticking out of the barrel, waving in the air, and now and then banging +against a low shelf near which the flour barrel stood. + +"Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" cried Bunny, from inside the barrel. + +For that is where he was. He had fallen into the flour barrel! + +"Pull him out!" begged Sue. + +"I can't. I'm not strong enough to pull him up!" panted the customer, +but doing her best. + +"We must all pull!" exclaimed Sue. "Bunny pulled me out of the brook, +and I'll pull him out of the flour barrel!" + +"Yes, we must all pull!" said Mrs. Golden. + +Together they all grasped Bunny by the heels and lifted him out of the +flour barrel. + +Oh, but he was a queer sight! Luckily he had stuck out his two hands +when he felt himself falling head first into the nearly empty barrel, +and had landed on his outstretched palms. And as there was not much +flour in the barrel his head had not gone into the fluffy white stuff, +or he might nearly have smothered. As it was his face was completely +covered with the white particles. + +And when Mrs. Golden, the customer and Sue had pulled the little boy +from the barrel, and set him on his feet, Sue could not help laughing. + +"Oh, Bunny!" she cried, giggling. "You look--you look just like the +clown in the circus!" + +And truly Bunny did, for his face was plastered as white as the face of +any funny man that ever made jokes beneath the canvas. + +"You poor boy," said the customer. + +"Oh, Bunny, I'm so sorry!" exclaimed Mrs. Golden. + +"I--I'm all right," declared Bunny, blowing out a white cloud of flour +as he talked. "I--I didn't spill any!" + +"No, you spilled yourself more than anything else," said Mrs. Golden. "I +guess I'd better get the flour, Bunny, after we brush you off. It's too +low in the barrel for you to reach. I don't want you falling in again." + +"All right," agreed Bunny. "I guess I'm not quite big enough for flour +barrels." + +He was dusted off out in the side yard, so no great harm resulted from +his accidental dive into the barrel, and Mrs. Golden waited on the flour +customer. + +"What did you think, Bunny, when you were falling into the flour +barrel?" asked Sue, when the excitement was over and business was going +on as before in the little corner store. + +"What did I think?" he repeated. "Why, I guess I didn't have time to +think anything. I just felt myself slipping, and then I fell in. I stuck +out my hands, and I'm glad the flour wasn't deep in the barrel." + +"It was like the time when I fell into the brook!" said Sue, with a +little laugh. "Only I fell in feet first and you went in head first." + +"Yes," laughed Bunny, "I went in head first all right!" + +Mrs. Golden told the children they must not try to do things that were +too hard for them, even though they meant to be kind and help her. + +The second day of the special sale of oatmeal and notions was not quite +as busy as the first. The novelty of the cat and dog in the window wore +off and Bunny brought some of the little pet alligators to show. Still +quite a number of people came in to buy, and Mrs. Golden was well +pleased, thanking Bunny, Sue, and Charlie many times. She also wanted to +thank Splash and the white kitten and the best way to do this was to +feed them, which she did, as well as the alligators. + +"We'll come and help you tend store to-morrow," said Bunny as he and +Sue went home that night, Sue carrying Charlie's kitten in a basket and +Splash following at Bunny's heels. The alligators were left till next +day. + +"I'm afraid your mother will think you are doing too much for me," said +the old lady, as she said good-bye. + +"Oh, no!" exclaimed Bunny. "She told us to help you all we could." + +"And we like it!" Sue exclaimed. "It's fun." + +"Except when you fall into flour barrels!" added Bunny Brown, with a +laugh at some white spots that still clung to his jacket. + +Mrs. Brown did not mind how much Bunny and his sister helped Mrs. +Golden, but she told the children they must not stay in the store too +much. + +"Your long vacation from school is given you so you may play out in the +sunshine and fresh air," said Mother Brown. "And though it is all right +for you to help Mrs. Golden in her store, I want you to have some fun +also." + +"It's fun in the store," said Bunny. + +"Well, I mean other kinds of fun," added Mrs. Brown. + +So there were days when Bunny and Sue only went to Mrs. Golden's grocery +on some errand for their mother or Mary, but even on these short trips +they often were able to help the storekeeper, sometimes making little +sales, if she was busy in another part of the house, or by arranging +goods on the shelves. + +Having learned that she could do more business by having her windows +clean and with things nicely piled in them, Mrs. Golden kept this plan +up, Bunny and Charlie and Sue often stacking goods where they would show +well. + +But with all this even the children could see that Mrs. Golden was +worried. Bunny often saw her adding up figures on bits of paper, and she +would look at the sum and sigh. + +"What's the matter?" Bunny once asked. + +"Oh, I owe so much money I'm afraid I'll never be able to pay," she +said. "And it seems to be getting worse, even with all the help you +children give me. If only Philip would get that legacy!" + +"Hasn't he got it yet?" asked Bunny. + +"No, not yet," was the answer. "And I'm afraid he never will. I miss him +so, too. If he were here to help me things might go easier. But there! I +mustn't complain. I'm much better off than lots of folks!" she added, +trying to be cheerful. + +"If more people would come to buy here you'd have more money," said the +little boy. And that gave him an idea that he did not speak about just +then, but turned over and over in his busy little head. + +Heeding their mother's advice, Bunny and Sue played out of doors with +their boy and girl chums, sometimes going on picnics and excursions or +on walks through the woods and over the fields. Bunny and Charlie often +played at boats in the brook, and more than once they fell in. Sue and +her friends often waded in the water of the brook. + +Bunny did not again, though, topple into any flour barrels. It was Sue +who had the next accident at the corner grocery, and this is the way it +happened. + +The little girl had been sent by her mother to get a yeast cake at Mrs. +Golden's, and when Sue reached the store she found the old lady busy +with two women who were matching sewing silk. At the same time a little +boy had come in for some molasses. + +"I'll get the molasses for you," Sue offered, for she knew where the +barrel was kept, and once Mrs. Golden had allowed her to raise the +handle of the spigot and let the thick, sticky stuff run out into the +quart measure. Sue was sure she could do this again. So, taking the +boy's pail, she went to the molasses barrel. + +It was kept in the back part of the store, and perhaps if Mrs. Golden +had seen what Sue was about to do she would have stopped the little +girl. But the two customers were very particular about the sewing silk +they wanted, and kept Mrs. Golden busy pulling out different trays. + +Sue reached the molasses barrel, set the quart measure under the spout, +as she had seen Mrs. Golden do, and raised the handle. The next thing +the storekeeper knew was when Sue came running up to her in great alarm +crying: + +"I can't stop it! I can't stop it!" + +"Can't stop what, my dear?" asked Mrs. Golden. + +"I can't stop the molasses from running out!" cried Sue. "I got it +turned on, but I can't turn it off, and it's running all over the +floor!" + +"Oh, my goodness!" cried Mrs. Golden, hurrying to the back of the +store. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A SHOWER OF BOXES + + +Sister Sue, as soon as she had told Mrs. Golden what had happened also +started to run back to the molasses barrel. In fact she ran ahead of the +storekeeper, and Sue's hurry was the cause of another accident. + +For the molasses, running out of the spigot which Sue had not been able +to close, had overflowed the quart measure, and was now spreading itself +out in a sticky pool on the floor. + +It was a slippery puddle, as well as a sticky one, and Sue's feet, +landing in it as she ran, slid out from under her. + +Bang! she came to the floor with a thud. + +"Oh, my dear little girl!" cried one of the customers, who had been +buying the sewing silk. "Are you hurt, child?" + +Sue, sitting in the molasses puddle--yes, she was actually sitting in +it now--looked up, thought about the matter for a moment, and then +answered, saying: + +"No, thank you, I'm not hurt. But I'm stuck fast. I can't get up." + +It was very sticky molasses. + +Mrs. Golden, thinking more about the waste of her precious molasses than +about Sue for the moment, reached over and shut off the spigot. It had +caught and was hard to close, which was why Sue could not do it. + +Fortunately, however, the little girl had nearly closed it before the +quart measure was quite full, and not so much of the molasses had run +out on the floor as might have if the spigot had been wide open all the +while. But, as it was, there was enough to make Sue fall, and to hold +her there in the sticky mess after she had sat down so hard. + +"Dear me, what a mess!" exclaimed one of the customers. + +"Isn't it!" said the other. + +"I--I'm awful sorry," faltered Sue. "My father will pay for the molasses +I let run out, Mrs. Golden!" + +"Oh, don't worry about that," said the old lady, though she was a bit +worried over the loss, for nearly a pint of the sweet stuff had run +away. "It's you I'm thinking of," she said. "Are you sure you aren't +hurt?" + +"No," answered Sue. "But my dress is. Oh, how am I going to get home?" +she went on, as she pulled up the edge of her skirt and saw how dirty +and sticky it was. + +"You'll have to get into the bath tub, clothes and all," said one of the +customers. + +"It's like when I fell in the brook," half sobbed Sue. + +"There, never mind!" said Mrs. Golden kindly. "Here, little boy," she +said, reaching over and lifting up the brimming measure of sweet stuff, +"take your molasses and run along. Then I'll clean up here." + +Leaning over, to keep her feet out of the puddle, Mrs. Golden helped Sue +to rise, though it was a bit hard on account of the sticky molasses. +Then the little girl's dress was taken off and she was sent into Mrs. +Golden's bedroom. + +"I'll wash this dress and your petticoat out for you, Sue," said Mrs. +Golden, when her thread customers were gone. "But it will hardly be dry +for you to wear home before dark." + +"If you should see Bunny, you could send him home to get another dress +for me," Sue suggested. + +"Yes, I could do that," agreed Mrs. Golden. "I'll see if Bunny is coming +after I put your clothes to soak." + +But Bunny was off playing ball that day, and did not come to the corner +store. However, fat Bobbie Boomer happened to pass, and Mrs. Golden sent +him to Sue's house. + +He rather frightened Mrs. Brown at first, for Bobbie twisted the message +and said Sue had fallen into a barrel of molasses, instead of just into +a puddle on the floor, so that Mrs. Brown came hurrying to the store, +imagining all sorts of things had happened. + +She had to laugh when she heard the real story, and then she went back +to get a clean dress for Sue, leaving the other to be washed and dried +by Mrs. Golden. + +"I'm afraid the children are more of a bother to you than a help," said +Mrs. Brown, as she started home with Sue. + +"Oh, bless their hearts, I don't know what I'd do without them!" said +the storekeeper. "They are a great help. My store business is much +better than before they began coming here. That special oatmeal sale +brought me new customers, and Bunny and Sue are a great help." + +As it would be rather hard work for Mrs. Golden to clean up the sticky +puddle, Mrs. Brown sent Bunker Blue up from the boat dock to help. For +this Mrs. Golden was very glad, as she could hardly have handled the +broom and pails of water as well as Bunker did. + +"This is easier than cleaning out boats," declared the fish boy as he +"swabbed" the floor, as he called it. + +Soon the store was scrubbed nice and clean and ready for more customers +the next day. As Bunny and Sue had nothing special to do they went to +the corner grocery to see if they could do anything to help. And Sue was +told by her mother to bring home the washed dress and petticoat. + +"We've come to help," Sue announced, as she entered the store. "But I'm +not to draw any more molasses! Mother said I wasn't to!" + +"Well, perhaps it will be as well for me to do that," said Mrs. Golden, +with a smile. "That spigot is sometimes hard to close." + +"And I'm not to dip up any more flour," added Bunny. + +"Yes, I suppose it will be as well for me to do that, too," said the +storekeeper. "But since you like to help me tend store there are many +other things you can do." + +Bunny and Sue found them, for it was afternoon now, and many families in +the neighborhood sent children to buy things for supper. + +"Hello, Sue!" called George Watson as he came into the store, whistling. +"I told my mother about that special sale of oatmeal you had here last +week. Got any more?" + +"Yes, a few boxes left," said Mrs. Golden, who was behind the grocery +counter with Sue. Bunny was out in the storeroom opening a new box of +prunes. "They're up on a high shelf, I'll get one down for you, Sue." + +But as she was going to do this a man entered the store. He was Mr. +Flynt, and Sue heard Mrs. Golden sigh when she saw him. + +"You'll have to wait a minute about that oatmeal," said the storekeeper +to George. "I'll get it down for you in a little while. I have to see +this gentleman first." + +George was willing to wait, but Sue was anxious to help in the store, +and as she saw that Mrs. Golden was going to be busy talking to Mr. +Flynt, the little girl decided she could get down the box of oatmeal +herself. She felt sure that Mrs. Golden would have trouble with Mr. +Flynt who would want money, and Mrs. Golden had very little to pay. + +"I'll get the box of oatmeal for you, George," said Sue. "I know where +it is." + +She climbed up on the counter by means of a box, and stretched up her +little hands and arms to the shelf on which the cereal was stacked. Sue +reached for a box, managing to get hold of it by stretching as far as +she could and standing on her tiptoes. But as she pulled the one box out +it caught on several others standing in line on the shelf. + +"Look out!" cried George, as he saw what was going to happen. + +But it was too late. Sue could not get out of the way, and a moment +later a shower of pasteboard boxes of oatmeal and other things fell all +around her. + +"What is happening?" cried Mrs. Golden, hearing the clattering sound. +She came hurrying from the back of the store where she had gone to talk +quietly to Mr. Flynt. + +"Everything is going to fall!" cried George. + +But it was not quite so bad as this. Sue kept her hands raised above her +so nothing would hit her head, though one or two boxes did bump her a +little. + +Box after box slipped from the shelf, falling on the floor, on the +counter, and all around poor little Sue! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE PONY EXPRESS + + +Bunny Brown ran out of the storeroom, in his hand a hammer with which he +had been opening the box of prunes. Mrs. Golden gave a cry of alarm as +she heard the clatter of the boxes falling around Sue. Mr. Flynt joined +Bunny in a rush to help the little girl. As for George, he was so +frightened by the sudden toppling of things from the shelf that a tune +he had started to whistle died away and he got ready to run out of the +store. + +"Mercy sakes! what is going on in here?" cried Mrs. Clark, entering the +store as the boxes ceased falling. "Is anybody hurt?" + +No one knew for a moment, as Sue had uttered no cry save the first +frightened one. But by the time Bunny and Mr. Flynt reached her the +shower of boxes was over and the little girl took down her hands from +over her head. + +"Did anything break?" asked Sue, looking about her. "Oh, dear, what a +terrible mess!" she cried. + +"Don't worry about that, child!" exclaimed Mrs. Golden. "What if a few +boxes are broken open? It's you I'm thinking of." + +"Oh, I'm all right!" Sue said, and she laughed a little. + +And when they came to look her over nothing worse had happened than that +she had a few bumps and bruises. And they were not very hard ones, for +the boxes were of pasteboard and not wood. + +And only one or two of the oatmeal packages were split open, so that not +much was lost in that way. So, take it all in all, the accident was a +very little one, though it made a great deal of excitement for the time +being. + +"You oughtn't to reach up for such high things, little girl," said Mr. +Flynt, when he had helped pick up the packages. + +"No, sir, I guess I oughtn't," agreed Sue. "But George wanted one and I +thought I could get it." + +"You call me when you want things from a high shelf," said Bunny, going +back to the task of opening the box of prunes. "I'm a good climber." + +"I wasn't climbing, I was reaching," answered Sue, as if that made a lot +of difference. "Here's your oatmeal, George," she added, and the +whistling boy came back to the counter and got it. + +Bunny and Sue stayed in the store for an hour or more after the fall of +the oatmeal boxes. Bunny finished opening the box of prunes, and he and +Sue waited on several customers, for Mrs. Golden seemed to be quite busy +talking to Mr. Flynt in the back room. And it was not a pleasant talk, +either, as Bunny and Sue guessed when they caught glimpses now and then +of Mrs. Golden wiping tears from her eyes. + +Finally the grocery man came out of the back room with Mrs. Golden. He +was saying, so that the children could hear: + +"Now you'd better take my advice, Mrs. Golden, and sell out your store +here. You'll never make it pay, and you keep on owing us more money all +the while. I know you're trying to do your best, but you must either +pay us or we'll have to take our things back and sell you out besides +for the rest that you owe us. + +"Take my advice and sell out before you're sold out. It will be better +that way. We can't wait any longer. This is a good little store, but you +don't make it pay." + +"Maybe I could if my son Philip were to come back," sadly said the old +lady. "He's gone after a legacy, and when he comes back----" + +"There there, Mrs. Golden! It's of no use to talk that way!" exclaimed +Mr. Flynt. "You've been telling me about that legacy a long time. Why +doesn't it come?" + +"I don't know, Sir." + +"No. And I don't believe it ever will come. We've waited as long as we +ought, but I'll give you a little more time, and that will be the last. +If you don't pay we'll have to close your store. Think it over and sell +out before you're sold out." + +And then Mr. Flynt went out. + +Bunny and Sue, who had been about to go home, looked at Mrs. Golden and +felt sorry for her. They could see that she was feeling bad, and that +she had been crying. + +"What's the matter?" asked Bunny. + +"Not enough money--that's the trouble," was her answer. "Oh, dear, I +don't want to sell my store!" she said. "I want to keep it." + +"Have you got to sell?" asked Sue. + +"Mr. Flynt says so," came the reply, "because I owe him a lot of money I +can't pay. If business was only better I might keep my store going until +Philip comes back with the legacy. Once we get that we'll be all right! +But if we don't----" + +Mrs. Golden put her handkerchief to her eyes. Then, seeing that she was +making Bunny and Sue sad, she added: + +"There now! Run along. Maybe I can get the money somehow. At any rate +you children have been most kind to me. Run along now, and don't mind a +poor old woman." + +But Bunny and Sue did mind. They talked matters over on their way home +and decided that something must be done. They wanted to help more than +they had been doing, and Bunny thought of a way. As usual Sue agreed +with him, for she was willing to do anything her brother did. + +That evening after supper Bunny brought his little tin savings bank from +a shelf in his room, and Sue brought hers. There was a great rattling as +the pennies, dimes and nickels in the tin boxes clattered against the +sides. + +"My goodness! what's going on?" cried Daddy Brown, looking up from the +paper he was reading. "Are you two going to buy an automobile with all +that money?" + +"Will you please open my bank, Daddy, and see how much is in it?" asked +Bunny. + +His father, wondering what was "in the wind," as old Jed Winkler would +say, did so. With Bunny's help the cash was counted. There was eight +dollars and fifteen cents. + +"I have more than that!" exclaimed Sue, and indeed she had, for Bunny +had taken some of his money the week before to buy a top and a set of +kite sticks. Sue had ten dollars and forty-six cents in her bank. + +"What are you going to do with it?" asked Mrs. Brown, for she knew the +children would not have gotten down their banks unless they had some +plan in their heads. + +"We're going to give it to Mrs. Golden," said Bunny. + +"Mrs. Golden?" cried their father. + +"You mean you're going to buy something at her store?" asked Mrs. Brown. + +"No, we're going to give it to her," said Bunny gravely. "She owes money +and Mr. Flynt will close up her store if she doesn't pay. So we're going +to give her our money so she can pay Mr. Flynt and then the store will +stay open." + +"'Cause if it's closed," added Sue, "we can't have any more fun helping +keep it." + +"Oh, ho! I see!" laughed Mr. Brown. "Well, I must admit I forgot all +about Mrs. Golden. I promised to see if I couldn't help her when you +told me about Mr. Flynt before, but I forgot. Now, children, it wouldn't +be right for you to take your bank money to help Mrs. Golden. She +wouldn't want you to do that. Put away your pennies, and I'll see what I +can do to help." + +This made Bunny and Sue feel happier, and they went to bed more +satisfied, for they felt sure their father could make everything right. +But the next day, when they went in to see Mrs. Golden, to help keep +store, they found her looking very sad and unhappy. + +"What's the matter?" asked Sue. + +"Oh, just the same old trouble," Mrs. Golden answered. "I need money to +pay bills." + +"Mr. Flynt's?" asked Bunny. + +"Yes, his and another man's. I'm afraid, children, you won't be able to +come here much longer and help keep store." + +"Why not?" Bunny wanted to know. + +"Because there won't be any store--at least I won't have it. I'm afraid +I'm going to lose it. If I could only get some more customers and do +more business I might manage to pull through until Philip gets back. But +I don't know--I don't know!" and she shook her head sadly. + +That afternoon, going home with Sue, Bunny had another idea. + +"Sue!" he exclaimed, "if we can't give our money to Mrs. Golden maybe we +can get her more customers." + +"How?" asked the little girl. + +"We can ask everybody we know to come and trade there," said Bunny. "I +remember when the Italian shoemaker started down at the end of our +street and I took my rubber boots there to have him fix a hole, he said +for me to tell all the boys I knew to bring their boots and shoes to him +to be mended." + +"Did you?" Sue inquired. + +"Yes. And the shoeman said I brought him good trade and he gave me a +piece of beeswax. So maybe we could get customers for Mrs. Golden." + +"Maybe we could!" cried Sue. "Let's tell the other boys and girls to get +their fathers and mothers to let them buy things at Mrs. Golden's, and +then she'll have a lot of customers!" + +"Oh, let's!" cried Bunny Brown. + +And they did. The next day, when Bunny and Sue were playing with +Charlie, George, Mary, Sadie, Helen, Harry and Bobbie, the idea was +spoken of again. + +"Fellows and girls!" exclaimed Bunny, who got up to make a speech, "we +have to help Mrs. Golden." + +"You should speak of the girls first," said Sadie, who was a little +older than the others. + +"Well, anyhow, we ought to help Mrs. Golden," went on Bunny. "She needs +customers. Now, if all of you would buy everything you could of her, +like Sue and I do, maybe she wouldn't lose her store." + +"My mother says she'd trade there if Mrs. Golden would deliver stuff," +remarked Helen Newton. "But she says she can't cart heavy things from +any store." + +"My mother said the same thing," added Mary Watson. + +"She can't afford to hire a delivery horse and wagon," said Charlie +Star. "I know, 'cause I helped in her store." + +"She needs an auto like Mr. Gordon," said Bobbie Boomer. + +"Pooh, autos are only for big stores!" exclaimed Harry. + +Bunny Brown seemed to be doing some hard thinking. He had a new idea. + +"Fellows!" he suddenly cried, "I have it! I'll get a delivery wagon for +Mrs. Golden!" + +"You will?" + +"A delivery wagon?" + +"How?" + +These cries greeted what Bunny had said. + +"I'll take our Shetland pony, Toby, and deliver things for her in the +little cart!" cried Bunny Brown. "If all of you will promise to buy as +much as you can from her, I'll deliver things in our pony cart!" + +"Hurray for the pony express!" cried Charlie Star. "I'll help!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +BAD NEWS + + +The boys and girls, all of whom promised to buy as much as they could +from Mrs. Golden and who also promised to tell their mothers at home +that things could now be delivered from the little corner store, were +bubbling over with fun and good-nature as they left the yard of Bunny +and Sue where the "meeting" was held. But after his playmates had gone +Bunny Brown began to do a little worrying. + +"I know Toby will like to deliver groceries and be a pony express," said +the little boy to his sister. "But maybe mother won't let us do it." + +"Oh, I guess she will," said Sue. + +"I'll ask her, anyhow," decided Bunny, and he did. + +Mrs. Brown thought the matter over carefully when Bunny and Sue told her +about it. + +"Is Mrs. Golden really in such need of money?" asked Mrs. Brown. + +"Oh, yes!" cried Bunny. "She feels so sad when Mr. Flynt comes and says +he's going to close her store. And we'll feel sad if we don't have any +place to go any more and learn how to work in it, Mother! Please let us +take Toby and be a pony express!" + +"I'll talk it over with your father," said Mrs. Brown. + +The children waited anxiously for what their father should say, and they +were glad when they heard him laugh after Mrs. Brown had spoken to him +of the plan. + +"Why, yes," he agreed. "I don't see any harm in it. Toby doesn't get +enough exercise as it is. And Bunny and Sue can manage the little +Shetland very well. The only thing is, I wouldn't want them to drive all +over town delivering groceries--I mean out on the main street where +there are so many autos now." + +"Oh, we wouldn't go there!" promised Bunny. + +"We might work it this way," went on Mr. Brown. "If there are things to +be delivered on the other side of Main Street I'll let Bunker Blue do +it. He can spare the time once a day. Bunny and Sue can do the rest of +the delivery." + +So it was decided, and you can imagine how delighted Bunny and Sue were +when they hastened to tell the good news to Mrs. Golden. + +"Why, that's perfectly wonderful!" exclaimed the old lady, and there +were happy tears in her eyes. "Oh, you are two darling children to think +so much of helping an old woman." + +"You're not so old," declared Bunny politely. "Besides, we like to keep +store; don't we, Sue?" + +"Lots!" answered the little girl. + +Bunny and Sue clerked in the store as much as they had time for, but as +they were now to deliver things in the pony cart they could not spend so +much time behind the counter. And Mr. Brown said that Bunny and Sue must +both go in the pony cart, as it would be safer for them that way. + +"Sue can hold Toby while you take the groceries into the houses," said +Mr. Brown. "Only you mustn't lift too heavy boxes, Bunny." + +"No, Daddy!" he promised. "If it's too heavy I'll lift it twice!" He +meant he would make two trips of it. + +Toby was almost as much help to Mrs. Golden as Bunny and Sue had been, +for many housekeepers, when they found they could have groceries +delivered from the corner store, took part of their trade there. And +Bunny and Sue were quite proud to load up the basket cart with boxes and +packages and start out to leave the orders at the different houses. + +Mrs. Golden did not grow any younger or more active, and there were +times when she could hardly get around the store. At such times, if +Bunny and Sue had to be out with the pony cart, Charlie Star would come +in and be a clerk. + +When things needed to be delivered on the other side of Main Street, +along which many automobiles were driven, then Bunker Blue was called +on. He gladly drove the "pony express" as it was laughingly called, and +many customers were served this way. + +But in spite of this increase in trade the worried look did not leave +Mrs. Golden's face, and, more than once, Bunny and Sue again saw her +counting up her money and looking at bills she owed Mr. Flynt. + +"Will you have to sell the place now?" asked Bunny one day, coming in +with Sue to help tend store. The two previous days had been busy ones, +when many customers had bought things. + +"Well, I don't know about it, Bunny, my dear," was the answer. "More +money is coming in, to be sure, but things cost so much I make hardly +any profit. Things still look black. But don't worry. You and Sue are a +big help. If Philip only gets that legacy, then I'll be all right!" + +"I hope he does!" said Bunny Brown. + +Several customers came in and the children helped Mrs. Golden wait on +them. Then one woman wanted flour, sugar, and potatoes sent to her house +on the other side of Main Street, a place where Bunny and Sue had never +been. + +"But we'll load the things in the pony cart," said Bunny to Sue, "and +drive to our house. Bunker Blue is going to be there, for he's going to +cut the grass, and he can drive across Main Street to Mrs. Larken's +house." + +"That will be all right," said Mrs. Golden. "It's very kind of you to +help me this way." + +The children started out with Toby, and they were almost at their own +home when they heard a great shouting and racket behind them. + +"Oh, Bunny!" cried Sue, "maybe we dropped something out of the cart and +they're calling to us to pick it up." + +Bunny gave one look back over the way they had come. Then he pulled hard +on Toby's reins and shouted: + +"No, we didn't drop anything, but here comes the fire engine!" + +And, surely enough, dashing down the street was the shiny new engine +that had lately been bought for Bellemere. + +"Oh, pull over to one side!" cried Sue, clasping Bunny's arm. "Pull over +to one side!" + +"I--I'm trying to!" he answered. But Toby did not seem to want to go +over near the curb, and out of danger. Once in a while the Shetland pony +had a stubborn streak, and this was one of those times. + +"Get over! Get over there!" cried Bunny, pulling on the reins. + +But instead of swinging to the right Toby turned to the left, and down +the street, clanging and thundering came the fire engine. + +"Get out the way!" + +"Look at those children!" + +"Pull over! Pull over!" cried people along the sidewalk. + +One or two men ran out to grasp the bridle of Toby and swing him over, +for it seemed that all Bunny was doing had no effect. But before any of +the men could reach the pony Bunker Blue came dashing along. He was on +his way to the Brown house to cut the grass, and he saw the danger of +Bunny and Sue. + +"What's the matter with you, Toby? What's the matter?" cried Bunker +Blue. The Shetland pony seemed to know the fish boy's voice, for he +allowed himself to be swung over to the curb and out of danger just +before the fire engine dashed by. + +"Oh dear!" sighed Sue. + +"Pooh! That wasn't anything!" declared Bunny Brown. "I could have got +him over. And, anyhow, the fire engine would have steered out! But I'm +glad you came, Bunker," he said, for this talk did not seem to show a +kindly feeling toward the fish boy who had been so quick to act. + +"Yes, I guess you'd 'a' been all right," said Bunker, with a laugh. "But +that fire engine was going very fast. You've got to be careful of it." + +And all the rush and excitement was for nothing, as there was no fire, +the alarm being a false one. Bunker took charge of the pony cart and +delivered the groceries before he cut the grass. Then Bunny and Sue +drove back to the corner store. + +They saw Mr. Flynt talking to Mrs. Golden as they entered. + +"It's of no use!" the cross man was saying. "I have bad news for you. +You'll have to give up the store, Mrs. Golden." + +"Won't your company give me a little more time?" she asked. + +"No," said Mr. Flynt. "We've been waiting and waiting, hoping you could +pay. Of course things are better than early in the summer. I guess these +children have helped you a lot," and he looked at Bunny and Sue. "But +you don't take in enough money to pay your bills. If you could pay up +you might get along, for you have a good trade now. But you can't pay +your bills, and so we're going to sell you out!" + +"Does that mean close up the store?" asked Bunny timidly. + +"That's what it means, little man," was the answer, and Mr. Flynt did +not seem so cross now. Perhaps he was sorry for what he had to do. "Mrs. +Golden will have to give up her store." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +GOOD NEWS + + +Bunny Brown and his sister Sue looked at each other with sad eyes. After +all their work it had come to this. The store would be closed! They +would have no place to come and have good times during the long vacation +days! It was too bad! What was to be done? + +Sue waited for Bunny to speak, as she usually did, and Bunny, after +thinking the matter over, asked: + +"Are you going to close it up right away?" + +"Within a day or so, unless Mrs. Golden can pay her bills," answered Mr. +Flynt. "We have waited as long as we can. I'm going to begin now to +close out her business, but it will take two or three days. If she can +raise the money in that time----" + +"There's no use waiting or hoping--I can't do it!" sighed the old lady, +with tears in her eyes. "I've tried my best, but I can't do it, even +with the help of these dear children and the pony express," and she +looked out of the window at Toby, hitched to the little basket cart. + +"It is too bad," said Mr. Flynt. "We know you've done your best, and if +you didn't owe so much you might get along now, with the start you have. +But it takes all you can make to pay your back debts. It's best that you +should give up the store. My company is sorry for you, but we've waited +as long as we can. You'll have to sell out, Mrs. Golden." + +"Yes, I suppose so," she agreed. "But if I could only hear from Philip, +and if he could bring the money from that legacy, I could pay all I owe +and start a bigger store. But I don't suppose there's any use hoping for +that." + +"No, I believe not," agreed Mr. Flynt. "Your son Philip doesn't seem to +have gotten that legacy. Have you heard from him?" + +"Not lately," said Mrs. Golden, with a sad shake of her head. "I don't +know why he hasn't written. Perhaps because he has no good news for +me." + +"Very likely," said Mr. Flynt. "Well, I must go. You had better arrange +to sell everything by the end of the week, and pay us what you can. +We'll have to wait for the rest, I reckon." + +"Won't there be a store here any more?" asked Sue. + +"Oh, some one else may start one. It isn't a bad place for a grocery and +notion shop," answered the black-whiskered man. "But Mrs. Golden can't +keep this store any more." + +"Maybe she can if my father will help her!" exclaimed Bunny. "He said he +would!" + +"Well, if some one would pay what she owes, of course she could keep on +with the store," agreed Mr. Flynt. "But we can't wait any longer. We've +got to sell her out." + +When Bunny and Sue told at home that evening what had happened, Mrs. +Brown said: + +"Walter, can't you do something for that poor old woman?" + +"Yes, I must try," he said. "I meant to look into her affairs long +before this, but I've had so many other things to do that I let it go. +We'll save the store for her if we can." + +"'Cause we like to help tend it," said Bunny. "Don't we, Sue?" + +"Yes," answered the little girl. + +Instead of going to his boat and fish dock the next morning, as he +nearly always did, Mr. Brown called to Bunny to get ready and go down to +the corner grocery with him. + +"May I come?" asked Sue. + +"Yes," her father answered. "You are in this as much as Bunny. We are +going to help Mrs. Golden if we can." + +They found the old lady sitting sadly in her easy chair near the back of +the store where she generally could be found when no customers needed to +be waited on. + +"Good morning, Mrs. Golden," said Mr. Brown. "I understand you are in +trouble." + +"If owing a lot of money and not being able to pay it is trouble, then +I'm in almost up to my eyes," she answered, with a shake of her head. + +"Like I was in the brook!" said Sue. + +"Yes, I suppose so," sighed Mrs. Golden. "I'm afraid I've got to lose my +store." + +"Tell me how much you owe," begged Mr. Brown. + +And when he heard he shook his head, saying: + +"It is more than I thought. If it had been only about a hundred dollars +I might have lent it to you, or found some one who would, but now I'm +afraid nothing can be done." + +"Do you mean the store will have to close?" asked Bunny. + +"I'm afraid so, Son," replied his father. + +"Oh dear!" sighed Mrs. Golden! "If Philip were only here then I +might----" + +"Well, here I am, Mother!" cried a voice at the front door. "What's the +trouble?" and in came big, strong, jolly Philip Golden. He had just +arrived on a train. "What's wrong?" he asked, for he could see that his +mother had tears in her eyes. + +The trouble was soon told. + +"Sell the store!" he cried. "I guess not much! Didn't you get my +telegram, Mother?" + +"What telegram?" + +"The one telling about the legacy. We have it--several thousand +dollars! It won't make us rich, but it will be enough to make you +comfortable for life. I heard the good news yesterday, and I sent you a +telegram telling about it so you wouldn't worry any more." + +"I never got your message!" said Mrs. Golden, smiling through her tears. +"But it doesn't matter. I suppose there was some mistake and it went to +the wrong address. But it was better to have you bring the good news. +Are you sure we're to have the legacy?" + +"Sure, Mother! I brought some money with me and more will come. You'll +be all right now. You can pay all your bills and have plenty left over." + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" cried Sue. "Then you can have a real nice store, +can't you?" + +"Yes," answered Mrs. Golden with a happy smile on her face, "I suppose I +can. Oh, how glad I am, and how thankful I am to you dear children. +You've helped me more than I can tell you." + +"And we're going to help more!" cried Bunny Brown. "When you get your +new store I'm going to be a clerk in it; can't I, Daddy?" + +"Maybe," said Mr. Brown, with a smile. + +And so the good news came after the bad, which is always the best way to +have it come, I think. Mrs. Golden paid all her debts, and later she and +her son Philip opened a larger store and did very well. Sometimes Bunny +and Sue went to see the new place, but it was too far from their home +for them to "work" in it. And, anyhow, there were other things for Bunny +Brown and his sister Sue to do. + +But now we have come to the end of our story and must say good-bye. + + +THE END + + + + +THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books + + +Wrapper and text illustrations drawn by + +FLORENCE ENGLAND NOSWORTHY + + * * * * * + + 12mo. DURABLY BOUND. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING + + * * * * * + +These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are eagerly +welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Their +eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitive +little Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue. + +Bunny was a lively little boy, very inquisitive. When he did anything, +Sue followed his leadership. They had many adventures, some comical in +the extreme. + + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE + + * * * * * + + GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS + +For Little Men and Women + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of "The Bunny Brown" Series, Etc. + + * * * * * + + 12mo. DURABLY BOUND. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING + + * * * * * + +Copyright publications which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Books that +charm the hearts of the little ones, and of which they never tire. + + THE BOBBSEY TWINS + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST + + * * * * * + + GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + + +Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Books," "The Bunny Brown Series," "The +Make-Believe Series," Etc. + + * * * * * + + Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding + + * * * * * + +Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into immediate +popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at once to +your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and cute +sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own--one that can be easily +followed--and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining manner. +Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of every +child in the land. + + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORDS + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S + + * * * * * + + GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + + +Author of the popular "Bobbsey Twin Books" and "Bunny Brown" Series. + + * * * * * + + UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING. INDIVIDUAL COLORED WRAPPERS. + + * * * * * + +These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several +bright, up to-date girls who love outdoor life. They are clean and +wholesome, free from sensationalism, and absorbing from the first +chapter to the last. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE + Or Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE + Or Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR + Or The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP + Or Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA + Or Wintering in the Sunny South. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW + Or The Box that Was Found in the Sand. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND + Or A Cave and What it Contained. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE + Or Doing Their Bit for Uncle Sam. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE + Or Doing Their Best for the Soldiers. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT + Or A Wreck and A Rescue. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGE + Or The Hermit of Moonlight Falls. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE + Or The Girl Miner of Gold Run. + + * * * * * + + GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Page 10: "ironing-board" changed to "ironing board" to conform to rest +of text. (on the ironing board counter) Also on page 20. (low ironing +board shelf) + +Page 51: "of" changed to "off". (long way off) + +Page 57: "Bnnny" changed to "Bunny". ("All right," agreed Bunny.) + +Page 74: "runing" changed to "running". (came running into) + +Page 78: "step-ladder" changed to "stepladder" to conform to rest of +text. (like a stepladder) + +Page 122: Author says that the children ran through the streets of +Lakeport. However they live in Bellemere, see page 15. The children in +one of her other series, The Bobbsey Twins, live in Lakeport. This +mistake was retained. + +Page 211: "musn't" changed to "mustn't". (I mustn't complain) + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Keeping +Store, by Laura Lee Hope + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER *** + +***** This file should be named 18421.txt or 18421.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/4/2/18421/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** + diff --git a/18421.zip b/18421.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9709ac9 --- /dev/null +++ b/18421.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb79202 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #18421 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18421) |
