r. Bobbsey, seeing that the autoist
was a neighbor, and a business friend of his. "Oh, our train was held
back by a circus wreck, so we walked across the lots to the car. We're
homeward bound from the seashore."

"Well, well! A circus wreck, eh? Where did you get the dog?"

"Oh, he followed us," said Mrs. Bobbsey.

"And we're going to keep him, too!" exclaimed Flossie.

"And take him in the trolley with us," added her little brother.

"Well, well!" exclaimed Mr. Blake. "Say, now, I have a better plan
than that," he went on. "Why should you folks go home in a trolley,
when I have this big empty auto here? Pile in, all of you, and I'll
get you there in a jiffy. Come, Dinah, I see you, too."

"Yes, sah, Massa Blake, I'se heah! Can't lose ole Dinah!"

"But we lost our cat, Snoop!" said Flossie regretfully.

"And we nearly ran over an elephant," added Freddie, bound that his
sister should not tell all the news.

"Well, get in the auto," invited Mr. Blake.

"Do you really mean it?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. "Perhaps we are keeping
you from going somewhere."

"Indeed not. Pile in, and you'll soon be home."

"Can we bring the dog, too?" asked Flossie.

"Yes, there's plenty of room for the dog," laughed Mr. Blake. "Lift
him in."

But the strange dog did not need lifting. He sprang into the tonneau
of the auto as soon as the door was opened. Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey
lifted in Flossie and Freddie, and Nan and Bert followed. Then in got
Papa and Mamma Bobbsey and Mr. Blake started off.

"This is lovely," said Mrs. Bobbsey with a sigh of relief. She was
more tired than she had thought.

"It certainly is kind of you, Mr. Blake," said Papa Bobbsey.

"I'm only too glad I happened to meet you. Are you children
comfortable?"

"Yep!" chorused Freddie and Flossie.

"And the dog?"

"We're holding him so he won't fall out," explained Flossie. She and
her little brother had the dog between them.

On went the auto, and with the telling of the adventures of the day the
journey seemed very short. Soon the Bobbsey home was reached. There
were lights in it, for Sam, the colored man, had been telephoned to, to
have the place opened for the family. Sam came out on the stoop to
greet them and his wife Dinah.

"Here we are!" cried Papa Bobbsey. "Come, Flossie Freddie we're home."

Flossie and Freddie did not answer. They were fast asleep, their heads
on the shaggy back of the big dog.

CHAPTER V

SNAP D