is wife.

"Why, it was--let me see," answered Mrs. Slater slowly. "It was on----"

Her words were interrupted by a loud crash of thunder that shook the
bungalow, and all the electric lights suddenly went out.

"Oh!" cried Bunny, Sue, and Harry, all at the same time.

"I presume we're in for another storm," said Mr. Brown. "Sit still
until I light some candles. Often the electric lights go out in a severe
thunderstorm."

As Mr. Brown arose to strike a match another loud clap of thunder pealed
out.

CHAPTER XX

THE FLOATING BOX

The electric light service in Christmas Tree Cove was uncertain in
storms, and Mr. Brown always kept a supply of candles on hand, as well
as some kerosene lamps. Soon there was plenty of light in the room, and
as supper was about over when the storm broke the family and their two
visitors went into the sitting-room of the bungalow.

"I don't like storms," said Harry, and he kept close to his mother.

"There isn't any danger," remarked Mr. Brown. "The lightning hardly ever
strikes near the ocean or the bay. I think it may hit out far from
shore. But no houses have ever been struck up here."

"I guess the Christmas trees keep it away," said Bunny.

"Perhaps," laughed his mother. "It isn't bad, now that the worst
outburst is over. Come, Harry, tell us about your lost dog. We have lost
one, too."

So, while the thunder boomed and the lightning flashed, Mrs. Slater and
Harry told about their dog Sandy.

"And so he left us in Bellemere, and we haven't seen him since,"
finished Harry's mother.

"How strange!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "He left you the same day the
strange dog ran into our yard, where Bunny and Sue were playing seesaw,
and grabbed up my pocketbook. I wonder if, by any chance, it could be
the same animal in both cases."

"This dog was a big, yellow one," said Bunny, and he described the
animal that had caused him and Sue so much trouble.

"Sandy was yellow in color," remarked Mrs. Slater. "But I would not call
him a very large dog."

"Perhaps the dog that took my wife's pocketbook and diamond ring seemed
larger to Bunny and Sue than he really was," said Mr. Brown. "He rushed
into the yard and out again so quickly that he may have looked extra
big."

"It would be very strange if it should turn out to be our dog who made
so much trouble over your pocketbook," went on Harry's mother. "Sandy
did have a bad habit of running off with things. We tried to break him
of