. We can't afford to lose this money. I must make some plans. I hardly
know what to do. I wonder who came then?"

More talk and laughter sounded in the hall. Teddy came tramping back
into the dining room, carrying with him a little jacket belonging to his
brother William.

"Look, Mother!" cried Ted. "Skyrocket had dragged this over in Bob
Newton's yard. He was playing with Trouble's jacket--I mean our dog
was--and Bob saw him and took it away. Bob just brought it back. Look,
it's got a hole in it!" and Ted held up the little garment, torn by the
teeth of Skyrocket.

"Oh, what a bad dog!" cried Mrs. Martin.

"He didn't mean to!" said Ted quickly. "Bob said he was just shaking it
and playing with it."

"I--I--guess he was makin' believe it was a cat," explained Bob, another
of the playmates of the Curlytops. "I saw him come runnin' into my yard,
shakin' somethin', and first I thought it was a cat. But when I saw what
it was--Trouble's coat--I took it away from Skyrocket, and brought it
over here."

"We're much obliged to you, Bob," said Mrs. Martin. Mr. Martin, when he
found the visitor was not for him, began reading the troublesome letter
again.

"Where's Skyrocket?" asked Janet, not seeing the dog with which she and
Ted had so much fun.

"Oh, he ran off when I took the jacket away from him," answered Bob.

"I wonder how he got Trouble's jacket," mused Jan.

"I--I took it off when I climbed up on de boxes to slide," explained
William.

"That's right!" exclaimed Ted. "I saw it on the ground after Mr. Brennan
lifted him down with the stepladder. You brought him out his sweater,
Mother."

"Yes, so I did. I thought he had come out with nothing over his waist.
Well, I'll have to mend this jacket now. Trouble, why didn't you pick up
your jacket after you dropped it?"

"Oh--jest--'cause!" murmured the little fellow, and they all laughed
except Mr. Martin. He seemed too worried over the letter even to smile.

"Well, I must get back," said Bob, twisting his cap which he held in his
hands. "I--now--I've got to get back."

"Have you had your dinner, Bob?" asked Mrs. Martin.

"Part--part of it," Bob answered. "All but the fancy part."

"Oh, you mean the dessert?" asked the mother of the Curlytops.

"Yes'm, and there wasn't any to-day."

"Suppose you stay and have dessert with us," suggested Mrs. Martin, well
knowing how children like to eat away from home.

"Yes'm, I--I could do that," agreed Bob, his face