"Oh, you're going to help all right!" laughed Janet. "You're going to
drive Turnover and Skyrocket with my old rag doll, Miss Muffin, in the
express wagon, and I'm sure you'll be so darling and funny that everyone
will laugh."

"And I hope Jack does his jumping trick," said Teddy. "It would be great
if we had Tip and Top to perform together. We could charge twenty-five
cents for big people to come in if we had the two trick dogs."

"Well, one is better than none," said Janet. "It's a good thing we have
Top."

"Yes," agreed Teddy, "I suppose it is. But I wonder where Tip can be?"

But of course no one could tell him that.

So it was settled that the money that was taken in for the show of the
Curlytops and their pets should go to the orphans, so they might have a
few weeks in the green country during the hot summer.

The Curlytops were much excited that evening, telling their father about
the performance for the orphans, and Mr. Martin agreed that no better use
could be made of the money.

"You must take good care of your pets from now until the time of the
show," he said. "Don't let them get away or become ill, or you will not
be able to give a good circus."

"Let's go out to the barn now, and see if they are all right," proposed
Janet.

"All right," agreed Teddy.

It was early evening, and light enough to see in the barn. Top and
Skyrocket barked a welcome, Snuff and Turnover mewed their delight at
seeing the children, and while Mr. Nip shrieked away about being a
"crack-crack-cracker" Jack chattered. About the only quiet ones were the
white rats and mice, and Slider, the alligator.

"They're all right, and ready for the circus," said Teddy as he came out
and locked the door after him.

"Yes, I can hardly wait!" murmured Janet.

But in the morning there was bad news for the Curlytops. Their mother,
who had gone out to the barn to open the door for the animals, came
hurrying back to the house as Teddy and Janet descended for their
breakfast.

"Where is Top?" asked Mrs. Martin.

"Top!" exclaimed Teddy. "Why, isn't he in the barn with Sky and the other
pets?"

"No," answered his mother, shaking her head. "Top is gone! The barn door
was locked, and all the other animals are there, but Top is gone!"

CHAPTER XVII

THE DOG SHOW

Teddy and Janet looked at each other in sorrow and dismay. It seemed that
the worst had happened--Top missing just when they were getting ready for
the show! First T