"
As Mr. Bobbsey stepped up to turn the knob of the "locker," or closet
door, there was a noise inside, as though something had been knocked
down off a shelf. Snap barked loudly and made a spring, to be ready to
jump inside the closet as soon as it was opened.
"What's that?" cried Mrs. Bobbsey, while Flossie and Freddie, a little
alarmed, clung together and moved nearer to their mother.
"There's something inside there, that's sure," declared Mr. Bobbsey.
"It must be a big rat!"
"Mercy!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey. "A rat!"
"I'll have to set a trap," Mr. Bobbsey went on. "That rat has probably
been taking the things to eat that Dinah missed--the corn-cakes and
the sandwiches."
"That's right!" cried Bert. "That ends the mystery. Go for him, Snap!"
"Bow wow!" barked the dog, only too willing to get in the closet and
shake the rat.
But, when Mr. Bobbsey opened the door, no rat ran out, not even a
little mouse. Snap was ready for one, had there been any; but though
he pawed around on the floor, and nosed behind the boxes and barrels,
he caught nothing.
"Where is it?" asked Flossie.
"I want to see the rat!" cried Freddie. Neither of the smaller twins
was afraid of animals. Of course, they did not know that rats can
sometimes bite very fiercely, or they might not have been nearly so
anxious to see one.
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