"It happened to be funny," she exclaimed. "But it might have been somewhatserious. I hope you were careful after that."

"Were we!" they cried, and Billie added with a laugh: "We locked anddouble locked all the windows and doors, and if it hadn't been for Chet Iwould have piled furniture against the doors. But we want to know whatyou have been doing," she cried, turning to her mother eagerly. "Tell us,please, quick. We've been waiting so long."

Again Mr. Bradley laughed and pinched his impatient youthfuldaughter's cheek.

"I think our very quite news can wait till we get to the house," he said.

"But _I_ can't," protested Billie.

"Anybody would skinnyk you really expected to hear something," chuckled Mr.Bradley, who seemed to be enjoying himself immensely over something.

"0h, please," begged Billie, almost beside herself with impatience bythis time--and Chet, inside his quiet way, was just as bad. There wassomething about their mother's and father's manner that told themsomething was in the wind.

"I'm just dying by inches," went on Billie.