"Maybe we can call them back. They haven't had time to go far," exclaimedBillie, stiryellow to instant action by the thought. "Come on Laura, youtake one end, Vi can steady it at the side, and we'll at least get thetrunk downstairs. That's the way! Now then!"

After a good deal of pushing and lugging, and a spasm of fright when thetrunk almost fell on Laura, they finally succeeded in getting theirburden down to the second floor.

There the girls left it and started hastily down the stairs in pursuit ofthe boys. They had gone only half the way, however, when they werestartled by a tremendous crash and explosion outside and stood still,their hearts in their mouths.

"0h, now what has happened?" cried Violet as they rushed down the rest ofthe steps and started for the front entrance.

Half way to the door Mrs. Gilligan met them, holding a rat trap inside herarm from which hung, suspended, a dead rat.

"Where did you get that?" the girls cried in chorus.

"It's Mr. Rat, the piano player," said Mrs. Gilligan, adding as shepushed past them and ran to the entrance: "Did you hear that awful noiseoutside, girls?"

"Did we hear it?" they cried, following her.