Mystery at School by Laura Lee Hope

Author:Laura Lee Hope
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2010-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER X

PET PRIZES

“SNAP found your notebook for you!” Flossie cried gleefully.

“Good for you!” Bert exclaimed, picking up the little brown book and leaning down to pat the dog. “I wonder where he got it?”

“Snap sleeps in the garage,” Nan pointed out. “Maybe he took it off the shelf where you left it!”

“Ask him!” Freddie urged.

Bert grinned. “Snap’s smart but he’s not that smart!”

After supper Bert hurried to the telephone and called police headquarters. Officer Murphy had gone off duty, but the boy left the license number of the truck with the policeman in charge.

“Thanks very much,” the officer said. “We’ll get busy on this at once.”

The pet show which the younger children were putting on was to be the next day. They brought their animals to school with them after lunch.

What a growling, yapping, barking, meowing, and hissing there was as the pupils took their pets to the basement room which had been set aside for the show!

At one end of the room was a small platform with four chairs on it The children placed the cages and boxes on the tables which lined the sides of the room. Each one was marked with the name of the pet and his owner. Mr. Carter had volunteered to look after the animals until the show began at the close of school.

“I don’t think Snap wants to stay inside all afternoon!” Flossie said worriedly. The shaggy dog had been washed the night before, and his coat was white and gleaming.

“Snap won’t run away,” Freddie assured his twin. “Let him play outside. He’ll be good.”

The small twins could hardly keep their minds on their studies that afternoon. They kept thinking of the pets. It had been decided that they would put on their act with Susie and Teddy at the beginning of the show.

When school was dismissed at three o’clock, the four children dashed down to the basement. Flossie brought out a large paper bag which Dinah had given her as they started to school.

With a giggle she passed Teddy two pie pans. “These are the cymbals,” she said. “Just bang them together and make lots of noise !”

Freddie reached into the bag and pulled out a series of four bells hung on a braided-silk cord. He struck them with a tiny padded hammer. “Our dinner chimes!” he explained.

Flossie gave Susie a cheese grater and a spoon and took out a glass bottle for herself. “Now, all make a noise together!” she cried.

Teddy banged the pie pans, Freddie struck the bells, Susie ran the spoon over the grater, and Flossie blew across the top of the bottle. What a racket they made!

“That’s bee-yoo-ti-ful!” Flossie praised Freddie and the others. “It sounds just like a real band !”

Freddie ran outdoors and brought in Snap. Then as soon as the audience had gathered, the four-piece band took chairs. Snap sat on the front of the platform, his tongue hanging out and his tail wagging.

Two boys collected the ten-cent admission fee from everyone. Then Freddie stepped forward and bowed.

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