The children set off together down the drive, with Buster at their heels. They were all sulky and mutinous. They hated having to apologize to some one they detested. Also they all felt that it was terribly mean of Mr. Hick to have given Bets away like that, when he had solemnly promised not to.
"He's a nasty piece of work," said Larry, and every one agreed.
"I don't care who fired his workroom," said Fatty. "I'm glad it was burnt down, and his precious papers too."
"You shouldn't say things like that," said Daisy, though she felt much the same herself at that moment.
They arrived at the house and rang the bell. Bets pointed out the footprints and they all gazed at them with interest. Bets was right The prints were exactly like the ones in Fatty's drawing. It was too bad that they had to give up the search for the criminal just as they had almost found the man!
Mrs. Minns opened the door and was surprised to see the little company. Sweetie, who was at her heels, fled away with tail up in the air as soon as she saw Buster, i "Please, will you tell Mr. Hiccup - er, I mean Mr. 1 Hick - that we want to see him?" said Larry. Mrs. Minns looked even more surprised, and was about to answer when a voice called from the study.
"Who's that, Mrs. Minns?"
"Five children and a dog,, sir," answered Mrs. Minns. , "They say they want to see you."
There was a pause. "Bring them in," said Mr. Hick's voice, and very solemnly the children and Buster went into the study. Mr. Hick was there, sitting in a big chair, his legs crossed, and his crest of hair looking rather alarming.
"What have you come for?" he asked.