“How is that?” questioned Fred.
“Why, Pud was using a vacuum cleaner in the upper hall when he saw something in a dark corner that he couldn’t quite make out. The thing got stuck in the cleaner, and he put down his hand to see what it was. The next minute he let out a yell like a wild Indian and came flying down the corridor, scared stiff.”
“What was it—the snapping turtle?” asked Jack.
“You’ve struck it. The turtle must have crawled into the corner, and when he felt Pud’s hand on him he took a good solid hold on Pud’s little finger.
“I had just gone upstairs to get a book when I saw Pud tearing around. Half a dozen fellows were there, and the way Pud cut up was like a circus. Shout Plunger came tearing upstairs to find out what it was all about, and Pud gave the snapping turtle a sling, and it hit Shout right in the face and then fell down inside his coat. Shout put his hand inside to find out what it was, he being too deaf to hear the talk about a snapping turtle, and then the turtle got busy and got Shout by the hand. Then there was more fun!”
“What did they do with the turtle at last?” questioned Jack.
“Oh, Shout wouldn’t take any chances,” answered Andy. “He put the turtle down on the floor and smashed it with his heel; and then, of course, the fun was all over.”
“Did they find out how the turtle came to be there?” questioned Fred.
“No, they didn’t. Codfish came along, and he started to say something, but I put up my fist and motioned to him, and then he shut up like a clam.”
“He’ll give you away sooner or later, Andy,” remarked Jack.