"Is it a chocolate cake?" shouted Nat. Then, all at once, the children knew that something very strange had happened. They could tell this by the looks on the faces of their mother, their grandma and Lizzie.
"Nat, run down to the corner, and bring back Policeman Paddock!" said Grandma, suddenly.
"A policeman—what for?" gasped Weezie.
"A tramp has taken my rocking chair and my glasses!" said Grandma, sternly. "I want the policeman to chase after him and get them back! Hurry, or it may be too late!"
But before Nat could hasten down to the corner, up the front steps came big Policeman Paddock himself, swinging his club.
"There's something the matter in the lot back of your house, Mrs. Marden," said the officer to the children's mother. "There's a great commotion in the weeds, and I hear a dog barking! Don't be frightened but I'll just go through your kitchen and over your back fence and see what it's all about!"
The policeman started to run through the house, while Weezie and Nat looked at each other with wonder in their eyes.
ADVENTURE IV
SLIDING DOWN HILL
Not for long, though, did Nat and Weezie stand there. It was all so exciting—so thrilling! The idea of having a policeman come in your house, to rush out toward the back lots where something was happening! Nat and Weezie had never known anything like this.