"Let's go look!" proposed Janet.
"Oh, I'm sure he isn't there," said Mrs. Martin. "I called him, as I always do, when I go to let him and Skyrocket out. But Top did not come."
"Did Skyrocket?" asked Janet.
"Yes, he came rushing out of his kennel, barking and wagging his tail as if he would wag it off. And Snuff came out, and so did Turnover. But there was no Top."
Teddy started for the barn on the run, and so did Janet. Their mother followed more slowly. She felt very sorry for her Curlytops, as she knew they would be very sad over the loss of their second pet dog.
"The barn door is locked!" said Teddy, as he reached it and tried to go in.
"Yes, I locked it after me when I came out," his mother said. "I wanted to make sure that none of the other pets would get away. But the door was locked when I first went in this morning. It was locked just as you left it last night."
"Then I don't see how Top could have gotten out," Janet said.
"Unless there is some other place open in the barn—like a window," Mrs. Martin suggested.
"Let's look!" cried Teddy.