MR. NIP'S ALARM
Together the two Curlytops and their friend Jimmy Norton ran out of Jimmy's yard and down the street, following Top, the trick dog. For as soon as Top had seen that Teddy was following after him, which, evidently, was just what Top wanted, the dog raced on, barking wildly.
"Do you think he came to call you?" panted Janet, as she ran beside her brother.
"Sure he did," Ted answered. "Didn't you ever read in books how dogs do that when they want you to come to help somebody who's in trouble—like somebody in the water?"
"I've read lots of stories like that," said Jimmy.
"Oh, maybe something has happened to Trouble!" cried Janet.
"Mother took Trouble down town with her," Teddy answered. "So if Trouble is in trouble Top wouldn't know it."
"Maybe our house is on fire," went on Janet, who seemed quite determined to have something dreadful happen.
"You'd hear the alarm bell and see the engines if there was a fire," declared Jimmy.
"Well, it's something!" exclaimed Janet. "Isn't it a pity dogs can't talk like parrots? If they could, Top could tell us just what the matter was."