“I wish I’d been there!” exclaimed Janet. “Didn’t the store burn at all, Daddy?”
“No, only the box of fireworks in the shed.”
“But there will be some loss, won’t there?” asked Mrs. Martin.
“Well, yes, some,” her husband answered. “A few things will have to be thrown away, because food does not taste good after it has been smoked, and some other things may be blackened. But the insurance company will pay me. And now, Curlytops, off to bed with you!” he cried. “It’s getting late. Trouble is in Dreamland long ago, I’m sure.”
“Yes, I tucked him in,” said his mother. And when Ted and Janet had gone up to bed their mother sighed a little and said: “My, but this has been an exciting day!”
“You didn’t find your diamond locket, I suppose?” asked Mr. Martin.
“No. And I’m afraid I never shall,” answered his wife. “I shouldn’t have allowed Janet to take it, but she begged so hard and they were having such fun playing house that I gave in to her. I thought the necklace would be safe on the porch.”
“Yes, you’d imagine it would,” agreed her husband. “I rather think Trouble had a hand in the loss of your diamond,” he went on. “He must have picked it up because it was bright and shiny, and then have dropped it.”
“No, I think Trouble isn’t to blame this time,” replied Mrs. Martin. “He does mischief enough, but this time he seems to know what he is talking about. He had the locket in his hand, but gave it back to Janet. And she isn’t sure what happened to it after the auto crash.”
“Well, it’s gone, at any rate, and there’s no use worrying about it,” said Mr. Martin. “Now I must think what I am going to do to-morrow. I can’t open the store until after the insurance people have figured out how much they will pay me for my loss.”