“I see her! I see your doll, Vi! The dog dropped her in the street! I’ll get her for you.”
Russ started on the run toward a small object lying in the dust of the road. Before Russ could reach the doll a big automobile truck swung around the corner and came straight for poor Esmeralda.
“Oh, she’ll be run over!” screamed Violet. “My child!”
But Russ had also seen the truck and, knowing there would be little left of the doll if one of the heavy wheels went over her, he ran a little faster and darted directly in front of the big lumbering, thundering automobile.
“Russ! Russ! Be careful!” called his mother.
“Look out there, youngster!” yelled the man who was driving the truck.
On came the heavy automobile, bearing down on Russ who was now in the middle of the street, stooping over to pick up Esmeralda.
CHAPTER II
A LOAD OF FLOWERS
Three of the six little Bunkers—Rose, Margy and Violet—stood grouped around their mother, looking with anxious eyes toward Russ, who had made up his mind that he was going to get Vi’s doll and snatch it out of danger before the big truck reached it. But, in doing this, Russ was also in danger himself.
“Russ! Russ! Come back!” cried his mother, darting forward.