“I guess she didn’t hear anything,” said Bert, after listening a moment, for Dinah was still in the kitchen, finishing her day’s work. “The door’s shut,” Bert added. “Now then,” he went on, after a pause, “let’s hide our things and go back upstairs. Pass yours to me, Nan.”
The older Bobbsey girl did so, and just as Bert had put away his present and hers, there was a loud sound behind him.
“What’s that?” sharply whispered Bert.
“It was Freddie,” answered Flossie. “An’ he didn’t sneeze—not at all.”
“I stumbled,” answered Freddie. “I’m sorry!”
“Well, it’s too late for that. But I guess Dinah didn’t hear,” Bert said, listening a moment. “Pass me your present, Freddie, and I’ll hide it with mine.”
“I’ll hide it myself,” said the little fellow, and he made his way to the closet, squirming between Nan and Flossie.
“Oh, well, do as you please,” Bert agreed. And thus it was that none of the others saw Freddie put two packages in the closet instead of one. One package was his regular present for Dinah. The other was——
But just a moment, if you please. I want to tell this story as it should be told.
Anyhow, Freddie slipped two packages into the closet without letting Bert see him. One package was a cigar box, tied with a string, and a queer scratching noise seemed to come from within it.