Bert and Nan were a bit late coming home from school that afternoon. Bert stayed in to do something for Mr. Tarton, and Nan helped Miss Skell clean off the blackboards.
But when the two older Bobbsey twins reached home they noticed that Flossie and Freddie were not in the house. It was getting dark, too—getting dark earlier than usual because of storm clouds in the sky.
“Where are Freddie and Flossie?” asked Nan of Mrs. Pry.
“Playing out in the garage,” was the answer.
But when Nan went out there Sam was locking the garage for the night.
“Flossie an’ Freddie?” repeated the colored man. “No, Nan, I haven’t seen ’em. Dey haven’t been out heah all dis afternoon!”
“Then where can they be?” faltered Nan. “Oh, I wonder if they can have wandered away and are lost! Oh, Sam!”
CHAPTER VII
SAM GOES AWAY
“Dose chilluns aren’t lost!” declared Sam Johnson when he heard what Nan said.