[CHAPTER III—STRANGE NEWS]
Bert and Nan Bobbsey looked at one another. They were a little older than Flossie and Freddie, and they saw that something must have happened to make their father come home from the lumber office so early, for on most days he did not come until dinner time. And here it was scarcely eleven o’clock yet, and Dinah was only getting ready to cook the dinner.
“Is it bad news?” asked Mrs. Bobbsey of her husband.
“Well, part of it is bad,” he said. “But no one is hurt, or killed or anything like that.”
“Tell us now!” begged Bert. “Tell us the strange news, Daddy!”
“Oh, I couldn’t think of it while you look the way you do,” said Mr. Bobbsey. “First get washed nice and clean, and put on dry clothes. Then you’ll be ready for the news.”
“I’ll hurry,” promised Bert, as he ran toward the house, followed by Snap, the trick dog that had once been in a circus. Snap had come out of the barn, where he stayed a good part of the time. He wanted to see what all the noise was about when Bert had called as he found himself stuck in the mud.
“Are you sure no one is hurt?” asked Mrs. Bobbsey of her husband. “Are Uncle Daniel and Aunt Sarah all right?”
“Oh, yes, of course.”
“And Uncle William and Aunt Emily?”