“Oh—a night,” replied Bobby. The twins had never learned of his attempt to run away and he did not intend to tell them now. “Daddy said he heard two tramps were seen hanging around the carpenter shop the afternoon before it burned.”
“Ting-a-ling! Ting-a-ling!” the sound of the telephone bell came faintly up the attic stairs.
“I’ll answer it!” cried Meg, jumping to her feet.
“No, let me!” shouted Bobby, running after her. Mother Blossom ran, too, and so did Dot and Twaddles who thought this was all great fun.
“Mr. Blossom wants to speak to you, ma’am,” said Norah, as Mother Blossom reached the first floor hall where the telephone was placed. “He says it’s important.”
The four little Blossoms stood around expectantly and listened eagerly while Mother Blossom said “Yes, Ralph,” and “No, indeed,” and “I’m so glad.”
You know how one-sided a telephone conversation sounds. Finally Mother Blossom hung up the receiver.
“Daddy says Mr. Baldwin telephoned him about the tramps and that he is going with him and Mr. Davis and Mr. Ashe to the recorder’s office right away,” said Mother Blossom. “Then, as soon as he has anything to tell us, he’ll come home and we shall know all there is to know.”
You may imagine how the four little Blossoms glued their faces to the front windows to watch for Father Blossom, and what a racket they made when the car turned in the drive. They were out on the porch in a minute, dancing in the cold like four little wild Indians.
“Come in, come in,” said Father Blossom laughing as they pounced upon him. “You are not little Eskimos, you know. Yes, Bobby, I’ll tell you everything in a minute. Let me get my gloves off. Don’t strangle me, Dot; I need my breath to talk with.”