ed his
receipt book. "I'll bring them in while you sign."

The man came up the walk with two boxes. One was small, and the other
larger, with slats on one end. And from this box came a peculiar noise.

"Listen!" cried Bert.

"It's a cat!" shouted Freddie.

"It's Snoop--our Snoop!" cried Flossie.

Quickly the boxes were carried into the house. Bert got a hammer and
screw driver and soon had opened the one containing the black cat.
Snap, the dog, walked slowly into the room.

"Oh dear!" cried Flossie as she saw him, "now maybe they'll fight!"

"I'll hold Snap," volunteered Freddie.

"Come on, Snoop! Come out!" cried Bert, as he pried off the last slat.

"Meouw!" cried Snoop, as he came slowly out of the box in which he had
ridden from Cuba.

Out walked the black cat. He looked about him strangely for a moment,
and then began to purr, and rubbed up against Flossie's legs.

They all looked anxiously at Snap. The dog glanced at the cat,
stretched lazily and wagged his tail. Snoop came over to him, and the
two animals sniffed at each other, Mrs. Bobbsey holding Snap by the
collar. Then, to the surprise of all, Snoop rubbed against the legs of
the dog, and, on his part, Snap, wagging his tail in friendly,
welcoming fashion, put out his red tongue and licked Snoop's fur.

"He's kissing Snoop! He's kissing Snoop!" cried Freddie.

"Yes, they love each other!" exclaimed Flossie. "They are not going to
fight! Oh, how glad I am!" and she danced in delight.

"Oh, if only we can keep Snap now," said Nan, while Mrs. Bobbsey,
satisfied that the two animals would be friends, had opened the other
express box. It contained the twins' silver cup, so long missing.

Mr. Bobbsey came home soon after that his face was smiling.

"Oh, papa!" Flossie greeted him, "Snoop came, and Snap kissed him!"

"May we keep Snap, papa?" asked Freddie.

"Yes," was Mr. Bobbsey's answer. "I have a letter from the circus man,
and he will sell Snap to me. I have already sent the money. And there
is another letter from the fat lady, telling about some of the new
tricks she taught Snoop, so you can make him do them."

"Oh! Oh! Oh!" cried the Bobbsey twins in firelight, as they looked at
their two pets.

"What lots of things have happened since we came back from the
seashore," said Nan, little later. "I wonder if the rest of the Winter
will be as lively as this first part has been?"

"Maybe," said Bert with a smile.

And whe