, but don't go away," his mother said, and Ted promised.
Snatching his cap down off the nail, he hurried out, giving a shrill
whistle while still in the house in answer to another call from his
chum.

"Quiet, Ted! You'll awaken William!" exclaimed Mrs. Martin. "And don't
slam the door!"

But this warning came too late. The door was slammed, but Trouble seemed
to sleep on. He was tired from his day of play. Janet could hear Tom and
Ted talking on the side porch.

"I guess maybe they're going to toboggan a little by moonlight," thought
the girl. Then her mind went back to the letter of that afternoon, and
she remembered what her father had said about having to go away or else
lose a lot of money. Janet did not understand much about business--very
little, in fact--but she knew what it meant to lose money. Once she had
dropped five cents down a hole, and she never got it back. She always
remembered this.

"Who's going to stay with us, Mother?" Janet asked, after a pause.

"Stay with you when, dear?"

"When you and daddy go away."

"Well, we haven't decided that," her father answered. "In fact, it's
that which bothers us. We don't know just what to do. If it wasn't that
winter is coming we might take you along. But, as it is, we can't."

"We want somebody nice to stay with us," insisted Janet.

"Yes, of course, dear," agreed her mother. "We'll have to write to some
of our relatives and see who can come. I don't know just who would be
the best, or who could spare the time. And while I know you two
Curlytops will be all right, I shall be worried over William."

"Oh, I'll look after Trouble!" promised Jan.

"Yes, I know you'll do your best, dear. And now--"

But Mrs. Martin never finished that sentence. Suddenly, from the yard,
came loud shouts, a banging, rattling noise, and Ted's voice could be
heard yelling:

"Look out! Look out!"

CHAPTER IV

UNCLE TOBY AGAIN

Daddy and Mother Martin fairly jumped from their chairs and hastened to
the back door. Nora Jones, the jolly, good-natured cook, was before
them. She had just finished the kitchen work, and was on her way to her
room when she heard the shouts of Ted and Tom.

"Oh, Mrs. Martin! Something must have happened!" cried Nora.

"It sounds so," agreed Mrs. Martin.

"Oh, I hope they're not hurt!" murmured Jan.

Just then the shouts of the boys were mingled with laughter.

"It doesn't sound very serious," said Mr. Martin.

The back door was o