round her neck. "I never touched them."

"Neither did I," added Lulu.

"Nor me," said Jimmie. "I don't like eggs anyhow."

"I was saving them to hatch more little ducklings out of," went on Mamma
Wibblewobble, in sorrowful tones. "Now I shall have to wait. Oh, it's such
a disappointment to me!"

"Maybe they fell off the shelf," suggested Jimmie.

"No," replied his mother. "If they had fallen from the shelf out of the
basket, where I had them, the eggs would have broken, and made a mark on
the floor," and, of course, you know they would, for when an egg breaks on
the floor it makes a splish and a splash and a big yellow and white spot
that you can't help but see; now, doesn't it? So Mamma Wibblewobble knew
the eggs couldn't have fallen.

"Well," remarked Aunt Lettie, "it's very strange. Perhaps they have been
stolen. You should notify the police."

"Or tell Mr. Cock A. Doodle, the rooster," added Jimmie. "He would crow
over it; and if we offered a reward, maybe we would get the eggs back."

"Well, I'm glad you children didn't take them, at all events," said their
mother. "Run along and play now. Aunt Lettie has made some molasses
cookies, with corn meal and raisins on top, and you may have some of
them."

So Lulu and Alice and Jimmie went out to play, but all the while they were
thinking of the missing eggs. It was very strange. Their mamma and Aunt
Lettie hunted all over the duck pen for them, but the eggs couldn't be
found, any more than you can find a penny after you drop it down a crack
in the board walk.

Well, when Papa Wibblewobble came home, he was told about the three
missing eggs. He was much surprised, but he said at once:

"Why, a burglar has taken them; that's what! I remember now I heard a
suspicious noise last night. It was some one sneezing. That was the
burglar taking the eggs. I thought of getting up and going down to catch
him, but I was too sleepy, so I stayed in bed."

"No, it wasn't a burglar who sneezed," said Aunt Lettie. "It was I. I left
my window open, and I caught a little cold."

"Then who did sneeze and take the eggs?" asked Papa Wibblewobble.

But no one could tell him, and it was more mysterious and wonderful than
ever, yes indeed. Not a trace of those eggs could be found, and Mamma
Wibblewobble felt terribly.

[Illustration]

Well, that night Jimmie thought of a plan. He decided he would catch
the bad burglar, or whoever it was that had taken the eggs, for the little
b