ard away up there, across the top of the two doors."

"That'll be awful high," said Sue, looking to where Bunny pointed. The
pantry door and the one leading from the kitchen into the hall were
close together on one side of the room. By opening these doors half way
a board could be placed across their tops, making a high shelf. This was
soon done, and on this shelf the big tin washboiler was placed, and also
some tin pans from the pantry. Bunny climbed up on the stepladder to put
the shelf and things in place.

Other articles for a hardware play-store were placed on the lower
ironing board shelf, and then Bunny was ready for "Mrs. Snifkins" to
come again. Sue had her button money all ready, the store was in order,
and new fun was about to begin, when Mary, coming suddenly in from the
hall and not knowing what the children were doing, pushed wider open the
hall door.

Instantly there was a grand crash! Down came the upper shelf from the
tops of the doors. Down came the washboiler and a lot of tin pans. My,
what a racket there was!

And, worst of all, Bunny Brown himself was hidden from sight in that
mess of ironing board, washboiler, and other things!

"Oh! Oh! Oh!" cried Sister Sue, dropping her basket and her button
money, which rolled all over the floor. "Oh, dear!"

"Bless and save us!" cried Mary, the cook. "What has happened?"

Bunny Brown said nothing.

CHAPTER II

FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS

Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.

"What has happened?" she asked. "What was that crash?"

It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had
caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound. On the floor, over and
around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller
board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many
bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.

"Where's Bunny?" asked Mrs. Brown.

Well might she ask that, for Sue's brother was not in sight, nor had he
uttered a word since the accident.

"He--he's under there I--I guess," faltered Sue. She was not quite sure
where Bunny had gone when that terrible crash came.

"Yes, I see his legs! I'll pull him out, Ma'am," offered Mary. "Oh, I
hope nothing has happened to him!"

Mrs. Brown hurried to assist Mary in digging Bunny from under the
wreckage of his hardware store. And while they are doing that I will beg
a moment's time from those of you who have never b