The Bobbsey Twins at Cedar Camp

re was hardly a sound-that is, of course, except that made by fou

nly exclaimed

hoed his s

two of t

noise made by tiptoeing

die!" whispered Bert. "Go ea

rrying something in a paper that

be quieter?

Nan answered. "I should have

o late now. We're almost there. As soon as w

and Nan as though someone were chokin

"Do you want to have everybody in the house do

y cross. It was as though Bert were the leader of some secret band of s

hat?" he a

wered the voice of his

try to be quiet, dear, else our fun will

ugh she tried to talk in a whisper it was rather a loud one. "Yo

e she and Bert were "growing up," felt that she

swered. "An' maybe I'll sneeze

dare!" excl

ho was carrying a cigar box. Did I mention that Freddie and Fl

eeze, what did sh

ze!" insist

" asserted Fr

ioned Bert. "You'l

f twins were tiptoeing their way through the house, and in the half-darkness, for the light was turned low

ed. "She put her hand over her mouth an' she choked, an' she mad

ht words now that you are in regular classes at sc

done sneeze," went on the fat little "fir

d Flossie. "Only I've an awful loud sneeze, I

I tickle my nose, an' I'll sneeze an' I'll sh

ungsters must keep quieter, or we can't do what we're going to do. Nan an

ddie had been allowed to stay up past their regular bedtime ho

t reached a door opening into a large closet near the kitchen. It was in this closet that the childre

e a little wriggle, and, pulling her hand away from Nan-the han

n' to be som

is,

ker-s

sneeze. Flossie had covered her mouth and nose with one hand, a

rt. "I never saw such children! We ought to 'a

y. "Maybe she is catching cold. I must

got up my nose. There was dust in the closet whe

nt of a cigar b

ddie. "You promised you wou

t know, 'cause you didn't tell me. But I got him a

get out. Dinah's in the kitchen now, and if she hears us scuffling around sh

ut you could not see the smile because it was rather dark in the hal

, though neither Bert nor Nan knew just

ok of the Bobbsey family, which included the four twins. Dinah's birthday was always celeb

eir rooms the night before the birthday, to hi

rning, to give to Dinah at the breakfast table, when da

head of time, and Flossie and Freddie, of co

l in the kitchen, finishing her day's work. "The door's shut," Bert added. "Now then," he w

as Bert had put away his present and h

?" sharply w

red Flossie. "An' he di

answered Fredd

dn't hear," Bert said, listening a moment. "Pass me

fellow, and he made his way to the cl

of the others saw Freddie put two packages in the closet instead of

lease. I want to tell this

tting Bert see him. One package was a cigar box, tied with a st

put on the shelf. "Now I'll lock the door, for mother gave me the key, an

d at last, and Dinah knew nothing of their secrets, they felt sure

and let us give her t

mine first!" i

ext," sai

addling in, her

now?" she asked. "Did I forgots to m

n. At least she knew something of what was going to happen, but not all. She must have

Mr. Bobbsey, trying not to smile. "I thi

cried the little fellow, hurrying out

as yo' got suffin' fo' ole Dina

ddie, as he handed the fat black c

our present! Yours is wrapped in blue paper.

a minute!" said Freddie, his ey

ured the cook, as she f

s the cover of the box flew open

se! A mouse!" and she jumped up in such a hurry that sh