Page:Raggedy Ann Stories.pdf/38

 The tin soldier jumped out of bed and ran over to Fido’s basket, his tin feet clicking on the floor as he went. “He is not here,” he said.

“When I was sitting in the window about noon-time,’ said the Indian doll,“I saw Fido and a yellow scraggly dog playing out on the lawn and they ran out through a hole in the fence!

“That was Priscilla’s dog, Peterkins!” said the French doll.

“I know poor Mistress is very sad on account of Fido,” said the Dutch doll, “Because I was in the dining-room at supper-time and I heard her daddy tell her to eat her supper and he would go out and find Fido; but I had forgotten all about it until now.”

“That is the trouble with all of us except Raggedy Ann!”’ cried the little penny doll, in a squeaky voice, “She has to think for all of us!”

“T think it would be a good plan for us to show our love for Mistress and try and find Fido!” exclaimed Raggedy.

‘It is a good plan, Raggedy Ann!” cried all the dolls. “Tell us how to start about it.”

“Well, first let us go out upon the lawn and see if we can track the dogs!” said Raggedy.

“T can track them easily!” the Indian doll said, Indians are good at trailing things!”

“Then let us waste no more time in talking!” said Raggedy Ann, as she jumped from bed, followed by the rest.

The nursery window was open, so the dolls helped each other up on the sill and then jumped to the soft grass below. They fell in all sorts of queer attitudes, but of course the fall did not hurt them.

At the hole in the fence the Indian doll picked up the trail of the two dogs, and the dolls, stringing out behind, followed him until they came to Peterkins’ house. Peterkins was surprised to see the strange little figures in white nighties come stringing up the path to the dog house.