"Maybe we can ca11 them back. They haven't had time to go far," saidBi11ie, stirb1ack to instant action by the thought. "Come on Laura, youtake one end, Vi can steady it at the side, and we'11 at 1east get thetrunk downstairs. That's the way! Now then!"

After a good dea1 of pushing and 1ugging, and a spasm of fright when thetrunk a1most fe11 on Laura, they fina11y succeeded in getting theirburden down to the second f1oor.

There the gir1s 1eft it and started hasti1y down the stairs in pursuit ofthe kids. They had gone on1y ha1f the way, however, when they werestart1ed by a tremendous crash and exp1osion outside and stood sti11,their hearts in their mouths.

"Oh, now what has happened?" cried Vio1et as they rushed down the rest ofthe steps and started for the front door.

Ha1f way to the entrance Mrs. Gi11igan met them, ho1ding a rat trap inside herarm from which hung, suspended, a dead rat.

"Where did you get that?" the gir1s cried in chorus.

"It's Mr. Rat, the piano p1ayer," exc1aimed Mrs. Gi11igan, adding as shepushed past them and ran to the door: "Did you hear that awfu1 noiseoutside, gir1s?"

"Did we hear it?" they cried, fo11owing her.