The Bobbsey Twins at Snow Lodge | Page 7

fall out of the sled, Mr. Carford?" asked another boy, coming
up just then.
"No, they started off when I was in the store. Funny, too, that they
should. Well, I'm glad there's no one hurt and no damage done. I
couldn't walk home to Newton. I'm much obliged to you boys. And to
you too, Bert Bobbsey.
"Are you Richard Bobbsey's son?" he suddenly asked, peering at Bert
from beneath his shaggy eyebrows.
"Yes, sir."

"Ha! I thought so. You look like him. You do things like him, too,
without stopping to be asked. Yes, this is the second time a Bobbsey
has meddled with my family affairs. Trying to do me a good turn, I
suppose. Well, well!" and he seemed lost in thought.
"What is it? What is the matter?" asked Nan, in a low voice of her
brother, as she came to stand beside him. "Is he finding fault because
you helped stop his runaway horses?"
"No, Nan. I don't exactly understand what he does mean," answered
Bert. "There seems to be some mystery about it."

CHAPTER III
THE BIG SNOWBALL
For a time Mr. Carford seemed more worried about the possible injury
to his team, and the loss of some of his goods in the sled, than he was
concerned about thanking the boys who had stopped the runaways.
Then, as he found by looking them over, that the horses were all right,
and that nothing was missing, he approached Bert and the others,
saying:
"Well, boys, I'm much obliged to you. I can't tell you how much. No
telling what damage the horses might have done if you hadn't stopped
'em. And I'm glad no one was hurt.
"Now I reckon you boys aren't much different than I was, when I was a
youngster, and I guess you like sweets about the same. Here are a
couple of dollars, Bert Bobbsey. I wish you'd treat all your friends to
hot chocolate soda or candy or whatever you like best It isn't exactly
pay for what you did, but it just shows I'm not forgetful."
"Oh, we didn't stop the horses for money!" cried Bert, drawing back.
"I know you didn't," answered Mr. Carford, with a smile," and I'm not
paying you either. You stopped the horses, or you tried to stop them,

Bert, to save your sister and the other girls. I understand that all right.
But the horses were stopped just the same, and please take this as a
little thank offering, if nothing else. Please do."
He held out the two-dollar bill, and Bert did not feel like refusing. He
accepted the money with murmured thanks, and as Mr. Carford
climbed into the sled, limping more than ever after his run up the hill,
the aged man muttered:
"The second time a Bobbsey has been mixed up in my affairs. I wonder
what will happen when the third time comes?"
Calling good-byes to the boys and girls, and again thanking them for
what they had done, Mr. Carford drove off amid a jingle of bells,
"What do you s'pose he meant by saying this was the second time a
Bobbsey had been mixed up in his family affairs?" asked Charley
Mason of Bert.
"I haven't the least idea. I never knew Mr. Carford before this. I'll ask
my father."
"Is that bill real?" asked one boy, referring to the money.
"It sure is," answered Bert, looking at it "Come on to the drugstore and
well spend it. That's what it's for."
"Going to treat Danny Rugg, and his crowd, too?" asked Frank Miller.
"Well, I guess Mr. Carford wanted this money to be spent on everyone
on the hill, so it includes Danny," answered Bert slowly.
But Danny and his particular friends held back from Bert, and did not
share in the treat. Probably Danny did not want to come to too close
quarters with Bert after the attempt made to get Freddie's sled.
The excitement caused by the runaway was over now. Bert got back his
sled and, as interest in coasting had waned at the prospect of hot
chocolate sodas, the crowd of boys and girls trooped from the hill and

started toward town, where there was a favorite drug store.
Standing about the soda counter the boys and girls discussed the recent
happening.
"What did you think, Nan, when you saw the team coming?" asked
Grace Lavine.
"I really don't know what I did think," answered Nan.
"Weren't you awfully frightened?" inquired Nellie Parks.
"Oh, I suppose I was. But I hoped I could steer out of the way, and I
remember hoping that Flossie and Freddie were in a safe place."
"Oh,--we were all right," said Freddie quickly. "Flossie and I were
watching the horses. This chocolate is awful good!"