CHAPTER XX
THE MIDNIGHT ALARM
It was a very exciting story, indeed, that Ted and Nancy poured intotheir mother's ears that evening. Had she any possible objections toadopting Nero as the fourth member of the family, they must have beenquickly dispelled with the graphic account of that animal's uncannyintelligence.
"He seemed to know just where to find the outlet to the chimney," Nancysaid, "for he ran directly to the little furnace place, and we didn'treally know it was there ourselves."
"Of course, he knew," said Ted importantly. "Dogs know lots of thingsthat we don't. And he's going to sleep in the store, isn't he, Mother?"
"Oh, not in the store, Ted," objected Nancy. "Do you think that would bejust right, Manny?"
"Well, a big dog like that," demurred Miss Manners, who, now being areal resident of the Brandon home, shared their table with them.
"But he's had a swim and he's as clean as--as anything," floundered theboy, quite unable to summon an appropriate comparison for his greatfriend. "And Mother, he can watch the whole house for us. How do we knowsomeone wouldn't try to steal--the secret of the chimney place?"
"It isn't our secret," retorted Nancy, "and for my part I can't see whatright Mr. Sanders has around our place at all."
"You can depend, dear," said Mrs. Brandon gently, "that whatever he hasput in the chimney, if anything, it is something that could in no waybother us. Mr. Sanders is a professor, and the old-fashioned stone ovenmay have some special interest for him."
"But couldn't he ask us about it, if he wanted to--to plant a bombthere?" Nancy remarked, superciliously.
"He's no gabber," said Ted, with more wisdom than elegance. "And anyway,maybe he didn't. But Mother, may I have the old steamer rug to make abed for Nero? He's so big he needs a big bed."
It was finally agreed that Nero should be allowed to sleep in the storebefore the fireboard, and after much work making the rug into a bed forhim, Ted eventually got him to try it.
Very slowly the big shaggy creature sprawled himself out on the softwool, but he only stayed sprawled for a few moments. The next, he gotup, took a corner of the rug between his teeth, dragged it over to theshow gas-range and, in a dog's way, proceeded to make his own bed.
Every one was watching him and every one laughed.
"He can do tricks," Ted declared proudly. "I'm goin' to train him for alot of things. He could almost do anything," the boy added, whereat evenMiss Manners laughed softly.
But Nero was settled at last, and so far as he was concerned, gave nofurther trouble to the Brandon family for that evening. The subject ofthe buzzing, egg-beater noise in the chimney, coupled with Mr. Sandersleaving the grounds so suspiciously that afternoon was, however,discussed most thoroughly.
Even to the children Mrs. Brandon's confidence in Mr. Sanders, agreeingas it did with the confidence of so many other grown folks, gave causefor much curious speculation. Nancy pretended that she disagreed withthis general sentiment, but that was only because she felt there was acertain injustice in the manner of Mr. Sanders assuming rights overtheir personal property.
Ted, on the contrary, was ready to vote for Mr. Sanders at everyopportunity, and while he didn't exactly say that Nero had at one timebelonged to the people who had lived in the big stone house, he _did_say that Lou Peters, who gave him Nero, said that the Giffords, whobelonged on the hill, used to feed Nero regularly at their back door.That was as near to proprietorship as Ted could bring Nero. Lou Petershad been keeping him among the old boxes, so he gave him to Ted. All ofwhich followed a natural sequence, for Ted himself had been feeding Nerodog biscuits and soup bones for a long time previously.
"Isn't it queer how jolly it seems to have a dog in the house," remarkedthe boy, who was curled up on the couch and hugging a big story bookfrom which, tonight at least, he read very little.
"It does seem as if we have pleasant company," Miss Manners concededagreeably. She was, as usual, at her fancy work--some exquisitely finelinen drawn work, being done for a city customer.
"But I thought we all agreed never again to become attached to a dog,"recalled the mother. She was making notes and reading a book--alibrarian's method of reviewing.
"We all felt so dreadfully when Grumpy died," Nancy recalled. She sighedeffectively at the recollection. "Grumpy was the loveliest dog--"
"So is Nero," affirmed the fickle Ted. "In some ways he's a lot smarter.You should have seen him do tricks for Lou Peters. He'll do them for me,too," professed the youngster, "as soon as we get better acquainted."
"Oh, Ted," digressed Nancy. "I've been wanting to ask you. Did Billy andJack make out all right at home after their cave-in scare? Their folksweren't angry, were they?"
"Angry!" scoffed Ted. "They each got a quarter for ice cream cones;that's how angry their mothers were. Jack and Bill are two--pets," hefinished, rather contemptuously. "If they hadn't been so soft they'dhave known how to dig themselves out. Guess I'll go to bed," Ted thenannounced suddenly and surprisingly, for he usually wanted to remain upeven longer than the others.
"Now, that Nero is asleep," teased Nancy. "But never mind, Ted," sheamended. "I'll give you credit for picking a fine dog. He's handsomerthan a collie, and not so awkward as a St. Bernard," Nancy commented,rather critically.
"Sure," agreed Ted. "He's a thoroughbred," and with that all-meaningcompliment, Ted put his book upon the shelf, looked very carefully inthe store so as not to disturb the distinguished occupant, and almostwhispered good-night, kissing his mother fondly as he took his actualleave.
"Ted does love that dog," Nancy remarked indulgently. "And I'm glad youlet him keep him, Mother, for Ted likes to wander off alone and a dog isgood company for him."
"The dear little fellow!" murmured his mother. "I can hardly believe heis growing up and becoming able to look after himself. So often duringthe day, I stop and wonder--"
"Oh, you needn't, Mums," interrupted Nancy, "for Manny barely lets himout of her sight without all kinds of cautions. It's lovely since Mannycame," Nancy concluded, a little shyly.
Following all this each of the three applied herself to her task, (Nancywas reading,) until the clock struck ten, then it appeared time tofollow Ted's example and retire, which they did.
It had to happen, it always does. The dog barked wildly in the veryblackest part of the night, and before they realized what had disturbedthem, the Brandon household was awake and on its feet!
"What can--it--be?" breathed little Miss Manners, wrapping her neat robeclosely around her.
"Why, it's Nero," answered Ted foolishly, although he was not trying tobe funny. "He's after someone. We're safe."
But Ted's unlimited confidence in his dog's power to protect, did notlessen the uncanny feeling produced by the midnight howling, growlingbark.
Mrs. Brandon did what she could to assure Nancy and Miss Manners thatdogs often bark at almost nothing, but when she heard Nero's pawsscratching against the door that led from the hall into the little groupof sleeping rooms, her own courage sagged somewhat.
"Let him in!" ordered Ted. "Here, let me!" he corrected, going to thedoor and meeting bravely the wild greeting of Nero. "What is it, boy?"he asked. "What's the matter?"
To which question Nero threw his two great paws against Ted's chest,barked not fiercely, but in that talking way dogs have, and then turnedto race back down the stairs.
"It's no one he's after," explained Ted, "or he wouldn't leave them tocome up and tell me. He wants to show me something--"
"Ted Brandon!" cried Nancy. "Don't you dare go down--"
"I'll go along," volunteered Mrs. Brandon. "As Ted says, the dog wouldhave stood guard if any one were trying to get in."
There was no use in further arguing, for Ted was already close on Nero'sheels, following him to the store whence he was leading. Mrs. Brandonmay have been timid, but small Ted's confidence in his dog was veryfortifying, and she, too, fell in with the small midnight processi
on.
Nancy did not remain upstairs, neither did Miss Manners, for somehow italways does seem safer to "stick together" in that sort of trouble.
No one spoke as they followed the dog. With great dignity he led themon, until, upon reaching the store, he made a pounce over to the cornernear the chimney.
"Oh," screamed Nancy. "It's that old chimney--"
"It's something else," exclaimed Ted. "Just look here! A 'busted' waterpipe. That's what it is! Look--at--the--flood!"
They all looked, and saw, issuing from a pipe that was connected nearthe fireplace, a very positive and very menacing stream of water.
"Oh, my! Our things!" groaned Nancy. "I've got to turn the water off."
"But where? How?" asked Mrs. Brandon in confusion, fully realizing thedamage water could do.
"I know," replied Nancy, in her best business-like manner. "I was'monkeying' with it the other day. It won't take me a jiffy," and whilethe others patted the intelligent Nero for his alarm, Nancy flew to thekitchen, got a wrench from Ted's tool chest in the little corner closet,and then with one sure, swift turn, reversed the handle on the waterpipe that led from the boiler to the pipes from the cellar.
"It's off," yelled Ted. "That's all right, Nan, it's stopped."
"Why, daughter," exclaimed Mrs. Brandon, still breathless, "how did youknow how to do--that?"
"Because--she's a good plumber," declared Ted. "Hurrah! Nan! Let's starta plumbing shop! That's something you--haven't tried yet."
"Ted!" said Nancy sharply. "I don't like being made fun of. Anybodyought to know how to turn off a water pipe. We all know how to turn offthe gas, don't we?"
"Ted didn't mean to be rude, dear," Mrs. Brandon assured the injuredone, "but we were so surprised."
"And Nancy does seem to have such a talent for business," ventured MissManners. "I tell you, dear," and she gathered her robe around her as shefollowed the others out of the store, "it is something to be proud of.Any of us can be just housekeepers, but it takes a different sort ofability to be--the man of the house," she said, which was an unusualfigure of speech for prim Miss Manners to make use of.
"She can't be that," objected Ted.
"Very well, then," said Nancy. "Let's see you mop up that floor, Ted,"she challenged. "That's a plumber's job, too," she pointed out. But itwas Mrs. Brandon who found the mop and Ted who used it. Nancy feltperhaps, that the executive part, in turning off the water, was enoughfor her to have done.
She was hurt, unwillingly, at Ted's joking remark.
"A plumber shop," she reflected mentally. "Well, one could do worse, forplumbers are necessary and needle-work fiends aren't. Maybe I will takeup something practical before I find what would be best for me," shecontinued to reason.
But none of them knew, nor was it possible for them to guess, what Nerohad saved in his timely midnight alarm.