"Yes, I know," agreed his mother. "But, even if daddy had caught a
tramp, it would hardly be the same man who took Miss Pompret's rare
pieces of china--the pitcher and sugar bowl. And if it had been anything
like that, daddy would have told me over the telephone."

"But what could the wonderful news be?" asked Nan.

"Something too long to talk about until he gets home, I think," answered
Mother Bobbsey. "Have patience, daddy will soon be here!"

But of course the Bobbsey twins could not be patient any more than you
could if you expected something unusual. They looked at the clock, they
ran to the door several times to look down the street to see if their
father was coming, and, at last, when Nan had said for about the tenth
time: "I wonder what it is!" a step sounded on the front porch.

"There's daddy now!" cried Bert.

Eight feet rushed to the front door, and Mr. Bobbsey was almost
overwhelmed by the four twins leaping at him at once.

"What is it?" cried Bert.

"Tell us the wonderful news!" begged Nan.

"Have you got another dog for us?" Flossie wanted to know.

"Did you bring me a new toy fire engine?" cried Freddie.

"Maybe it's a goat!" exclaimed Flossie.