"That's it!" cried Mr. Bobbsey. "I wonder I did not think of it
before. The dog must have escaped from the wrecked circus train,
and he followed us, not knowing what else to do. That accounts for
his tricks."

"But we can keep him; can't we?" begged Flossie.

"Hum! I'll have to see about that," said Mr. Bobbsey slowly.
"I suppose the circus people will want him back, for he must be
valuable. Perhaps some clown trained him."

"But if we can't have Snoop, our cat, we ought to have a dog,"
asserted Freddie.

"I'll try to get Snoop back," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I'll have one
of my men go down to the place where the wreck was, to-day, and
inquire of the railroad men. He may be wandering about there."

"Poor Snoop!" said Nan, coming out to feed some of her pet chickens,
that Sam had looked after all summer.

"And while you are about it," suggested Mrs. Bobbsey, who was on
the front porch, "I wish, Richard, that you would see if you can
locate that fat lady, and get back the children's silver cup."

"I will," replied Mr. Bobbsey. "I will have to write to them anyhow,
about the dog, and at the same time I'll ask about the cup. Though
I don't believe the fat lady meant to keep it."