Two hours after this the house was all quiet, when suddenly, there was
the buzz of an alarm clock.

"What was that?" asked Mrs. Minturn, coming out in the hall.

"An alarm clock," called Nellie, in whose room the disturbance was.
"I found it under my pillow," she added innocently, never suspecting
that Dorothy had put it there purposely.

By and by everything was quiet again, when another gong went off.

"Well, I declare!" said Mrs. Minturn. "I do believe Dorothy has been
up to some pranks."

_"Ding--a-ling--a-long--a-ling!"_ went the clock, and Nellie was
laughing outright, as she searched about the room for the newest
alarm. She had a good hunt, too, for the clock was in the shoe box in
the farthest corner of the room.

After that there was quite an intermission, as Dorothy expressed it.
Even Nellie had stopped laughing and felt very sleepy, when another
clock started.

This was the big gong that belonged in Susan's room, and at the sound
of it Freddie rushed out in the hall, yelling.

"That's a fire bell! Fire! fire! fire!" he shouted, while everybody
else came out this time to investigate the disturbance.

"Now, Dorothy!" said Mrs. Minturn, "I know you have done this. Where