"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," he finished, rather contemptuously. "If they hadn't been so soft they'd have known how to dig themselves out. Guess I'll go to bed," Ted then announced suddenly and surprisingly, for he usually wanted to remain up even longer than the others. "Now, that Nero is asleep," teased Nancy. "But never mind, Ted," she amended. "I'll give you credit for picking a fine dog. He's handsomer than 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-meaning compliment, Ted put his book upon the shelf, looked very carefully in the store so as not to disturb the distinguished occupant, and almost whispered good-night, kissing his mother fondly as he took his actual leave. "Ted does love that dog," Nancy remarked indulgently. "And I'm glad you let him keep him, Mother, for Ted likes to wander off alone and a dog is good company for him." "The dear little fellow!" murmured his mother. "I can hardly believe he is growing up and becoming able to look after himself. So often during the day, I stop and wonder--" "Oh, you needn't, Mums," interrupted Nancy, "for Manny barely lets him out of her sight without all kinds of cautions. It's lovely since Manny came," Nancy concluded, a little shyly. Following all this each of the three applied herself to her task, (Nancy was reading,) until the clock struck ten, then it appeared time to follow Ted's example and retire, which they did. It had to happen, it always does. The dog barked wildly in the very blackest part of the night, and before they realized what had disturbed them, the Brandon household was awake and on its feet! "What can--it--be?" breathed little Miss Manners, wrapping her neat robe closely around her. "Why, it's Nero," answered Ted foolishly, although he was not trying to be funny. "He's after someone. We're safe." But Ted's unlimited confidence in his dog's power to protect, did not lessen the uncanny feeling produced by the midnight howling, growling bark. Mrs. Brandon did what she could to assure Nancy and Miss Manners that dogs often bark at almost nothing, but when she heard Nero's paws scratching against the door that led from the hall into the little group of sleeping rooms, her own courage sagged somewhat. "Let him in!" ordered Ted. "Here, let me!" he corrected, going to the door 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 turned to race back down the stairs. "It's no one he's after," explained Ted, "or he wouldn't leave them to come up and tell me. He wants to show me something--" "Ted Brandon!" cried Nancy. "Don't you dare go down--"