Pam liked the idea Maybe Pete and Ricky would want to come she said Instantly Holly raced across the lawn toward their house on the edge of Pine Lake calling her two brothers She found seven-year-old Ricky sitting on the front steps with a glass of water beside him He had a squirt gun in his hand and was having target practice with a scurrying black ant Yikes Sure I’d like to come the red-headed boy declared He filled his water pistol and tucked it into his belt Then Holly ran inside and called Pete who was twelve and had blond crewcut hair He was seated before the television in the living room Crickets he exclaimed You should have seen what happened in New England a train robbery When the older boy joined his brother and sisters in the yard he told the latest news A train had been held up near the town of Foxboro and masked bandits had robbed the mail car of nearly a million dollars in cash It was in three U S postal sacks Pete said and added Police have surrounded the whole area I wish we could be there to help em Ricky declared patting his water pistol Then he said Let’s play cops and robbers Not now Pam said We’re going to take White Nose and her kittens to keep Blackie company After the Hollisters had walked several long blocks they came to the house where Indy Roades lived Marching into the backyard they found Blackie lying on the grass beside his doghouse The cocker
spaniel’s head lay on his outstretched front paws and he looked up sadly at the children See we brought you our cat and kittens to play with Sue chirped Now you won’t be lonesome any more Blackie The dog wagged his tail only once Then he looked sad again The girls put White Nose and her kittens on the ground and the animals paraded around Blackie Still he did not show any interest He doesn’t want to bother with those silly cats Ricky declared Come on Let’s play cops and robbers Make believe the train bandits are in the woods here and we’re chasing them And we can use Blackie for a bloodhound suggested Holly her eyes brightening with the idea You go ahead Pam said I’ll stay here and take care of White Nose and her family Me too piped little Sue Pete Ricky and Holly ran off into the woods calling for Blackie to follow Indy’s dog obeyed but did not seem very peppy Come on Blackie Ricky urged There are bandits in here Pushing the bloodhound along before them the three children tiptoed along the path It led deeper into the woods where the trees were taller and closer together Ahead there loomed a huge rock As they passed it Holly was suddenly pelted by pine cones The robbers she cried out stopping and glancing about her wildly
What imagination exclaimed Ricky Nobody’s around here Just then a pine cone bounced off his freckled nose Yikes where did that come from Without saying a word Pete motioned to the huge boulder It was so high they could not see if anyone were hiding on top of it Ricky winked and nodded He walked softly to a nearby birch sapling and shinned up it Soon he was level with the top of the big rock Pressed flat against it were two husky boys Their faces were turned away from Ricky but he recognized them They were Joey Brill and his friend Will Wilson Quietly the red-haired boy drew his water pistol and aimed it toward the rock Then he hissed loudly Pstt Joey and Will turned their heads in surprise and as they did squirt The drops of water hit their faces I got em Pete Ricky cried out as he slid down the tree to join the others Joey Brill who always made trouble for the Hollisters stood up on the rock and shouted at them We’ll get you for this Come on down Pete invited him It’s too far to jump Joey retorted Yeah we have to climb down slowly Will chimed in That’s too bad We’ll see you later called Pete and the three children raced back to Indy’s house with Blackie loping along ahead of them
