“Oh, there’s an awful, awful wild beast in the blue room, nearly as tall as the ceiling!  It rose up and came after us out of the corner, and if I hadn’t slammed the door just in time, it would have eaten us up.  I’m sure it would!  Oo-oo-oo!  It was so awful!” she wailed.

“Why, Virginia,” exclaimed her aunt, distressed to see her so terrified, “it must have been only a big shadow you saw.  It isn’t possible for a wild beast to be in the blue room you know.  Where is Lloyd?”

“She’s up heah, Miss Allison,” called Mom Beck’s voice.  “She’s so skeered, I’se pow’ful ’fraid she gwine to faint.  They sut’nly is something in that room, honey, deed they is.  I kin heah it movin’ around now, switchin’ he’s tail an’ growlin’!”

Malcolm and Keith, with guilty faces, went dashing up the stairs, and the whole party followed them at a respectful distance.  When they opened the door the room looked very big and shadowy, and the bear, roused from its nap, was standing on its hind legs beside the high-posted bed.  The huge figure was certainly enough to frighten any one coming upon it unexpectedly in the dark, and when Miss Allison saw it she drew Virginia’s trembling hand into hers with a sympathetic clasp.  Before she could ask any questions, the boys began an excited explanation.  It was some time before they could make their story understood.

Their grandmother was horrified, and insisted on sending the animal away at once.  “The idea of bringing such a dangerous creature into any one’s house,” she exclaimed, “and, above all, of shutting him up in a bedroom!  We might have all been bitten, or hugged to death!”

“But, grandmother,” begged Malcolm, “he isn’t dangerous.  Let me bring him into the light, and show you what a kind old pet he is.”

There was a scattering to the other end of the hall as Malcolm came out, leading the bear, but the children gradually drew nearer as the great animal began its performances.  Keith whistled and kept time with his feet in a funny little shuffling jig he had learned from Jonesy, and the bear obligingly went through all his tricks.  He was used to being pulled out to perform whenever a crowd could be collected.

Virginia forgot her fear of him when he stood up and presented arms like a real soldier, and even went up and patted him when the show was over, joining with the boys in begging that he might be allowed to stay in the house until morning.  Mrs. Maclntyre was determined to send a man down to the cabin at once to investigate.  She had a horror of tramps.  But the boys begged her to wait until daylight for Jonesy’s sake.

“The man will beat him if he finds out that Jonesy warned us,” pleaded Keith.  He was so earnest that the tears stood in his big, trustful eyes.

“This is spoiling the party, mother,” whispered Miss Allison, “and dinner is waiting.  I’ll be responsible for any harm that may be done if you will let the boys have their way this once.”