The first attempt of Bunny and Sue to advertise Mrs. Golden’s store had been very successful.  Of course Uncle Tad had told them how to do it, and Charlie Star had helped by bringing his kitten and training her with Bunny and Sue.  So the special oatmeal sale made quite a bit of talk in that section of Bellemere near the little corner store.

Of course Mrs. Golden did not make a great deal of money, for the profit on each thing she sold, even the many boxes of oatmeal, was small.  But it brought new customers to her store, and she was well pleased with what had happened.

“And if Philip can only get that legacy,” she murmured to herself that night, “things will be easier for me.  But I owe a lot of money to Mr. Flynt, and I don’t know where I’m going to get it to pay—­not even if those dear children help me with a lot more special sales, bless their hearts!  Well, I’ll do the best I can.”

The next day Bunny, Sue, and Charlie again came to Mrs. Golden’s store.  Charlie could not stay, however, as he had to rake up the leaves around his home, but he brought his kitten, and again the dog and the white pussy drew crowds to the store window.

Besides oatmeal Mrs. Golden also had a special sale on notions, and she did a fairly good business in them, so that she and Sue were kept busy behind the counter.  Not that Sue could do as much as Mrs. Golden, but she did all she could.

Bunny waited on some customers who came in to buy groceries, and when one lady wanted some flour an accident happened.  Bunny was leaning over to scoop the white stuff out of the barrel, and as it was near the bottom he had to stand up on a box to reach it.

Suddenly the lady on whom he was waiting, and who was watching him, gave a startled cry.

“What’s the matter?” asked Mrs. Golden.

“That little boy has fallen into the flour barrel!” was the answer.

CHAPTER XXI

SUE COULDN’T STOP IT

There was a banging, kicking sound and several cries of “Oh, dear!” The cries were faint and muffled, as if they came from the cellar.  Then the lady who had ordered three pounds of flour, which Bunny was trying to scoop out for her, ran behind the counter.

Sue followed.  So did Mrs. Golden.  All they saw were Bunny’s heels sticking out of the barrel, waving in the air, and now and then banging against a low shelf near which the flour barrel stood.

“Oh, dear!  Oh, dear!” cried Bunny, from inside the barrel.

For that is where he was.  He had fallen into the flour barrel!

“Pull him out!” begged Sue.

“I can’t.  I’m not strong enough to pull him up!” panted the customer, but doing her best.

“We must all pull!” exclaimed Sue.  “Bunny pulled me out of the brook, and I’ll pull him out of the flour barrel!”

“Yes, we must all pull!” said Mrs. Golden.