Max, a curious and clever Golden Retriever, was known around the neighborhood for his love of treats. Whether it was a crunchy biscuit, a chewy bone, or a slice of juicy apple, Max couldn’t resist a tasty snack. His owner, Mrs. Thompson, always made sure to keep a jar full of treats on the kitchen counter, just within Max’s reach for when he had been especially good.

But lately, something strange had been happening in the Thompson household. The treat jar was emptying faster than usual, and Mrs. Thompson hadn’t been giving Max any more treats than normal. Each day, she’d notice the jar looking suspiciously emptier than the day before, even though Max hadn’t done anything to deserve extra treats.

"Max, have you been sneaking treats when I’m not looking?" Mrs. Thompson asked one morning, wagging her finger at him playfully.

Max tilted his head, his big brown eyes full of innocence. He hadn’t touched the jar without permission—he was certain of it. So, who could be stealing the treats?

Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, Max decided to investigate. He waited until Mrs. Thompson left for the day, then began his sleuthing. With his nose to the ground, Max sniffed around the kitchen, hoping to catch a whiff of the treat thief. He circled the treat jar, sniffed the cabinets, and even checked under the table. But there was no sign of anyone—or anything—that could have stolen the treats.

Just as Max was about to give up, he heard a faint rustling sound coming from the pantry. Quietly, he padded over to the door and nudged it open with his nose. Inside, he spotted something unusual—a small, fluffy tail poking out from behind a box of cereal. Max barked softly, and out popped a tiny mouse, its whiskers twitching with surprise.

The mouse froze for a moment, staring at Max with wide eyes. Then, with a guilty squeak, it darted up the shelves and disappeared through a small hole in the wall. Max realized that this little mouse had been sneaking into the kitchen every night, climbing up the pantry shelves, and helping itself to his treats!

Max wanted to chase the mouse, but he knew it wasn’t right to frighten the tiny creature. Instead, he decided to let Mrs. Thompson know about the thief. When she returned home, Max led her to the pantry and showed her the small hole in the wall.

Mrs. Thompson chuckled when she realized what had been happening. "Well, Max, it looks like we’ve had a little visitor," she said, scratching his ears. "I suppose we’ll have to find a new place for your treats—somewhere our little friend can’t reach."

That evening, Mrs. Thompson sealed the hole in the wall and moved the treat jar to a higher shelf. The next morning, Max noticed that the jar was still full, just as it had been the night before. The mystery of the missing treats had been solved!

Max was happy to know that his treats were safe again, but he couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for the mouse. So, from time to time, Mrs. Thompson would leave a small crumb of cheese outside the pantry, just for the mouse. Max would watch from a distance, wagging his tail as the little mouse came to collect its tiny snack.

After all, even a clever detective like Max could share a treat or two.