and Trouble, too, if they had come here."

"Well, that's funny!" exclaimed Mr. Martin. "I wonder where he can have
gone?"

"Maybe Nicknack ran away with him," suggested Bob.

"Oh, don't say such things!" exclaimed his mother.

"I don't think that can have happened," returned Mr. Martin. "Nicknack
is a very gentle goat, and Trouble is used to playing with him all
alone. He never yet has been hurt. Of course we are not sure that the
two went away together. Trouble disappeared from the house, and he was
last seen going toward the stable.

"When Ted and Jan went out to get Nicknack he was gone, too, and so was
the wagon and harness. So we just thought Trouble might have driven his
pet over here."

"Yes, I think it likely that the two went away together," said Mrs.
Newton; "but they're not here. Bob, put away that kite of yours and help
Mr. Martin and the Curlytops look for Trouble. He may have gone to Mrs.
Simpson's," she went on. "He's often there you know."

"Yes, but we looked in their yard coming over," put in Ted. "Trouble
wasn't there."

"That's strange," murmured Bob's mother. "Well, he can't be far, that's
sure, and he can't get lost. Everybody in town knows him and the goat,
and he's sure to be seen sooner or later."

"I guess so," agreed Mr. Martin. "His mother was a little worried,
though."

"Yes, I should think she would be. It's horrible to have anything happen
to your children--or fear it may. I'll take off my apron and help you
look."

"Oh, don't bother," said Mr. Martin. "We'll find him all right." But
Mrs. Newton insisted on joining the search.

There was a barn on the Newton place--a barn in which Bob was counting
on keeping Nicknack--and this place was first searched lest, perchance,
Trouble might have slipped in there with the goat without anyone having
seen him, having come up through a back alley.

But there was no goat inside; and Bob, the Curlytops, Mr. Martin and
Mrs. Newton came out again, and looked up and down the street.

"I'll tell you what we'd better do," said Bob's mother. "Ted, you come
with Bob and me. You know Trouble's ways, and where he would be most
likely to go. Let Janet go with her father, and we'll go up and down the
street, inquiring in all the houses we come to. Your little brother is
sure to be near one of them."

"That's a good idea," said Mr. Martin. "Jan, you come with me. I expect
your mother will be along any minute now. She won't wait at home long
for u