he might have walked upstairs," said
Bunny. "I didn't look there."

"I hardly think he would climb up where the hay is, but still he might,"
said Mrs. Brown. But no Toby was to be seen. And, really, being a trick
pony, he _might_ have walked up the stairs, which were strong, and
broad, and not very steep. I have seen a big horse, in a circus, go up a
flight of steps, so why couldn't a pony go upstairs?

But, anyhow, Toby was not in the haymow.

"Was the barn door locked when you first came out to see Toby?" asked
Mrs. Brown of Bunny.

"Yes, Mother, it was," he answered. "I took the key from off the nail in
the kitchen, and I opened the lock and the door. But Toby wasn't
there!"

"Are you sure you locked him in the stable last night?" went on Mrs.
Brown.

"Oh, yes, of course, Mother!" said Bunny. "Don't you 'member Bunker Blue
was up here and looked at Toby, and said he'd have to take him to the
blacksmith shop to-day to have new shoes put on--I mean new shoes on
Toby."

"Oh, yes, I do remember that!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "And that is just
what has happened, I think."

"What has happened, Mother?"

"Why, Bunker Blue came up here early, and took Toby out of the stable
and down to the blacksmith shop to have the new shoes nailed on. That
must be it," said Mrs. Brown. "I'll telephone down to your father's
office, and ask him if he didn't send Bunker up to get Toby. Daddy went
down before breakfast this morning in order to get some letters off on
the early mail."

"Oh, I hope Bunker has our pony!" exclaimed Bunny with a sigh, and,
though he very much wanted to believe that this was what had happened,
still he could hardly think that it was so. Bunker Blue, thought Bunny,
would have said something before taking Toby away, even if it was
early.

"Did you find Toby?" asked Sue, as she ran out, tying her hair ribbon on
the way. She was in such a hurry that she had not waited to do that in
her room.

"No, he isn't in the stable," answered Bunny.

"But Bunker must have taken him to the blacksmith's shop," said Mrs.
Brown. "I'm going to telephone to find out."

And just what Bunny feared would happen did happen. Mr. Brown said
Bunker had not been up to the house, and he had not taken Toby away.

"And is Toby really gone?" asked Mr. Brown over the telephone wire.

"He can't be found," answered Mrs. Brown.

"I'll come right up and see what I can do," said Bunny's father. And
then the only thing to do was to