whether any one in the town of East Milford had ponies for sale.

"Well, there's a livery stable over in the next street," was the answer.
"They might have some ponies."

"Oh, let's go and see!" begged Bunny.

"Let's!" said Sue, in a sort of chorus.

As Bunker Blue was needed back on the fish dock, he did not go with
Bunny, Sue and their father to the stable. Instead he took a train back
to Bellemere, promising to telephone to Mrs. Brown so that she would
know Bunny and his sister were with their father, and were all right.

"A Shetland pony, is it?" repeated the livery stable keeper, when Mr.
Brown had told what he wanted--a pet for his children. "No, I'm sorry,
but I haven't any. In fact, I don't believe you'll find one in town."

"Do you know where I could find one?" asked Mr. Brown.

The livery stable keeper thought for a few seconds, and then he said:

"Well, there's a farmer, living in the country about ten miles from
here, who used to own one or two Shetland ponies which his children
drove. They are getting too big for ponies now. Maybe that farmer would
have some Shetlands for sale."

"Oh, Daddy! let's go and see!" begged Bunny.

"Very well, we'll try," replied Mr. Brown.

They hired an automobile in the village, and drove out to Cardiff, where
the livery man said the farmer, who might have some ponies for sale,
lived.

But alas for the hopes of Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue! When they
reached the farm the man said:

"Well, now, I'm sorry! but I sold both my ponies last week! If I'd known
you wanted them for your children, Mr. Brown, I might have kept them.
But they're gone."

"Oh, dear!" sighed Bunny. "I don't believe we'll _ever_ get a Shetland
pony!"

But you just wait and see what happens.

CHAPTER V

THE SHORT TALLMAN

Mr. Brown talked with the farmer a little while longer, asking him if he
knew any other place where Shetland ponies might be bought.

"Well, I don't know that I do," answered Mr. Bascomb, the farmer. "Not
many of us around here keep 'em. But if I hear of any I'll let you
know."

"I wish you would," said Mr. Brown. "I didn't know my little boy and
girl were so eager for a pony."

"We _always_ liked them!" said Bunny.

"But we didn't know how really-truly nice they were until we saw Toby
to-day," added Sue. "Please get us a pony, Daddy!"

"I will if I can find one," promised her father.

But, though he inquired at many places in East Milford, Mr. Brown