e are
going to look around in the back of the shop as soon as the inside is
cleaned out."

"I do hope he will be careful," murmured Mrs. Brown.

"Why, the dog won't bite him!" exclaimed Bunny. "He ran away, that dog
did!"

"Oh, I mean I hope Mr. Foswick will be careful about looking in the
shavings and sawdust for my pocketbook," said Mother Brown.

"I will send Bunker Blue over to help him look," promised Mr. Brown.
"Bunker is a very careful lad."

"But what story are you going to tell us, Daddy?" asked Sue, as she
climbed up in her father's lap.

"A story! This time of day?" exclaimed Mrs. Brown, in surprise.

"She means the news," said Mr. Brown. "I have some for you, and I hope
you will think it is good, though it isn't about your lost diamond ring.
Did you children ever hear of Christmas Tree Cove?" he asked.

"Christmas Tree Cove!" exclaimed Bunny. "Oh, I know where that is! It's
up the river back of the bay. Is the dog there, Daddy?"

"Oh, no!" laughed his father. "Can't you think of anything but dogs,
Bunny boy? Well, as long as you know where Christmas Tree Cove is, how
would you like to go there to spend the summer?" As he spoke he looked
at his wife.

"Do you really mean it?" she inquired, her face brightening.

"Oh, won't that be fun!" cried Bunny and Sue together, almost like
twins, though Bunny was a year older than his sister.

"Well, I hope you will have some fun there," said their father. "Now
let's have lunch, and while we are eating I can tell you all about it."

"Is this the news you meant, Daddy?" asked Bunny.

"Yes," was the answer.

Christmas Tree Cove, as I may as well explain to you, was a sort of bay,
or wide place, in Turtle River, which ran into Sandport Bay. The town of
Bellemere, where Bunny and his sister lived, was partly on Sandport Bay
and partly on the ocean. The bay extended back of the town, and if one
sailed up the bay or went up in a motor boat one would come, after a
while, to Turtle River. I suppose it was called that because it had so
many turtles in it, and sometimes Bunny and Sue had caught them.

Christmas Tree Cove was so named because on the banks of it were many
evergreen trees, called Christmas trees by the children, and also by
some of the grown folk. And the cove had in it a few little islands. It
was a place where camping parties sometimes went, and often there were
picnics held there.

"What is going on at Christmas Tree Cove that you should want