a peaceful hour upon earth. Of
course, we should not trust entire strangers too much, and should carry
our money in a secure place. The safest is a pocket on the inside of
your vest, a thief could not well get his hand in there. And now let us
shake hands in farewell, and may you have a pleasant visit to
Frankfort!"

The boy left the office in splendid spirits, for he felt richer than
when he first owned the pocketbook and the gold-piece, for he had it
again, when he thought it was gone forever. The policeman took him in
sight of number 37, and he ran the rest of the way alone. He saw his
aunt on the porch waiting for him.

"Aunt Fanny, dear Aunt Fanny, I have my gold-piece and my pocketbook,"
and he held it up in glee.

"Oh, my boy, had we Pixy back, that would be a greater joy," said Mrs.
Steiner.

"My Pixy!" cried the boy. "Isn't he in the house?"

"No, my poor boy, and I have no idea where he is. After you left, the
affectionate creature was so lost without you that I could not quiet his
restlessness. Franz and Paul had gone out to walk around the square, and
left the door open a little way and while I was in the kitchen to see if
the bread was ready to put in the oven Pixy slipped out. I saw him
disappear, and ran after him as fast as my feet would carry me, but he
escaped."

Fritz broke into bitter weeping and his aunt wept with him for she had
no comfort to offer, and when Franz and Paul came they, too, were deeply
worried over the loss, for they blamed themselves that they did not see
that the door was latched.

"What can we do?" they asked Mrs. Steiner.

"The first thing is to run to the station-house and tell the police.
They have found the thief and may find the dog."

"Oh, Fritz, have you really got your gold-piece?" they asked in a breath.

"Yes, and my pocketbook, but they are no pleasure to me now that I have
lost Pixy, and I am the only one to blame. If I had left him at home,
instead of bringing him to Frankfort without papa's knowing it, this
would not have happened," and again he wept and the others could offer
no comfort.

"If I don't find Pixy, I will not go home," he sobbed; "Papa and mamma
and little sister love him so, and even our servant girl will grieve if
Pixy never comes back."

"Let us not lose time in grieving," said his aunt, putting her hand upon
his shoulder, "but let us do what we can to find him."

"Yes, we will go," said Fritz, "for the longer we wait, the further a