ourse the man himself did not know this, for he was still in a
faint. The doctor said the blow on his head caused this. But he was
taken away by the constable and the doctor to the doctor's own home,
where he could be well cared for until he was well enough to be put in
jail, for he was under arrest for having carried off Trouble.

Then the Curlytops and their playmates went on to Uncle Toby's cabin, a
happy jolly crowd, now that all worry was removed. They had William with
them, and also Skyrocket.

"But I wonder how that tramp got my dog?" mused Ted.

"He might have found him wandering in the woods," said Uncle Toby. But
he did not really believe this. There was something queer about that
tramp.

CHAPTER XXII

A HAPPY REUNION

Such joyous times as there were next day! It was the day before
Christmas, and, as every one knows, it is the jolliest time in the year,
with one exception. That exception is Christmas itself.

"When are we going to the station to meet the folks?" asked the
Curlytops and their playmates, over and over again. For Mr. and Mrs.
Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, and the mother of Harry and Mary, now out
of the hospital, were to come on the same train, to spend the Christmas
holidays at Uncle Toby's.

"Oh, we'll go soon now," said Mr. Bardeen, and the children could hardly
wait. Uncle Toby had arranged for an extra automobile to bring the grown
folks from the station to his cabin, as the Bardeen car would be well
filled.

After what seemed many hours, though it was really not more than a wait
of thirty minutes at the station, the toot of a whistle was heard around
a curve in the track.

"Here comes the train!" cried Ted.

"Oh, what a lovely Christmas this is going to be!" sighed Janet.

Out of the car came the mother and father of the Curlytops, then the
mother and father of Tom and Lola, and then, more slowly, Mrs. Benton.

"Oh, we're so glad to see you!" cried the Curlytops and their playmates,
each to the proper parents. There was hugging and kissing, and in
excited tones the story of the missing boy and dog was quickly told.

"It is very good of you, Mr. Bardeen, to ask me out here," said Mrs.
Benton. "I feel sure I shall grow well and strong now, and I can look
after my two children."

"That's all right, Susan!" was the hearty answer. "I'm glad to have you
and the children. We're going to have a jolly Christmas."

And indeed it seemed so, for Mr. and Mrs. Martin found a ch