--to help one another. We'll go, now. But Mr. Brown will come back
and get you to tell him what Fred looks like, and how he was dressed, so
the police will know him if they see him. They will send you word where
he is if they find him."

"I will give you his photograph," said Mr. Ward.

As Mr. and Mrs. Brown walked across the lawn, they saw Bunny and Sue
playing with the two dogs. Bunny was on Splash's back as though the dog
were a horse, and Sue was doing the same thing with Dix.

"Gid-dap! Gid-dap!" cried the two little ones, holding to the dogs' long
ears so they would not fall off--I mean so the children would not fall
off, not the dogs' ears.

"Aren't they having a good time?" asked Mrs. Brown smiling.

"They certainly are," agreed her husband.

"I'm glad it is neither of our children who is away."

"I can't bear even to think of that!" said Mrs. Brown, with a shudder.

"Look out! They'll run us down!" she went on, for the children, on their
dog-horses, were rushing right at them.

"Clear the track! Clear the track!" cried Bunny, wildly.

"Yes! All aboard for the north pole!" yelled Sue.

"Bow-wow!" barked the two dogs, as happy as the children.

"Oh, Daddy! Do you know how to find Fred?" asked the little girl as she
fell off her dog into the soft grass.

"Well, we are going to try," answered her father.

"And we'll help," cried Bunny. Then, as he happened to think of
something, he exclaimed:

"Oh, Daddy! What about the good news you were going to tell us?"

"We want to hear it now," added Sue.

"You did say something about a surprise," added Mrs. Brown. "So much
has happened to-day that I had forgotten."

"Maybe you won't think it such news after all," observed Mr. Brown. "But
it occurs to me that there is going to be some warm weather yet, as the
Fall is not yet over. So I was thinking we could take the big
automobile--the one we used when we went to Grandpa's farm--and have a
tour in it. I have to go to a distant city on business, but there is no
hurry in getting there. We might all go in the big car. Shall we go?"

"Shall we go? Of course!" cried Bunny, dancing about.

"That's what I say!" added Sue, also capering wildly. "Oh, Bunny!" she
cried, "haven't we got just the bestest daddy in the whole world?"

"We have! We have!"

"Then let's both kiss him at once!" proposed Sue, and they made a rush
for Mr. Brown, who pretended to be much afraid.

CHAPTER III

READY FOR THE TRIP