berman. Mr. Barker has a big place, and hires a
good many men, but almost anybody would know a red-haired lumber-jack.
There aren't so many of 'em in these parts."

"And if he's the tramp that got daddy's old coat then he must have the
papers," said Russ.

"Well, yes, I suppose so. Unless he's lost 'em or sold 'em," went on Mr.
Hurd. "Your father said those real estate papers were worth money, so
maybe the tramp that found them in the pocket of the old coat sold them."

Russ and Laddie looked sad on hearing this. Suppose, after all, Daddy
Bunker should not get his papers back? That would be too bad!

"As I say," went on Mr. Hurd, "I know only what some one told me. It was
another man who works for Mr. Barker. He said a red-haired lumberman came
one day last week, and Mr. Barker hired him. I wouldn't be surprised if he
was a tramp, for regular lumbermen wouldn't be down here this time of
year. They'd be up in the woods. But, boys, you tell your father to go
have a look at this red-haired man over at Mr. Barker's place."

"We'll tell him," said Russ. "And thank you."

"Gid-dap!" called Mr. Hurd to his horse, and down the road it went, the
carriage soon being out of sight. Zip, the dog harnessed to the cart which
Russ and Laddie had helped make, still lay in the shade. He was taking a
good rest.

"Oh, wouldn't it be fine if this is the lumberman daddy wants, and he
could get back his papers?" said Laddie.

"Very fine," agreed Russ. "We'd better go back and tell him right away.
Maybe he'll take us to Mr. Barker's place with him!"

"Oh, maybe!" cried Laddie. "Let's hurry home."

But you can not always tell what is going to happen in this world. If,
just then, a white rabbit had not scooted out of the bushes and run
through the woods right in front of Zip, perhaps this part of the story
would never have been written. It is certain that if there had been no
rabbit to chase, Zip wouldn't have run as fast as he did. For he ran very
fast.

And, just as I told you, it was because the white rabbit popped out of the
bushes right in front of the dog.

"Bow-wow!" barked Zip, as he saw the bunny. "Bow-wow!" and that meant: "I
guess I'd better chase you!"

And that's what Zip did. Up he sprang from the grass, and after the white
rabbit he ran. The dog started off so quickly that Russ and Laddie were
almost thrown out of the cart. If they had not held to the sides of the
box very hard they would have fallen out. As it was