faces peering at her over the blankets.

"Was it Fred?" they asked excitedly.

"No, I am sorry to say it was not," answered Mrs. Brown. "It was one of
the boys Fred used to play with, and he went around the back way because
he did not want any one to see him going in the front door."

"Does he know where Fred is?" asked Bunny.

"No. But he went to tell Mr. Ward about him. He had seen some of the
police circulars, or printed papers which were scattered about, showing
Fred's picture and telling how he looked and how much his father wanted
him to come home again."

"And is he coming?" asked Sue.

"We don't know, dear. Mr. Ward told us this boy, whose name is George
Simpson, knew that Fred was going to run away, for Fred had told him."

"Why didn't George come and tell Fred's father so he could stop him?"
asked Bunny.

"Because Fred made George promise not to tell. But after George had
seen the police circulars he made up his mind he must say something, so
he came to-night. He said Fred had told him he was going to run away to
Portland and try to get work in a theater playing a banjo."

"Portland!" cried Bunny. "Why that's where we're going!"