"There'll be no cause to fight, my boy. Now, skip along, and remember
your message."

"Yes, Mr. Edward Maynard wants advice and assistance from Nobody! Well,
I guess that's right, Father, but it all sounds to me like an April Fool
joke. Come on, Midget."

As the two children skipped away, King said, thoughtfully, "What does it
all mean, Mops?"

"I dunno, King. But it means _something_. It isn't a wild-goose chase,
or an April-fool sort of joke. I know Father has some nice surprise for
us the way his eyes twinkled."

"Well, but this empty house business seems so silly! I know nobody lives
there, for I passed there a few days ago, and it was all shut up."

"Well, we'll soon find out," and the children turned the corner toward
the house in question. Sure enough, the blinds were closed and there was
no sign of habitation.

"Mr. Nobody lives here, all right!" said King as they entered the gate.

"And such a pretty place, too," commented Marjorie, looking at the
luxuriant vines that ran riot over the front veranda.

King rang the bell, feeling half-angry and half-silly at the
performance. In a moment the door swung open, but no person was seen.