Part 4 (1/2)

”He was in a bob and it broke and he was run over!” cried Sue, who seemed anxious to do all the telling.

”Well, I'm glad it was no worse,” said Mother Brown. ”What's this?” she asked, as her husband handed her the box. ”For me?”

”Yes,” he answered. ”Orange blossoms.”

”Orange blossoms! How lovely!” cried the children's mother. ”Where from?”

”Florida. Mr. Halliday sent them. He's down there on an orange farm, and I may have to go down myself.”

”Down where?” cried Bunny.

”South,” answered his father.

”To Florida where the orange blossoms grow?” asked Sue eagerly, as her mother was opening the box.

”Well, we may get to Florida. But first I shall have to go to Georgia,”

answered Mr. Brown.

”Oh, take us!” cried Bunny and Sue. ”Please take us!”

”We'll see,” said Mr. Brown, with a look at his wife. ”We'll talk it over after supper. Let's look at the orange blossoms now.”

While Mother Brown was opening the box there came a noise at the side door as though some one were trying to break it open by pounding on it.

CHAPTER IV

A RUNAWAY

Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, who were standing on their tiptoes to look at the orange blossoms in the box, turned quickly and glanced at the door as the pounding sounded again.

”I wonder who that can be,” said Mother Brown, pausing with the box cover in her hand.

”I'll go and see,” offered Mr. Brown. ”It's queer they didn't go to the front door.”

”Maybe it's somebody from the post-office come to take our orange blossoms away,” suggested Bunny.

”What would they do that for?” Sue wanted to know.

”'Cause,” answered Bunny, ”maybe the orange blossoms came to the wrong place and have to go to somebody else, like that letter one day.” He was speaking of a time when the letter carrier left a wrong missive at Mr. Brown's home, and came later to get it.

”Oh, these are daddy's orange blossoms all right!” said Mrs. Brown, as she looked at the address on the box. ”They came to him at his office on the dock.”

”Then who can it be?” asked Bunny, as the knock sounded again.

There came the sound of a bark as Mr. Brown opened the door, and next the children heard their father exclaim:

”Well, you poor half-frozen fellow! Come in and get warm! Go on away, dog!” exclaimed Mr. Brown. ”Let w.a.n.go alone!”

”Oh, it's w.a.n.go!” cried Sue, running to the door.