“My, my, what a lot of things you want to know,” said he. “Well, Elizabeth Ann, a taken boy is usually an orphan. Someone takes him from the poorhouse and agrees to be responsible for his food and shelter and clothes. And in return the boy does as much work as he can.”
“Oh!” Elizabeth Ann exclaimed. “Did that man with the red nose take a boy?”
“I’m afraid he did,” said Uncle Hiram. “I’m sorry for any lad who has to live with a man like that. It seems this poor boy couldn’t stand it any longer. He ran away, and the man was searching for him.”
“I hope he doesn’t find him!” Elizabeth Ann declared.
Uncle Hiram didn’t say anything, but Elizabeth Ann was sure he hoped that the boy would not be found.
“Are we there?” asked a sleepy little voice, and Doris sat up, rubbing her eyes.
“Almost there!” Uncle Hiram said cheerfully. “Have to go around one more curve and take the first turn to the right, and then you’ll see the Bonnie Susie.”
Tony meowed mournfully in his basket. Perhaps he was tired of automobiling.
“I’ve learned a lot while you were asleep,” Elizabeth Ann informed Doris, gently rocking the basket to let Tony know she heard him. “I learned about varmints, and taken boys.”
And she explained about them to Doris, who was interested too.