“Does Mr. Jim Denton live here?”
“No, there is no one of that name on this street,” answered Mr. Brown. “What business is he in?” asked the children’s father. And as they rightly guessed this was not the visitor Mr. Brown expected and as it could not be the surprise, Bunny and Sue felt that they might take a peep at the front door. Their mother nodded her permission.
Bunny and Sue saw their father talking to an old and ragged man. He was almost as ragged as a tramp, and yet he did not seem to be a tramp.
“What does this Mr. Denton do that you are asking about?” inquired Mr. Brown.
“He’s in the circus business,” answered the old man, and Bunny and Sue felt sorry for him, he looked so sad and tired. “I used to know him. We were in the show business together. I was thinking he might help me——”
“Are you hungry?” asked Mr. Brown kindly. “If you want food——”
“Oh, no, thank you, I’m not quite as badly off as that—yet. Though I may be,” answered the old and ragged man in a sad voice. “If I could find Mr. Denton he might help me to get back in the show business again. Some one told me he lived around here.”
“I don’t believe he does,” said Mr. Brown, as the children stood behind him in the hall. “I know all the men around here and there is no Mr. Denton who was in the circus business.”
“Well, then, I’ll have to search further,” said the weary old man. “I’m sorry I bothered you.”
“Oh, it was no bother,” said Mr. Brown. “I thought you were some one I was expecting. Good-night!”