“That’s our dog! That’s our dog!” cried Bunny.
“That’s Patter! Oh, you dear Patter, we’ve found you again!” cried Sue, and before any one could stop her she had run forward and was hugging the dog around his neck. Then Bunny went to him, and it seemed the dog would wag off his tail, so happy was he.
“Oh, Patter! Patter! I’m so glad we found you!” said Bunny.
“That ain’t your dog—he’s mine!” insisted Black Bobby. “You can’t take him away, either! He’s mine—a fellah guv him to me an’ I’m goin’ to keep him!”
“Just a minute now,” said Mr. Ward. “I’m not saying some other boy didn’t give you this dog, Bobby, but, even if he did, he may have had no right to. This seems to be Bunny’s dog.”
“And mine, too,” added Bunny’s sister.
“Yes, and Sue’s,” agreed Mr. Ward. “Of course they may be mistaken, Bobby,” he went on, “for a great many dogs look alike. But from the way this dog shows his joy on seeing this little boy and girl, and from the fact that he didn’t make any fuss over you, I’d say this was the lost Patter.”
“His name ain’t Patter—it’s Nero!” grumbled Black Bobby.
“Who gave him that name?” asked Mr. Ward.
“I did,” said Bobby.