“We’re much obliged to you,” said Bunny to the watchman.
“You were good to us, and I’ll tell my mother and my daddy and they’ll thank you,” added Sue.
“Oh, that’s all right,” said Mr. Ward, with a smile. “I’m glad I could help you. But do you know your way home now?”
“I—I guess so,” said Bunny.
“Maybe Patter can take us,” suggested Sue.
“No, that won’t do,” declared Mr. Ward, seeing how uncertain the children were. “I’d go with you myself, but I haven’t time. I don’t want you to get lost again. I’d better find a telephone and let your father know where you are. That’s what I’ll do, I’ll telephone.”
“Oh, look!” suddenly exclaimed Bunny, pointing to a ragged man across the street some distance away from the ruined factory. “He’ll take us home! He knows where we live. It’s Mr. Stern, and he was in the hospital where we went.”
“Oh, it’s the nice raggedy man!” laughed Sue.
Indeed it was Mr. Stern, and his clothes were rather ragged, even though they were some that had been given him at the hospital. He had been cured and was allowed to go. He did not want to stay there any longer, being a trouble, he said. And so, without letting Mr. Brown know, the poor old man had slipped away by himself.
Now, as he heard the cries of Bunny and Sue, he looked across the street at them and smiled. His eyes, too, rested lovingly on Patter.