"Well, I didn't hear that part," said Sue. "But we'll soon find out what the matter is."
As the Browns walked across the lawn, a dog came running out of the house where lived "the boy next door," as Bunny and Sue called Fred Ward, even though they knew his name. They had spoken several times to him.
"Is that dog savage?" asked Mrs. Brown.
"No, Momsie," replied Sue. "He's just as nice as he can be. He and Splash are good friends. Here Dix!" she called.
With a joyful bark the dog bounded toward Sue. He evidently knew the children, and soon made friends with Mrs. Brown.
"He's a strong dog," she said to the children.
"And he's good, too!" exclaimed Bunny. "I was talking to Fred one day and he told me that his dog Dix saved him from drowning when they lived in another city, near a river."
"That was fine!" cried Mrs. Brown. "I think I shall like Dix."
By this time they were under the dining-room windows of the Ward house, and Mrs. Brown and the children heard the sound of a woman sobbing, and a man trying to comfort her.
"Now don't worry, Martha," said the man. "Everything will come out right, I'm sure, and we'll find Fred."