"well, i think i was," said the doctor. "the first night after henry mowed my lawn i followed him as far as the hill to see where he lived."

"why did you do that?" interrupted mr. cordyce.

"i liked his looks," returned the doctor. "and i noticed that he didn't tell much about himself, so i was curious."

"but you surely didn't see the freight car then," said jess.

"no, but i came back that night and hunted around," replied dr. mcallister.

"at about eleven o'clock!" henry cried. the doctor assented.

"our rabbit!" said henry and jess together.

"i made as little noise as possible when i saw the freight car. then i saw the door move, so i thought some one was inside. and when i heard the dog bark i was sure of it, and went home."

"but you came back?" questioned jess.

"yes, every time i knew all of you were safe in my garden, i made you a little visit, just to be sure you were having enough to eat, and enough dishes." the doctor laughed. "when i found you had a strainer, and a vase of flowers, and a salt-shaker, and a cut-glass punch bowl, i stopped worrying."

"didn't you suspect they were my children?" demanded mr. cordyce. "didn't you see my advertisement? why didn't you notify me at once?"

"they were having such a good time," confessed the doctor. "and i was, too. i just wanted to see how long they could manage their own affairs. it was all tremendously interesting. why, that boy and girl of yours are born business managers, mr. cordyce!"

mr. cordyce took note of this.

"but i don't see, yet, how you knew violet sat by the pool," said jess curiously.

"you couldn't know that, of course," replied the doctor. "i went up twice when i knew henry had taken the dog down to my barn to catch rats. i hid behind the big white rock with the flat top."

"that's lookout rock," explained jess, "where we used to let benny watch for henry. but we didn't hear you."

"no," said dr. mcallister. "i didn't even snap a twig those times. but i had the very best time when i went with mother."

"have you seen it, too?" cried the children.

"i have, indeed!" returned mrs. mcallister. "i have even had a drink from your well."

"every one has seen it but me," said mr. cordyce patiently.

"we'll show it to you!" screamed benny. "and i'll show you my wheels made on a cart, and my bed out of hay, and my pink cup!"

"good for you, benny," said mr. cordyce, pleased. "when violet gets well, we'll all go up there, and if you'll show me your house, i'll show you mine."

"have you got a house?" asked benny in surprise.

"yes. you can live there with me, if you like it," replied mr. cordyce. "i have been looking for you for nearly two months."

under mrs. mcallister's wonderful care, violet soon became strong again. but she had been skipping around the garden for several days before the doctor would allow the visit to the freight-car house. when at last the whole party started out in the great limousine, many people looked out of their windows to watch after mr. cordyce and his grandchildren. many of them knew henry as the boy who won the race, and were glad that he had found such a friend.

but when the children reached their beloved home they were like wild things. watch capered about furiously, taking little swims in the pool and sniffing at all the dear old familiar things. mr. cordyce seated himself on a rock and watched them all, exchanging a glance now and then with mrs. mcallister and her son.

"see our 'building,'" shouted benny, for that was what he always called the fireplace. "it burns really, too. and this is the well, and this is the dishpan, and this is the 'frigerator'!"

at last every one climbed into the car itself, and mr. cordyce saw the beds, the cash account on the wall, the wonderful shelf, and each separate dish. each dish had a story of its own.

"that's more than my dishes have," observed mr. cordyce.

mrs. mcallister, who knew what his dishes were, was silent.

they ate chicken sandwiches on the very same tablecloth, and benny drank from his pink cup, and watch couldn't understand why they went away at all.

but it was a trifle cool on the hill now when the sun began to sink, and after rolling the door shut, they left regretfully.

"tomorrow," suggested mr. cordyce, as they drove home, "will you all come and see my house?"

"oh, yes," agreed the children happily, little dreaming what was in store for them on the next day and all the days to come.