r you soon. I think
we shall all feel better for a little rest."

"And something to eat," added Aunt Sarah. "I'm sure you must be
starved!"

"I am!" admitted Mother Bobbsey. "I couldn't eat when I was worrying
about Flossie and Freddie, but now that they are safe I could eat two
meals at once!"

There was a merry party around the farmhouse supper table, while the
little Bobbsey twins slept peacefully upstairs, probably dreaming about
their trip in the balloon.

The storm was over the next day, and after talking to several newspaper
reporters who came to Meadow Brook Farm to get the story of the
wonderful trip of Flossie and Freddie, Daddy Bobbsey started for the
fair grounds with Bert and Bob Guess. They stopped in the village to get
a policeman and also a lawyer.

"If Blipper wants to put up a fight we'll be ready for him," said Mr.
Bobbsey.

But when the fair grounds were reached there was no Blipper to be found.
In the night he had packed up his merry-go-round and had traveled on,
leaving no word as to where he was going.

"I don't care where he's gone!" said the partner, Mr. Hardy. "I'm
through with him. We've broken up the partnership. I sold my share to
him. I don't care to have anything to do with such a man. He's a thief!"

"Perhaps you can tell us about this boy--Bob Guess," suggested Mr.
Bobbsey.

"Yes, I can. I told Blipper I'd tell, after I found out he'd taken a
coat and a robe that didn't belong to him. He carted them away with him
too, so if they're yours there's no use looking for them," he added to
Mr. Bobbsey.

"Oh, well, I gave them up for lost some time ago," said the lumber
dealer. "I managed to get copies of the papers that were in my pockets,
and I wouldn't wear the coat again, anyhow. But what about Bob?"

Then Mr. Hardy told the story. Mr. Blipper had found Bob, a little chap,
wandering about the streets of a big city. The boy, it seemed, lived
with an Italian who said he had once known Bob's father and mother who
had been dead some time.

"I don't know how Blipper managed it, but he got the boy away from the
Italian," said Mr. Hardy, "and gave out that he had adopted Bob Guess as
his son. But I knew better, though I didn't see much use in telling
about it. In fact, I didn't know who to tell. I didn't know who would
look after Bob if Blipper didn't, in his own rough way. So I kept still,
though after Blipper and I quarreled, I threatened to tell. And now I
have."

"I'll see if