how glad I'll be when I see him and my mother!" cried Mr. Todd.
"But you spoke of taking her some food. Is my mother poor, and in want?"
he asked Mr. Bobbsey.

"She is poor, but not exactly in want. My wife and I and some friends
have been looking after her. Your boy, Tommy, runs errands for me."

"Well, well! Tommy must be getting to be quite a boy now. And to think
it was your children whom I found and who told me where I was, so none
of us were lost. It is very strange! And can you tell me where my mother
lives?"

"I can, and I'll take you there. It is not a very nice house, but we
have a better one for her. Only she did not want to move in this cold
weather."

"I can not thank you enough for being kind to my mother and my son,"
said Mr. Todd. "But now I shall be able to look after them. I have
plenty of money and they need want for nothing now."

In the automobile, going back to Lakeport through the storm, Mr. Todd
told Mr. Bobbsey and Flossie and Freddie his story.

He had sailed away, just as Tommy Todd had said, some years before. The
vessel of which he was captain was wrecked, and he and some other
sailors got to an island where the natives were kind to them.

But for many years no other ship came that way. So Mr. Todd could not
get home nor could he send any word, though he very much wanted to do
so. In that time he found some pearls which were very valuable. So, when
finally a ship did pass the island and take off the wrecked sailors, Mr.
Todd had more money than he had when he started out. For the pearls were
very valuable.

As soon as Mr. Todd reached a place where he could send word to his aged
mother that he was alive and safe he did so. But in some manner the
message was never received.

As soon as he had sent the message Mr. Todd started out himself to get
home. Finally, he reached the United States and took a train for
Lakeport. But, as he had told Flossie and Freddie, he got off at the
wrong station, and had come on in an automobile. Then came the accident
to the tire and the storm, and the rest you know--how Mr. Todd and the
Bobbsey twins met at the old shed on the meadows.

"Well, that is quite a wonderful story," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I'm sure
your mother and son will be wild with joy to see you again. They have
long thought you dead."

"I suppose so," said Mr. Todd. "The papers said my vessel was lost with
all on board, and it did seem so when I could send no word."

"Only Tommy and I t