Those who have read the book telling about the time spent on grandpa’s farm will remember the big automobile in which the Browns traveled to the farm.

It had been a furniture moving van, and you know how big and strong they are.  Inside they are just like a big room in a house, only they move about by a motor in the front, just as does a small automobile.

But this moving van was very different from the kind usually seen.  The inside had been made over into several rooms.  There were little bunks, or beds in which to sleep, a combined kitchen and dining room, and a little sitting room where, in the evenings after the day’s travel, the children could sit and read, for the traveling automobile was lighted by electric lights, from a storage battery carried in it.

On bright, sunshiny days the little table was moved out of the van to the ground beside it and there the meals were served.  Sometimes cooking was done out-of-doors, also, on a gasolene stove.  A tent was carried, and if any company came they could sleep in that if there was not room in the auto-van.

When the Browns wanted to travel through the rain they could do so without getting wet, for there was a stout roof on the automobile.

Windows had been cut in the sides of the van so the children could sit beside them in stormy weather and look out, just as if they were in a railroad car.  And in the big car was a place for some of the children’s toys.

There was room for plenty of food to be carried, and even a small ice-box that could be filled with ice whenever they stopped in a city.

“Well,” said Mr. Brown, after he had told Bunny, Sue and their mother about his plan, “do you think you’ll like it?”

“I’ll just love it!” cried Sue.

“So will I,” said Bunny.  “Let’s hug and kiss daddy and momsie!”

“No, I’ll have to beg off!” cried Mr. Brown.  “Just one kiss each, and don’t muss my hair for I’ve got to go to the police station to take Fred’s picture.  I’m sure his father would feel bad about doing a thing like that so I’ll do it for him.  I’ll be back soon.”

“And we’ll talk about the trip while you’re gone,” said Mrs. Brown.

Bunny and Sue were in bed when their father returned.  The next morning their mother told them, after Mr. Brown had gone to work, that he had asked the police to do all they could to find Fred Ward.

“And now we must get ready for our trip,” went on Mrs. Brown.  “I must get both of you some new clothes, for you wore out many suits while we were at Camp Rest-a-While and in the Big Woods.”

“But don’t get too many.  It will take too long to get ’em,” remarked Bunny.  “We want to get started on our auto tour.”

Not long after this Mrs. Brown announced that she was ready for the trip—­that she had bought the new clothes, and had arranged for the food they were to take with them.

“Then I’ll bring the big auto around here to the house to-morrow morning and let you look at it,” said Mr. Brown.  “I have made a few changes in it.  I hope you will like it.”