“I dunno, King.  But it means something.  It isn’t a wild-goose chase, or an April-fool sort of joke.  I know Father has some nice surprise for us the way his eyes twinkled.”

“Well, but this empty house business seems so silly!  I know nobody lives there, for I passed there a few days ago, and it was all shut up.”

“Well, we’ll soon find out,” and the children turned the corner toward the house in question.  Sure enough, the blinds were closed and there was no sign of habitation.

“Mr. Nobody lives here, all right!” said King as they entered the gate.

“And such a pretty place, too,” commented Marjorie, looking at the luxuriant vines that ran riot over the front veranda.

King rang the bell, feeling half-angry and half-silly at the performance.  In a moment the door swung open, but no person was seen.

“Well!” exclaimed King.  “Nobody opened that door!”

“We must walk in,” said Midget.  “Father said so.”

“Oh, I hate to!  We really haven’t any right to go into a strange house like this!”

“But Father said to!  Come on!” And grasping King’s hand, Midget urged him inside.  They stood in the middle of a pretty and attractively furnished hall, but saw or heard no people.

“Hello, Mr. Nobody!” said Marjorie, still clasping King’s hand tightly, for the situation was a little weird.

“Hello, yourself!” responded a cheery voice, but they couldn’t see any one.

The voice reassured King, and he said, humorously, “I see Nobody!  How do you do, sir?”

“Quite well,” answered the same voice, but it was a bit muffled, and they couldn’t judge where it came from.  Also it sounded very gay and laughing, and Marjorie thought it seemed a bit familiar, though she couldn’t place it.

“My father sent a message,” went on King, sturdily.  “He says he wants Nobody’s advice and assistance.”

“What a self-reliant man!” said the voice, and then from behind a portiere a laughing face appeared, followed by a man’s active body.  At the same time, from an opposite portiere, a lady sprang out and took Marjorie in her arms.

“Cousin Ethel!”

“Cousin Jack!”

And the children laughed in glee as they recognized Mr. and Mrs. Bryant.

“You dear things!” the lady exclaimed.  “I think it’s awful to startle you so, but it’s the joke of your father and your Cousin Jack.  I was afraid it would scare you.  Did it?”

“Not exactly,” said Marjorie, cuddling in Cousin Ethel’s arms, but King protested: 

“No, indeed!” he declared.  “I wasn’t scared, but I felt a little queer.”

“You’re two Ducky Daddles!” Cousin Ethel cried, and Cousin Jack slapped King on the shoulder and said, “You’re a trump, old man!” and King felt very grown-up and manly.

“What’s it all about?” he inquired, and Mr. Bryant replied: 

“Well, you see, if you’ve room for us here in Seacote, we’re going to stay here for a while.  In fact, we’ve taken this shack with such an intention.”