"It must be there--but it isn't, is it ?" "Honest, now, dad, this isn't a joke, is it ?" "Not on my part, anyway," replied the elder Prescott rather blankly.
"Now, I suppose that you're both playing a little joke on me, trying to make me curious and impatient," laughed Dick's mother.
"But where is the package ?" demanded Dick, exploring all around.

His father lent a helping hand in the search.
"Oh, never mind, Dick, dear," urged his mother.

"My surprise is bound to turn up.

It couldn't have walked out of these rooms.

Look at your own package, my boy." Dick turned to glance eagerly at a not very large box, against which rested a card bearing his own name.