The voice sounded so unnatural that Freddie was afraid to answer. Perhaps the man might be a burglar come to rob the store. "I say, who's there?" repeated the voice. "Answer me." There was a minute of silence, and then Freddie heard the footsteps coming slowly down the stairs. The man had a lantern in one hand and a club in the other. Not knowing what else to do, Freddie crouched behind a counter. His heart beat loudly, and he had dim visions of burglars who might have entered the big store to rob it. If he was discovered, there was no telling what such burglars might do with him. "Must have been the cat," murmured the man on the stairs. He reached the basement floor and swung his lantern over his head. "Here, kittie, kittie, kittie!" he called. "Meow!" came from the black kitten, which was still in Freddie's arms. Then the man looked in that direction. "Hullo!" he exclaimed, starting in amazement. "What are you doing here? Are you alone?" "Oh, please, I want my mamma!" cried Freddie. "You want your mamma?" repeated the man. "Say!" he went on suddenly. "Are you the kid that got lost this afternoon, youngster?" "I guess I did get lost," answered Freddie. He saw that the man had a kindly face and this made him a bit braver. "I walked around and sat down over there--in the straw--and went to sleep." "Well, I never!" cried the man. "And have you been down here ever since?" "Yes, sir. But I don't want to stay--I want to go home." "All right, you shall go. But this beats me!" "Are you the man who owns the store?" questioned Freddie curiously. At this the man laughed. "No; wish I did. I'm the night watchman. Let me see, what is your name?" "Freddie Bobbsey. My papa owns the lumber yard." "Oh, yes, I remember now. Well, Freddie, I reckon your papa will soon come after you. All of 'em are about half crazy, wondering what has become of you." The night watchman led the way to the first floor of the department store and Freddie followed, still clutching the black kitten, which seemed well content to remain with him. "I'll telephone to your papa," said the watchman, and going into one of the offices he rang the bell and called up the number of the Bobbsey residence. In the meantime Mrs. Bobbsey and the others of the family were almost frantic with grief and alarm. Mr. Bobbsey had notified the police and the town had been searched thoroughly for some trace of the missing boy. "Perhaps they have stolen Freddie away!" said Nan, with the tears starting to her eyes. "Some gypsies were in town, telling fortunes. I heard one of the girls at school tell about it." "Oh, the bad gypsies!" cried Flossie, and gave a shudder. The idea that Freddie might have been carried off by the gypsies was truly terrifying.