n ready, as Russ complained, Mother Bunker began to untie the
string which fastened the package from Captain Ben.

"I guess it is a diamond necklace," declared Rose earnestly.

"Oh, maybe it is a pretty pearl brooch," said Russ.

"What do you suppose it is, Daddy?" asked Mother Bunker, busy with the
string and seals and smiling at Mr. Bunker knowingly.

"It isn't a white elephant, I am sure," chuckled Daddy Bunker.

"Oh! Now he is making fun," cried Rose. "It is something pretty, of
course, for mother."

"I know! I know!" cried Laddie suddenly. "I know what it is."

"If you know so much," returned his twin "tell us."

"It's a riddle," declared Laddie.

"I guess it must be," laughed his mother. "'Riddle-me-ree! What do I
see?'" and she opened the outside wrapper and displayed a little box
with a letter wrapped about it.

"From Captain Ben to be sure," she said, unfolding the letter and
beginning to read it.

"And it is a riddle!" repeated Laddie with conviction.

Mother Bunker began to laugh. She nodded and smiled at them.

"It certainly is a riddle," she said. "It is almost as good a riddle as
that one Laddie told about the splinter."

"I know! I know!" cried the little boy. "'I went out to the woodpile and
got it.' I remember that one. But--but that isn't a splinter he has sent
you, is it, Mother?"

"It is something that Captain Ben looked for and could not find. But all
the time he had it. What is it?"

The little Bunkers stared at each other. Laddie murmured:

"That is a riddle! What can it be?"

Suddenly Rose uttered a little squeal and clasped her hands.

"Oh, Mother!" she cried. "Is it--is it my _watch_?"

At that Laddie began fairly to dance up and down. He was so excited he
could scarcely speak.

"Is it my pin?" he wanted to know. "My stick-pin that I left at Grand
View, Mother? Is it?"

There certainly was great excitement in the room until Mother Bunker
opened the box. And there lay in cotton-wool the missing watch and
stick-pin. Captain Ben had hunted a second time for the lost treasures
the little Bunkers had so carelessly left behind, and had found the
watch and pin.

Rose and Laddie were so delighted that they could only laugh and dance
about for a few minutes. But Vi was rather disappointed that it was not,
after all, a present for Mother Bunker.

It was quite late before the little Bunkers could get settled in their
beds that night. That is, all but Mun Bun. He fell asleep i