at
"something would turn up" so that the six little Bunkers would be taken
with daddy and mother to the far Southwest. Grandma Bell often spoke of
a "silver lining" to every cloud, and Russ was hoping to see the silver
lining to this cloud of Daddy Bunker's going away.

At any rate, the fact that Mr. Bunker had to go to Cowboy Jack's (we'll
not call him Mr. Scarbontiskil, either, for it _is_ too hard a name) was
quite established that very afternoon. Daddy received another letter
from his Pineville client, and he at once said to Mother Bunker:

"That settles it, Amy." Mrs. Bunker's name was Amy. "Golden is
determined that nobody but me shall do the job for him. He offers such a
good commission--plus transportation expenses--that I do not feel that I
can refuse."

"Oh, Charles," said Mrs. Bunker, "I don't like to have you go so far
away from us. It really is a great way to that town of Cavallo that you
say is the nearest to Cowboy Jack's ranch."

"I'll take you all home to Pineville first. Then you will not be quite
so far away from me," Daddy Bunker said reflectively.

So daddy and mother were no more happy at the prospect of his being
separated from the family than were the children themselves. The six
talked about the prospect of daddy's going a good deal. But, of course,
they did not spend all their time bewailing this unexpected separation.
Not at all! There was something happening to the six little Bunkers
almost all the time, and this time was no exception.

The equinoctial storm seemed to have blown itself out by the next
morning. As soon as the roads were dried up Daddy Bunker said they would
have to leave Captain Ben and start back for Pineville. Meanwhile the
children determined to have all the fun possible in the short time
remaining to them at Grand View.

Bright and early on this morning appeared Tad Munson. Tad was the
"runaway boy" in a previous story, and all those who have read "Six
Little Bunkers at Captain Ben's" will remember him. He was a very
likable boy, too, and Russ liked Tad particularly.

"They told me you Bunkers were going home soon, so I asked my father to
let me come over once more to see you," Tad said, by way of greeting.
"There's a lot of things you Bunkers haven't seen about here, I guess. I
know you haven't seen Dripping Rock."

"What is Dripping Rock?" Vi promptly wanted to know. "What does it
drip?"

"Not milk, anyway, or molasses," laughed Tad.

"It drips water, of co