And John raised his head, and you could see tears in his eyes.

"Little wife," he said, "you are right. Children are the greatest
riches in the world. Let us go back to ours."

And Margaret just smiled and kissed him.

And they went down the mountain side with smiling faces, carrying
Kernel Cob and Sweetclover with them.

"I'm blest if I can understand any of this at all," said Kernel Cob.
But Sweetclover only laughed.

"Men dolls, especially Soldiers, are the stupidest things in the whole
world," she said.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXIII

And John and Margaret went down the mountain and in due time reached
San Francisco.

And Margaret said:

"I wonder if the children will remember us?"

"I don't think so," said John, "for I believe they think we are dead.
We haven't heard from them since that time, a year ago, when there was
a report in the newspapers that we were lost in a snow storm."

"Dear little children," sighed Margaret, "I hope it hasn't made them
unhappy. Let's send a telegram that we're coming."

"No," said John; "let's surprise them."

And they got upon the train and for five days they rode and during all
that time they played with Kernel Cob and Sweetclover, just as
children would. And a happy smile lit up Margaret's face, for when she
was dressed in woman's clothes and had on a hat with pretty flowers on
it, she looked very beautiful, and as she was very happy and always
smiling, it made her look more beautiful, for everybody looks more
beautiful when they smile.

"I wonder where we are going?" said Kernel Cob.

"You will see," said Sweetclover.

"I know I will see," said Kernel Cob. "Only I am going to escape from
here the first thing I can."

"Don't you dare," said Sweetclover.

"Why not," said Kernel Cob, "don't you want to find Jackie and Peggs'
motheranfather?"

"Not any more," said Sweetclover with a smile.

"Girl dolls, especially flowers, are the silliest things in the
world," said Kernel Cob. "And if you don't want to come I will have to
go alone, for I have sworn to find them and no power on earth will
stop me."

At this Sweetclover was very much alarmed.

"Kernel Cob," said she, "if you don't get down on your knees and
promise by all the Fairies that you will not attempt to escape, I'll
never speak to you again."

"But," said he.

"Never mind," said Sweetclover "do as I tell you this minute."

"Very well," said Kernel Cob, and he got upon his knees and