"No, the police couldn't find the man," answered Mr. Bunker. "I guess my
papers are gone for good. But I mustn't worry about them; nor must you. I
want you and the children to have a good time at Grandma Bell's."

"Oh, we always have good times there," said his wife. "I'll be glad to go.
It is lovely in Maine at this time of year."

Out in the barn the children could be heard laughing and shouting.

"I hope they don't try to make any more steamboats out of old barrels, and
get caught in the ruins," said Mrs. Bunker with a laugh, as she thought of
the funny accident that had happened in the playroom.

"Oh, I guess they'll be all right," said Mr. Bunker. "It's quiet now, so
I'll lie down and have a nap, to get ready to take them to the fireworks
to-night."

The six little Bunkers had played some games in the barn--sliding down the
hay, pretending an old wagon was a stage coach and that the Indians
captured it--games like that--when they heard Norah calling loudly to
them.

"What's she saying?" asked Laddie, who had found a hen's nest in the hay
and was wondering whether he had better take in the eggs or let them stay
to be hatched into little chickens. "What's Norah want, Russ? Have we got
to come in?"

"She says come and get the thunder-and-lightning cake," said Russ, who was
listening at the barn door.