"Skedaddle, young-ones!" So the children could hear nothing of
the talk except that it was all questions and answers that grew
more and more brisk and eager. It ended in hooking the trailer,
which carried the tent and Carrie, to the sedan, into which was
helped a dazed Grandma. The rest of the family was packed in and
off they all rattled to town.

There the "Centerers" left the Beechams in a restaurant, but only
to come back in a few minutes, beaming.

"We got them on long distance, and it's all right!" they told
Grandpa and Daddy.

"What's all right?" asked Grandma, beginning to be more like her
old self once more.

"A real nice place to stay in the grape country," Grandpa said
quickly. "And Miss Joyce here, she's going to take us down there
tomorrow. Down in the San Joaquin Valley."

Next morning Miss Joyce came to the tourist camp where they had
slept and breakfasted. She looked long at Carrie. Was Carrie
worth taking? Did she give much milk?

Jimmie burst into tears. "Well, even if she doesn't, she does
the best she can," he sobbed. "Isn't she one of the family?"

Miss Joyce patted his frail little shoulder and said "Oh,
well . . . !"