Six Little Bunkers at Uncle Fred's

sideways off the ironing-board hill, stood in a half circle and looked at the strange man

OD IN A HALF CIRCLE AND LO

eal uncle?"

. Frederic is his name-Frederic Bell," went on Mo

t a burglar!"

ot!" laughed

ing a bit alarmed when I rushed in. I thought some of you might know me, though some of you

you would get here so soon, and I was planning a surprise, as I say. But

The front door

open to air

knew the attic must be, so up I rushed. I found the child

oller skate," explained Russ, "and it went off the

t did bump!" la

die. "We're all right now. Can

ink so, if they'

id Laddie. "I have a good on

a place in the front ranks of the six little

him one," s

were going to take us away," she told the visitor. "Are you?

med Uncle Fred. "I thought you said you wa

were going to take

d. "You know I wrote you," he went on to Mother Bunker, "that I

ranch?"

. "It's a place where they

!" cried

s. "That'll be great! We c

go!" shou

her Bunker. "Less noise, please! W

"I'm used to that. Sometimes, when the cowboys are fe

there?" asked Russ eagerly.

," answered

your ranch?" L

nd if he planned to take the six little Bunkers somewhere they

Montana, near a place called Moon City.

moon, too?"

ful over the mountains. But I am down on the plains, and the reason I call my ranch Three Star is because my cattle ar

have to make a lasso if we go out on

Laddie. "When ca

Fred has come to pay us a visit. Have

added. "There's something queer been going on there, and I want to find out what it is. That's one reas

host?" ask

ncle Fred with a laugh. "What do

t Grandpa Ford's

out what it wa

terribly queer no

ost for all I can find out about it. It certainly is very queer," he went on to his sister. "I have lost a great many cattle lately, and that and something strange about a spring of water on my p

take you all back with me to Moon City, and

take us all out

e Bunkers, and your father and m

Mother?" b

w. Uncle Fred must be tired from his long trip, and I want to get him a cu

said Vi. "We want

going up to his mother's brother and cla

ed Uncle Fred, catching the

aimed Margy, who was no

and with a laugh Uncle Fred caught her up also, an

to your ranch

here, riding steadily on the train. But we won't start right away. I have some business t

here all summer

too, if you like. We'l

Bunker. "We have been to Grandma Bell's, to Aunt Jo's, to Cousin

's nice," r

d Vi. "I love t

quired Laddie, as Uncle Fred started

er of the children'

t that goe

hat goes through a door but doesn't

an old one, and the answer is a keyho

head," said

most forgot. Oh, I know! What can you drive without a whip or

en, and the man who drove them didn't use reins as they do

answer," said Ladd

see what the answer i

reins?" asked Laddie again. "The answer is

d Uncle Fred. "I must try that on some of the

oo much while I'm making him a cup of tea," sai

bother me," decl

r ranch," begged Russ, as his uncle sat d

l tell you about the ranch, and then about the que

rang loudly, and Uncl

who it is,