"Captain Ben's watch—the gold wrist watch he lost when he was helping us pack to come here," went on Rose. "It just fell out of the old valise Russ dropped."
"Did it?" asked Russ, who was as much surprised as was Rose.
"Yes," went on Rose, "it did. As soon as you dropped the valise that little pocket on the side opened and the watch came out. There it is!"
And there, surely enough, was Captain Ben's missing watch—the one he thought so much of because it was given to him by a soldier in France.
"What's the matter?" asked Mother Bunker, coming in from the kitchen. She had heard the cries of excitement among the children.
"Look what we found—Captain Ben's watch—it was in the old valise—it fell out when Russ dropped it—dropped the valise, I mean," answered Rose. "He was playing doctor, because Mun Bun's doll and Margy's were sick. Oh, Mother! won't Captain Ben be glad?"
"Yes, I think he will," answered Mrs. Bunker, as she picked the watch up off the floor. The timepiece was not damaged, and when Mrs. Bunker had wound it and given it a little shake, it ticked off merrily, though of course it had to be set to indicate the proper hour.
"Well, I never knew Captain Ben's watch was in that old valise when I took it to play doctor," said Russ.
"And no one else imagined it was there," said his mother. "The watch must have slipped from Captain Ben's wrist when he was helping us pack, and it fell into the side pocket of the satchel. Then it was strapped shut and put with our luggage. We never had occasion to open the valise side pocket, and of course we never thought of looking in there. Only by accident could it have been found."
"I'm glad we found it," said Russ. "Captain Ben'll be glad, too."