"Let me think a minute," he begged. "Oh, I have it! Why is a crab like a newspaper?"
"'Tisn't!" exclaimed Russ who came along just then. He was limping a bit, for his toe was sore where the crab had pinched him.
"Yes, 'tis!" declared Laddie. "That's the riddle. It's something like the one Rose told. Why is a crab like a newspaper?"
"'Cause it folds its claws when it doesn't want to bite you?" asked Violet.
"Tell us," suggested Russ.
"Well, a crab is like a newspaper, 'cause when it's red it can't bite or pinch," Laddie said. "See?"
"Huh! Yes, I see," murmured Russ. "A crab is like a newspaper because when it's red. Oh, I know! You mean when a newspaper is r-e-a-d. That's a different red from reading. But it's a good riddle all right, Laddie."
"I didn't think of it all," said the little boy. "Rose helped."
"Oh, well, you made a riddle out of it," his sister told him. "Here comes Cousin Ruth. I'm going to watch her clean the crabs."