"We'll get in at the station about noon," his father told him, "but we have to drive about five miles in a wagon or an auto to get to Grandma Bell's place. That is on the shore of Lake Sagatook."
"And I hope none of you fall in," said Mrs. Bunker.
"We'll get a boat," said Russ.
"And I hope it won't sink," added Vi, remembering her last boat ride.
"Oh, say! I've thought of a new riddle!" shouted Laddie. "Why don't the tickets get mad when the conductor punches 'em? Why don't they?"
"I don't know—I give up," said Daddy Bunker. "What's the answer?"
"Oh, I haven't thought of a good answer yet," said Laddie with a laugh. "I just thought of the riddle!"
And he sat by the window, murmuring over and over to himself:
"Why don't the tickets get mad when the conductor punches 'em?"
On and on rumbled the train. They were getting near the end of the trip, and the children were counting the time before they would get to the station where they could start to drive to Lake Sagatook and Grandma Bell's house, when the conductor came through the coach and told Mr. Bunker that if he changed cars, and took another train at a junction station, he could save all of an hour.