"And the reason the Italian puts water in the top of his peanut-roaster is so that the peanuts in the bags, where he puts them to keep warm, will not burn," the father of the six little Bunkers told them. "The whistling is like the bell the old-fashioned ice-cream man used to ring. People hear it and come to buy, just as you did." Mrs. Bunker found the Italian's peanuts fresh and nicely browned and roasted, and she bought enough for all the children. "You have to thank Margy and Mun Bun for them," she said to Russ, Rose and the twins. "They first heard the whistling wagon and ran out to see what it was." The children had a sort of little play-party with the peanuts, though Laddie stuffed some of his in his pocket. "I'm going to save 'em," he said. "What for?" asked Russ, who had his kite partly finished. "Oh, maybe I'll see an elephant in a circus parade," the little boy answered. "Circus parades never come up in our Back Bay section," said Aunt Jo with a smile. "So I don't believe you'll see an elephant, Laddie." "Oh, well, then I can eat the peanuts myself," he returned. "But maybe I might see a squirrel." "Yes, we have some of them in our parks," went on Aunt Jo. "And I have seen them so tame that they would come up and take a nut from your fingers. Some day we'll go to the park and look for the little fellows. But I'm afraid you won't have any peanuts left then, Laddie." "Well, we can get some more," said the little boy with a laugh. It was a little later that same afternoon, when Rose, who was out on the porch, getting her doll dressed for supper, as she said, came running in, looking very much excited. "Well, what is it now?" asked her mother. "Has Mun Bun or any of the others, ridden off on a junk wagon?" "Oh, no," answered the little girl. "But Laddie went off down the street with his peanuts in his pocket, and now he's come back and he has a funny riddle." "A funny riddle!" exclaimed Mrs. Bunker. "What do you mean? Is it a riddle about the peanuts?" "I don't know," answered Rose. "But Laddie has something hid under his coat, and he asked me to guess what it was, so it must be a riddle. And it makes a funny squeaking noise." "My goodness!" exclaimed Mrs. Bunker. "I must see what Laddie's riddle is this time!" CHAPTER XVI ROSE BREAKS HER SKATE Out on the porch Mrs. Bunker found her six children, for Rose had followed her mother out of the house, finally running ahead of her to see if any one had yet guessed Laddie's latest riddle. "What have you there, Sonny?" asked Laddie's mother, as she saw him standing in front of Russ, Rose and the others, with something under his coat. "He says it's a riddle," explained Russ. "It is, sort of!" declared Laddie. "Yet 'tisn't zactly a riddle. I just told 'em to guess what I had under my coat." "Where'd you get it?" asked Aunt Jo, who came out to see what the fun was about. "I got it with the peanuts I had in my pocket," the little boy answered.