he riddle again," begged Aunt Jo.

"What can you put in your left hand that you _can't_ put in your right?"
asked Laddie. "It's awful hard--you'll never guess it," he went on,
laughing at the puzzled look on Aunt Jo's face.

They all tried to guess the riddle--that is all except the smallest
children--Mun Bun and Margy, and they were too much taken up with loving
the dog Alexis. Aunt Jo tried several things, but she found she could
put them in one hand as easily as she could in the other, so that
couldn't be the answer.

"Do you give up?" asked Laddie.

"Yes," said his father, "we all give up. Tell us the answer."

"It's your right elbow," said the little boy with a laugh.

"Your right elbow?" cried Russ.

"Yes," Laddie went on. "Look! You can hold your right elbow in your left
hand, but you can't put your _right_ elbow in your _right_ hand. Nobody
can!"

And, surely enough, when they tried, no one could do it. And you can
quickly prove it for yourself to make sure Laddie was right. You can
easily rest your _right_ elbow in the palm of your _left_ hand. But try
to put your _left_ elbow in your _left_ hand, or the _right_ elbow in
the _right_ hand, and see how hard it is.

"Well, that's a good riddle!" laughed Aunt Jo. "I shall have to put on
my thinking cap when you ask me any more, Laddie."

"Oh, I know _lots_ more riddles," cried Laddie eagerly. "Some I made up
myself. I know one about why don't the railroad tickets get mad when the
conductor punches 'em, but I never can think of an answer for that
riddle."

"Well, a riddle isn't much fun unless you know the answer," agreed Aunt
Jo. "And now I'll show you to your rooms, and you can get ready for
lunch."

They went upstairs, Alexis following, for he seemed to like children.
And the six little Bunkers certainly liked the big dog.

"Does he like dolls?" asked Rose, as she held her Sue close in her arms.

"Well, I never saw him bite any," said Aunt Jo.

"I don't want to put my doll down where he could get her if he would
carry her off," went on the little girl.

"Would Alexis do _that_?" asked Vi.

"No, I don't believe Alexis would hurt the doll," said Aunt Jo. "Here,
we will try him. Come to me, Alexis!" she called.

The dog managed to get away from Mun Bun and Margy, who were trying to
see who could hug him the hardest, and he stood near his mistress.

"Do you see this doll, Alexis?" went on Aunt Jo, holding Sue out for him
to see. "Look at her!"