“As usual,” chuckled Joe. “Just like now, when the mystery deer jumped over you instead of through you. Well, come on. Let’s get back and pick up our planes. We can have another race tomorrow. I’m going to put a bigger propeller on my model.”

“I’m going to use more rubber bands,” declared Dick. “See any more deer or other wild animals back of that rock, Teddy?”

“No, there are no more here. But that deer was resting here. He had a bed in the leaves. I’d like to know more about him.”

As Teddy walked up the little incline from the edge of the gully, carrying his plane,28 there came to his ears and those of his chums the shrill screams of girls.

28

“Help! Help!” cried the voices which Teddy and his chums knew to be those of Lucy Benson and Margie Kelly.

29

CHAPTER IV MORE MYSTERY

MORE MYSTERY

When Lucy Benson’s brother told her she couldn’t watch him and his chums race their toy, model airplanes, the little girl felt sad for a few moments. Then her spirits rose as she said to herself determinedly:

When

“I don’t care! I’ve got just as good a right in Mason’s meadow as Teddy Benson, Dick Kelly or Joe Denton. And I’m going there! I’ll take Margie with me.”

A little later, while Teddy and his chums were on their way to the deer mystery, Lucy hurried into the yard of the Kelly home. Mrs. Kelly saw her from a side window.

“Is Margie home, Mrs. Kelly?” asked Lucy.

“I think she is, my dear. She was just going over to your house but I think she is still30 up in her room. You may go right upstairs.”

30

The Benson and Kelly families visited back and forth as if they were relatives more than friends. So Lucy hurried into the house, calling:

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