“A pet deer!” exclaimed Mr. Benson. “My children have no pet deer. There must be some mistake.”

“No. Excuse me, but there is no mistake,” said Mrs. Traddle. “They told me about their pet deer yesterday. Last night the deer got in my garden and ate it all up. I’ll have to be paid damages, Mr. Benson. You should see the ruin that deer made in my garden!”

68

CHAPTER VIII THE LASSO MAN

THE LASSO MAN

Teddy’s father was puzzled. He leaned on the handle of the lawn mower. He looked at Mrs. Traddle. Then he looked toward the house where Teddy and Lucy were at breakfast.

Teddy

“I am very sorry, Mrs. Traddle,” began Mr. Benson. But the old lady store keeper, who had, seemingly, been hearing quite well a moment before, suddenly became deaf.

“I didn’t come to borrow anything,” she said rather crossly. “Not even your lawn mower.”

“I didn’t say you had come to borrow anything,” went on Mr. Benson. “I said I was sorry about your garden. I am sure it wasn’t any deer of Teddy’s that got into your garden.”

69 “No, I didn’t say the deer came there steady,” said Mrs. Traddle, mixing Teddy’s name up in that way. “But the deer came last night and he ate up most of my garden. It was a big loss. Somebody has to pay for it.”

69

“I’ll see about it,” said Mr. Benson, pushing the lawn mower to one side. He walked toward the house, followed by Mrs. Traddle.

“Teddy!” called his father. “Come out here, please.”

Teddy was already on his way to the side porch. Lucy followed him, whispering:

“Oh, what do you suppose is going to happen?”

Both children had heard the last of Mrs. Traddle’s remarks as they crossed the porch.

“I don’t know,” Teddy answered. “Anyhow Mrs. Traddle can’t blame us for what a stray, mysterious deer did to her garden.”

“Teddy,” began Mr. Benson as he saw his son. “What is this about your deer getting into the garden of Mrs. Traddle?”

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