the confused old lady.

“Well,” explained Teddy, “I meant we sort of called it our deer. We sort of feel we have to solve the mystery about it.”

“Oh, well, then I guess I can’t blame you,” said Mrs. Traddle. “I’m sorry I made any trouble,” she went on. “But my poor garden is ruined.”

“If we find the man who owns the deer we’ll make him pay for the damage,” promised Teddy.

“Thanks,” murmured Mrs. Traddle as she turned and went back to her store.

Teddy and Lucy started toward the house to finish their breakfasts. Mr. Benson returned to cutting the grass, saying:

“So you have a new mystery, have you?”

73 “Maybe it will be a mystery and maybe it won’t,” admitted Teddy. “I’m going over to see Fatty Nolan as soon as the fellows come.”

73

A little later, when Dick and Joe arrived at Teddy’s house, they were told of what had happened to Mrs. Traddle’s garden.

“Let’s go have a look,” suggested Dick.

“What for?” Teddy wanted to know. “The deer isn’t there now.”

“No. But maybe he left a trail,” said Joe. “If we’re going to find this animal we’ve got to follow his trail. Come on.”

Mrs. Traddle’s garden was at the rear and to one side of her house and store. The boys found several men of Oakdale looking at the ruin caused by the deer.

“Looks like a herd of elephants was in there,” commented Sam Kean, the grocer.

“Guess that deer spoiled more than he ate,” said Luke Lanter, the butcher. “Looks like he lay down and rolled in the corn.”

“Maybe he was sort of celebrating,” said74 Mr. Kean. “He probably never had such a free feast before.”

74

When most of the curious ones had departed, Teddy and his chums asked permission of Mrs. Traddle to look in the garden.

“Look as much as you like,” she said with a sniff. “There isn’t much left to see. Dear me.”

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