IN the forenoon of the next day Billy, Nannie, Daisy and Billy Junior were under the big elm tree in the barnyard listening to Billy describe all that had happened to him the day before while he was in town, when Stubby came running down the lane. On reaching them he panted out this message:
“Do you know where the Twins are while you are all chatting here?”
“I thought they were down by the stream playing”, answered Daisy, their mother.
“No, they are being carried off to Milwaukee in a butcher’s wagon!” announced Stubby.
“You don’t mean it!” exclaimed Billy.
“How do you know?” asked Billy Junior, their father.
“Just saw them! I was running along the road, coming home from visiting the dogs over on the Samuelson farm when I heard the most pitiful crying as a wagon passed me. Stopping to listen, I recognized Judy’s voice saying, ‘I want to go home to my mama! You’re a naughty man to carry us off! If you don’t let us out of this wagon, my grandpa will butt you when he catches you!’
“‘Yes, he will!’ cried Punch. ‘And my papa will help my grandpa butt and hook you! Stop and let us jump out!’
“It was while they were crying the wagon passed me, and I barked, ‘Stop crying, Punch and Judy! I will bring your grandfather!’
“‘Oh, Uncle Stubby, do get us away from this naughty man! He is a butcher and we are afraid he will kill us. Oh, oh, oh! Do hurry and get us out of here before he makes us up into chops!’