“Free, you naughty fellow? Whoever was in a worse fix than I am this moment, I’d like to know?” was her inconsistent retort. “What do you propose doing with me now I’m out?”
“Do?” helplessly from Billy.
“You certainly must know I can’t wander around loose all day in this dreadful place. And I can’t travel all the way back to Cloverleaf Farm. What shall I do? Oh, dear, what shall I ever do?” she wailed.
“You’re a ninny, and that’s my opinion of you! Hop back into that thing and I’ll lock you up.”
“I will, you horrid Billy! I might have known better than to listen to any of your wild schemes,” and up she flew.
Billy wasted no time in closing the door—an easy task, but when one attempt failed to turn the wooden button that secured it, a wicked gleam leaped to his eye.
“Ha, ha! A good joke on the whimsical little lady! I’ll leave it unlocked. She is sure to have a most miserable day of it, and won’t she splutter when I tell her liberty was within her reach?” and chuckling to himself, he hurried off, unheeding Toppy’s plaintive calls for him to return.
“She has changed her mind once too often,” he mumbled, “Now she’ll pay for it.”
CHAPTER XI
THREATENED WITH LOCKJAW
