STORY XV
Buster is to be Sent to the Zoo
It seemed almost like a fairy story to the little girl’s father when she told him how Buster had climbed through the window of her room, and how she had covered him up with the bed-clothes to protect him from the men. And he didn’t believe in fairy stories! In fact, he didn’t believe just then that he was awake and hearing things. It surely was all a dream.
But there was Buster on the stairs, and his little girl hugging the great big, shaggy creature. Why, with one blow the bear could crush the life out of her! It made him tremble to think of it. He tried to call her away, but she didn’t hear him. She was talking to Buster, who seemed to understand.
“Now, papa, you see he won’t hurt me,” she said finally, “and I won’t let the men hurt him. We must do something for him.”
“Yes, yes, dear,” was the stammering reply. “But what?”
“Can’t we keep him here?”
The man smiled for the first time. “Where——in your bed-room?”