And as several days passed and there was no further sign or news of the deer, Teddy and his chums began to feel they had seen the last of the mystery animal.
For a time they had hopes they might be called on to look for the big brown and white goat of Tony Pasqualla. But that family pet, after breaking out of the trap and leaping from Mrs. Traddle’s garden, finally made his way back to the stable where he was penned up.
Teddy and his chums learned this when they called to inquire about the goat. They saw the animal tied in a stall eating peacefully.
“One nighta she go away,” Tony explained to the boys. “No can finda my goat all night. Nexta da morn she coma home alla crazy like—you know, excite! Someting musta happen my goat.”
“Something did,” Teddy said. And he and the boys explained. For they knew Tony would hear about the trap and they wanted him to know the catching of his goat had not been intended.
“Oh, sure, dat’s alla de right,” smiled the Italian. “My goat Angelina no hurt any. But you say you want to get a deer?”
“Yes,” Teddy replied. “A mystery deer.”
“Oh, is dat a danger kind—dat mysdery deer?”
“No. It only means there’s something strange about it,” said Joe. “Mysterious.”
“It comes and goes,” added Dick.