“Not that I know of. But if you boys have had to spend any money in your trailing of the deer, I reckon I can pay you. I won’t be out of a job as I was afraid I would.”
“Oh, we don’t want any pay,” said Teddy.
“It was fun,” said Joe.
“One of the best mysteries we ever solved,” added Dick.
“Mystery?” spoke the cowboy wonderingly.
“Yes. We called it the mystery deer,” said Teddy. “And it was, for a while. But it isn’t any more. Mrs. Traddle is going to be mad, though,” he added.
“Oh, on account of her garden,” said the cowboy. “Well, I aim to settle with her. It was my fault the deer got in, I guess. And now I’ll bid you boys good-bye. It isn’t far from here to the state forest. The deer will soon be in the paddock with the others. That’s a good dog you have there,” said the cowboy to Fatty Nolan. “Sorry I had to upset him to keep him from hurting the deer.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” responded the stout lad. “Hopper won’t mind.”
The deer hunt was over. The cowboy led the animal away, holding fast to the lasso rope around the animal’s neck. Teddy and his chums returned home.
“Well, it was a good mystery while it lasted,” said Joe.