“If we could catch him,” added Joe.
“Yes,” said Dick. “That lasso man is almost as mysterious as the deer.”
“Come on in, boys,” invited Mr. Crispen. “This is where I do my thinking and planning,” he added. It was a small, rear room where he kept an extra bench, some tools and his supplies. There were several rolls of leather in the place and they gave it a strong odor, mixed with that of shoemaker’s wax.
“Have you the deer trap here?” asked Joe.
“Oh, my goodness, no!” exclaimed the old cobbler. “I have to make the trap. I brought you here to tell you where I plan to set it after I have the trap made. I didn’t want any chance customer to hear about my plan.”
“Why?” asked Teddy.
“Because,” answered Mr. Crispen with a quick look around as he shut the door, “somebody else might try our plan of trapping the deer. They might catch him ahead of us and then where would you boys be when the reward money is paid?”
“Oh,” said Joe, “we aren’t sure any reward money is going to be paid.”
“Of course there will be!” insisted Mr. Crispen. “It’s a valuable deer, from what you tell me. Whoever owns it will be glad to pay a reward to get it back.”
“Maybe it might be a wild deer,” said Dick.