“Why not?” asked Dick.
“You can’t scare me off!” laughed Joe.
Mr. Crispen had hurried off down the street, not staying for the soda treat. But the three boys went inside and Mrs. Traddle came out to wait on them.
“Lemon soda,” ordered Joe.
“Sarsaparilla,” was Dick’s choice.
“I think I’ll have a root beer,” said Teddy.
“What’s that?” cried the deaf old lady. “You are going to give a cheer? Mercy me! Oh, I know. It’s because you have caught the deer. Well, go on and cheer, if you like. I guess I can stand it if you don’t cheer too loud.”
“No, no,” said Teddy laughing. “I said I wanted a ROOT BEER soda.”
“Oh, root beer. Why didn’t you say so at first?” grumbled Mrs. Traddle.
After drinking their sodas the boys went home. They were up early next morning, meeting at Teddy’s house. They hurried to the home of the shoemaker where Mr. Crispen soon joined them.