“What’s that?” exclaimed Mr. Brown. “You want to give up Patter?”
“Yes,” answered Bunny. “We want to give our trick dog to Mr. Stern so he can go around and earn a living again. Don’t we, Sue?”
Sue did not answer for a moment, and when she did there was just a little tear in each eye.
“Don’t we now—don’t we want to give Patter to Mr. Stern?” asked Bunny again.
“Ye—ye—yes!” burst out Sue, and then, after hugging Patter very hard, she ran out of the barn. I think you can guess why.
Bunny said afterward that he “squeezed back” his tears as he led Patter up to Mr. Stern and said:
“Now, Patter, you belong to him and you can do your tricks for him and help him earn money.”
“Oh, but I can’t take the children’s dog! I wouldn’t dream of it!” cried the ragged man.
But in the end he was made to do this, since it was the best way in which he could care for himself, now that he was well from the automobile accident. He was given some money by the man whose car had struck him, and with this Mr. Stern bought some new clothes and was able to fit himself out so he could travel around the country giving little shows with Patter.
Of course Bunny and Sue felt very sad at first, in giving up their trick dog, for they had grown to love him very much.