“Whoever heard of damaging an old goat?” Connie demanded. “Why, he eats old tin cans!”
“He does not!” Barney denied.
“And he’s frightfully dirty,” said Jane. “Maybe we don’t want such a dirty animal in our circus.”
She acted as if she were about to walk away.
“Wait!” Barney called her back. “I’ll let you have the goat if you’ll give me your jacks set.”
“Not my new one!” Jane said indignantly. “Your old goat isn’t worth it.”
“How would you like a free ticket to the circus instead?” coaxed Connie. “Your goat will have one of the leading parts.”
Barney thought this proposition over. “Oh, all right,” he suddenly said. “But take good care of him.”
The boy hitched the goat to the little cart and the girls led him off down the street.
By the time they reached the Williams’ back yard, many of the other Brownies were there, hard at work preparing for the circus. They had brought their bicycles, pets, and a great many odds and ends.