[Illustration: A lithe, tawny body sprang over Teddy. “_Teddy and the Mystery Deer_” (See Page 21)] _THE TEDDY SERIES_ TEDDY AND THE MYSTERY DEER by HOWARD R. GARIS Author of “Teddy and the Mystery Parrot,” “Teddy and the Mystery Pony,” The “Buddy” Books, “The Curlytops,” “Uncle Wiggily” Books, etc. ILLUSTRATED CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY PUBLISHERS · · · NEW YORK THE TEDDY BOOKS _By_ Howard R. Garis _Mystery Stories of Boys and Animals_ TEDDY AND THE MYSTERY DOG TEDDY AND THE MYSTERY MONKEY TEDDY AND THE MYSTERY CAT TEDDY AND THE MYSTERY PARROT TEDDY AND THE MYSTERY PONY TEDDY AND THE MYSTERY DEER _Other Titles in Preparation_ CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY PUBLISHERS · · · NEW YORK Copyright, 1940, by Cupples & Leon Co. TEDDY AND THE MYSTERY DEER PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. LOST 1 II. FOUND 13 III. MYSTERY DEER 21 IV. MORE MYSTERY 29 V. THE MYSTERY CLUB 38 VI. FATTY NOLAN 48 VII. MRS. TRADDLE’S GARDEN 58 VIII. THE LASSO MAN 68 IX. TEDDY IS LASSOED 78 X. THE PICNIC LUNCH 86 XI. HEEL PLATE CLUE 96 XII. THE TRAP 106 XIII. SETTING THE TRAP 116 XIV. A CAPTIVE 127 XV. ESCAPE 136 XVI. TEDDY IS UPSET 146 XVII. ON THE DEER’S TRAIL 156 XVIII. WRONG NUMBER 163 XIX. NIGHT CAMP 173 XX. NIGHT ALARM 187 XXI. CAUGHT 195 PUBLISHER’S NOTE The type in which this book and others of the same series is set is especially designed to conform to the type in the school books which are used by boys and girls of the age to which these stories appeal. The size of the letters, the arrangement of the words on the pages and the general construction is intended, as nearly as possible, to be an aid to the reading work of public and private schools. TEDDY AND THE MYSTERY DEER CHAPTER I LOST Teddy Benson gave a final twist to the propeller of his toy, model airplane. “Better not make it too tight,” suggested his chum, Dick Kelly. “Why not?” Teddy asked, looking up as he slipped on the catch so the propeller might not start revolving before he was ready. “You might break the rubber bands,” Dick explained. “Oh, I guess they’ll take it,” answered the little lad who straightened up and wet a finger in his mouth. “How is it?” asked Dick. You might have thought he was inquiring how Teddy liked the taste of his finger. But anyone who has flown model airplanes could tell that Teddy was just testing the wind. “It’s blowing almost directly east,” Teddy answered.