“Hum! Just as I thought! A stray deer got out of a railroad car,” said the farmer. “Well, I hope they catch him.” “Who is this new boy, Fatty Nolan?” asked Teddy. “Nolan? A fat lad? Why, he’s the son of Samuel Nolan who is a farmer I hired to work part of my place on shares. The Nolan family just moved here yesterday. Came from over Portchester way. They’re occupying that little old house where Mr. Huntley used to live. So you’ve met the fat boy, eh?” Teddy told of the meeting and something of the stout lad. “Yes, he is quite a talker, I noticed that,” said Mr. Mason. “Well, here you are at Mrs. Traddle’s.” “Thanks for the ride,” Teddy said. “Won’t you come in and have a soda?” “Thanks, no. I’ve got to get along. But if you see that deer, I hope you capture him, or help that man to do it. I don’t want a deer messing up my garden and cornfields.” The boys and girls crowded into Mrs. Traddle’s small store. “I’m glad Mr. Mason didn’t accept my invitation,” said Teddy in a low voice to Joe. “I only have enough money to treat this crowd. I’d have had to charge Mr. Mason’s soda.” “Lucky he didn’t come in,” laughed Joe. Mrs. Traddle came bustling out from her rooms in the rear of the store. “Give your orders, girls and boys,” invited Teddy. “What flavors have you got, Mrs. Traddle?” “Oh, yes, I know you’re all neighbors,” smiled the little old lady, her deafness causing her to mistake the words of Teddy. “You can see the list up over the mirror,” said Lucy to her brother. “And I think,” she went on, “it will be easier to point to the flavors of soda we want instead of trying to tell her.” “That’s right,” said Joe. “Then she won’t mix lemon and vanilla as she did for me once.” Mrs. Traddle quickly understood when the soda flavors were pointed out by Teddy on the list as his friends named them. And soon the five chums were sitting on stools and enjoying the drinks. “Where have you been? To a party?” asked Mrs. Traddle when she had rung up the sales on the cash register. “We’ve been chasing a deer,” Teddy said. “Oh, my goodness, a _bear_! I wouldn’t chase bears if I were you,” said the old lady. “I don’t think your folks would like that. Besides, it’s dangerous. _Bear!_ My gracious!” “Not a BEAR. A DEER,” said Teddy in a loud voice. “Oh, a _deer_? That’s different. A deer is harmless, I guess, though I never chased one.” “This one chased us,” said Margie. “And we ran.” “Whose deer was it?” asked Mrs. Traddle. “It’s ours,” Teddy said. “Oh, I didn’t know you had a deer,” Mrs. Traddle was much surprised. “But then I suppose I’m old fashioned. Dogs and cats were all we had for pets when I was a child.” “It isn’t _exactly_ our deer, but we sort of saw it and we are going to get it and solve the mystery of it,” Teddy said. But it is doubtful if Mrs. Traddle heard this last explanation. Some other customers came in.