*CHAPTER XIII*
*A HAPPY REUNION*
One evening Bobby and his father were standing at the front gate talkingwhen a dusty, red-faced, little fat man came trudging along the roadwith a white goat dragging at his heels. He was a queer looking figureand he seemed to be very much worried as he came up to them.
"Mister," said he to Mr. Sanders, "could you told me where I should getsuch a job yet?"
"I don't know of any place," said Mr. Sanders. "Where are you from?What countryman are you?"
"I been a Switzer," said the man. "I got no money, no job, no anything,only this one dumb-headed goat."
Mr. Sanders smiled as he looked from the man to the goat, both of themwoe-begone tramps.
"Rather queer," he said, "to be tramping around the country with a goat.Where did you get it?"
"That should be all of my troubles, yet," said the man mournfully. "WhenI start von Switzerland I have more as two hundred goats what I havebought for a partnerships to a man for a goat farm back there about fourhours' walk. I have such a wrecks by my ship and I lose me all but thisone dumb-headed goat. Well, I have my ticket by the railroad to wherethis man should have the goats. I promise him some goats, I got oneleft, I come all the way von New York und take it to him and what youthink? He won't have any. Because I don't bring him the more as twohundred goats what I promise, he won't take even this one dumb-head,"and he scowled at the poor goat at his heels as if it had been the causeof all of his woe.
"How much will you take for your goat?" suddenly broke in Bobby.
"Oh, Bobby boy, you don't want another goat?" objected his father."You've got the place overrun now."
"Oh but, father, I want a team," said Bobby. "I've been wishing for oneto put on the other side of Billy when I'm having them do stunts,besides hitching them up to a cart that I am making. They will make afine team."
"Don't you think you could find better ways than that to spend yourmoney?" said Mr. Sanders.
"I don't think so," said Bobby. "If I can get it at the right price,it's a good investment. How much will you take?" he asked, turning tothe man.
"I take me ten dollars," said the man.
"Too much," said Bobby. "It's more than I think the goat is worth andmore than I care to pay."
"How much then?" asked the man.
"Seven dollars," answered Bobby. "I don't want to dicker with you or Iwould have offered you less. That is the most I can pay."
"Take the goat yes!" said the man. "It's a dumb-head, anyhow. I beliefme."
Bobby opened the gate joyfully and patted the goat on the neck. Thegoat, tired and dusty, felt grateful for that touch just as Billy hadfelt and when Bobby said "Come on," it followed gladly.
"I'll bring you the money right away," said Bobby. "Come on," he calledagain to the goat, and ran back to the barn. Running into Billy's stall,he said: "Billy, my boy, I've brought a new friend for you and I wantyou to be good to this stranger." With that the strange goat came inafter him and Billy leaped up with a bleat of joy. The new goat was hismother!
Bobby ran back to the house to get his money, leaving the two goatstogether, and they had so much to tell each other at once that neitherone of them heard very much what the other was saying, until Billyhappened to pay attention to where his mother was explaining how she hadjust been sold to Bobby.
Neither one of them heard very much what the other wassaying.]
"Wait a minute," said Billy, "did you say that man was out there now?"
"Yes," answered his mother. "Bobby just went to get him some money."
"Wait right here a minute," said Billy. "I owe him something forthrowing me overboard into the sea, and I always like to pay my debts."
Out of the barn he ran, through the gate, down the drive, and clearedthe road gate with a pretty jump. Then he wheeled to where the fat man,the money in his pocket, was saying good-bye to Bobby and his father.Billy had no time to say anything just then; he just ran with his headdown. The fat man turned and saw Billy coming and started to run towardthe village, going so fast that he fairly waddled sideways, but therewas no use for him to run. Like two freight cars bumping together,Billy landed on fat Hans Zug just once.
"A thousand lightnings yet again!" yelled Hans.
Billy did not stop to answer him. He just trotted back, jumped over thegate and hurried on to the barn to talk to his mother, about thissplendid, contented home that was to be theirs for a long time to come.And we could not say good-bye to them in a happier place.
* * * * * * * *
*The*
*Billy Whiskers Series*
*By Frances Trego Montgomery*
The antics of frolicsome Billy Whiskers, that adventuresome goat Mrs.Montgomery writes about in these stories make all the boys and girlschuckle--and every story that is issued about him is pronounced by them"better than the last."
*TITLES IN SERIES*
1. Billy Whiskers2. Billy Whiskers' Kids3. Billy Whiskers, Junior4. Billy Whiskers' Travels5. Billy Whiskers at the Circus6. Billy Whiskers at the Fair7. Billy Whiskers' Friends8. Billy Whiskers, Jr., and His Chums9. Billy Whiskers' Grandchildren10. Billy Whiskers' Vacation11. Billy Whiskers Kidnaped12. Billy Whiskers' Twins13. Billy Whiskers In an Aeroplane14. Billy Whiskers In Town17. Billy Whiskers at the Exposition18. Billy Whiskers Out West19. Billy Whiskers in the South20. Billy Whiskers In Camp21. Billy Whiskers in France22. Billy Whiskers' Adventures23. Billy Whiskers in the Movies24. Billy Whiskers Out for Fun25. Billy Whiskers' Frolics26. Billy Whiskers at Home27. Billy Whiskers' Pranks
BOUND IN BOARDS COVER IN COLORS PROFUSE TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS FULL-PAGE DRAWINGS IN COLORS
*THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY--AKRON, OHIO*
back cover]
Billy Whiskers' Travels Page 13
