title: Billy Whiskers at the fair
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WHEELER Drawings by ARTHUR DeBEBIAN THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY New York AKRON, OHIO Chicago COPYRIGHT, 1909 *7 The Saalpield Publishing Company WADE dY THE WERNER COMMNY AMMON, OMN> CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. The Automobile Arrives 9 II. Fair Day Dawns 25 III. In the Needlework Exhibit 39 IV. The Baby Show 51 V. The Balloon Man 61 VI. The Fortune Teller 71 VII. The Laughing Gallery 81 VIII. Billy Has an Encounter 93 IX. A Night with the Duke 99 X. Toppy to the Fore 107 XI. Threatened with Lockjaw 12 1 XII. The Pumpkin Man 13 1 XIII. A Triumphant Home-Coming 141 XIV. The Reward 155 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE “Hello, Pumpkin Man,” was Billy's cordial greeting . Frontispiece Whack! resounded a broomstick on Billy’s broad back . . 21 Billy landed in a great tub of water 45 Louder and louder came the shouts of his pursuers ... 65 “I geeve you von neekle alreaty. Now you say anodder?” . 85 There peeping from behind the skirts of the second woman was a handsome goat 133 CHAPTER I THE AUTOMOBILE ARRIVES | a l FFAIRS at Cloverleaf Farm had been running very smoothly for a month or more. School had begun, the boys were occupied with studies and so well out of mischief’s way for five hours each day. Summer crops had been harvested, the bam was bursting with the sweet-scented hay, the well-filled silo promised many a juicy meal for the farmyard inhabitants dur- ing the approaching winter months, and in the fields the pumpkins lay like huge nuggets of pure gold, with the shocks of com standing guard over their richness. Billy Whiskers, as you will remember, had returned from his long travels with the Circus, the troupe of monkeys had come and gone, and the Farm was left in comparative quiet. Yet under the outward calm there was a vague uneasiness, and a strange restlessness was apparent among the boys, which at times infected even the older members of the Treat household. All this was proven conclusively because Billy Whiskers and his gaily-painted cart were neglected, and catalogs had held much more interest than outdoor sports for the last week or more. 9 Billy IVhiskers at the Fair But such a condition of things could not last very long. One fine afternoon when the sun was casting long, slanting rays across the fields, and there was the soft haziness of first October days in the air, Tom, Dick and Harry were passing the Comers on their way home from school when the post- master, a genial old fellow, hailed them from his seat on a crack- er barrel in front of the store. “Here, boys, wait a min- ute. There’s a postal for your father, and the new automo- bile is a-comin’, all right, all right!” “Hooray!” shouted Tom, s he leaped up the steps. “Hur -rah\” exulted Harry, a -close second. 0 “H^r-rah!” echoed Dick, as : was dragged along, for the small- the Treat boys tugged at Harry’s hand, determined to be on the scene with his older brothers. Three pairs of eager hands reached through the narrow little window of the board partition which served to divide the post-office io Billy Whiskers at the Fair from the general store, but agile Tom secured the coveted prize and was away, out of the store and off up the dusty road like a flash. “Father, father, look here! ,, breathlessly shouted the trio, as they turned into the yard and drew up at the front porch steps. Father and Mother Treat hurried to the veranda to learn the cause of all this wild commotion, and their faces wreathed in smiles at the welcome news that the auto was on its way. “When do you think it’ll get here?” “Will you let me drive her?” “I may, mayn’t I, papa?” The beleaguered father shook off the eager questioners with: “Now, boys, the card says that the machinist who is to deliver the automobile will probably arrive to-morrow afternoon. I think we’ll have to make it a holiday, so you will be on hand when it comes.” “Now, father,” remonstrated Mrs. Treat quickly, “that is un- wise. They’d much better be in school.” “Tut, tut, mother! Boys must have some good times, I think.” “Oh, father, do let us!” petitioned the boys, and a cheery nod satisfied them that the victory was theirs. Very little indeed was accomplished by the Treat boys the next morning, and kind Miss Clinton, their teacher, was at a loss for Billy IVhiskers at the Fair an explanation of the wriggling, twisting and manifest uneasiness possessing them. Tom was detected in the act of attempting to communicate with Harry, the note was confiscated by Miss Clinton, and Tom himself straightway sent to the platform, where he whiled away the dreary, lagging moments by driving an imaginary automobile over the hills at a terrific speed, much to the envy of his school- mates. “Ill ask everyone of ’em to ride, except Miss Clinton,” he pon- dered, planning revenge for his present predicament. ‘And then I guess she’ll wish she hadn’t punished Noon came at last, as all noons do, and then the note was presented to Miss Clinton by little Dick, though by this time it was very much* the worse for frequent fingering. The little fellow had not been able to keep his hands off the precious thing for longer than five minutes at a time. First he had to make sure that it really was in his pocket. Then again he took just one peep inside 12 Billy Whiskers at the Fair to reassure himself that it asked that he and his brothers be excused from the afternoon session. Each time he took it out, he patted it lovingly, and therefore it now bore many a print of chubby and very smudgy finger tips. Miss Clinton’s consent was readily given, for rules in the country districts are not so iron-clad as in the more crowded city schools, and away hastened the boys for the noonday meal at home. It proved to be rather a tempestuous one, and Mrs. Treat was glad indeed when chairs were pushed back from the board and the restive group betook themselves to the wide, shady veranda. It commanded a splendid view of the road toward Springfield, for it mounted a gradual ascent of a mile or more before it scurried over and down again in its eagerness to reach the city. “I wonder what Billy will do when he sees the machine,” piped up little Dick, as they settled themselves comfortably in hammock and in spacious, comfortable porch chairs. '‘Well, he has seen plenty of autos go by here, and after all his experiences with the Circus this summer, he ought to behave, I’m sure,” said Mrs. Treat uneasily, for she was never quite sure that she understood Billy and all his varying moods. Now Billy overheard this remark, for he was just around the comer of the house, on the outside cellar door, this being his favorite spot on warm afternoons. *3 Billy IVhiskers at the Fair In fact, he was very fond of luxury, and always took a siesta after a hearty meal and during the heated portion of the day. “Don’t be too sure of that, Mrs. Treat,” soliloquized mischiev- ous Billy. “I am not so old yet that I shall rest content without occasional adventures. I really believe I am beginning to be a trifle bored, now that I think of it. Nothing interesting has hap- pened in this countryside for a whole month, and it is high time that I stir up the community a bit. It really seems too ba — ” “He’s coming! He’s coming!” shouted Tom. “Just over the hill! Don’t you see him?” And the three boys, unable to control their delight, pranced around, threw their caps high into the air, and then raced down to the gate. “Look at her go! Bet she can make thirty miles an hour,” predicted Harry. “She is surely plowing through the sand in great style,” said Tom, as the automobile reached the flats and struck the heavy sand of the bottoms. “I’m a-goin’ to sit on the front seat,” announced Dick con- fidently, hanging over the gate and swinging back and forth. “Oh, no, you’re not, sonny! I am, you know,” declared patron- izing Harry, but Tom, the deliberate, silenced them both. “You’ll neither of you sit on the front seat. Babies belong back Billy TFhiskers at the Fair in the tonneau with their mother, and that’s just where you’ll be, youngsters. Father and I will sit in front, you’ll see.” “Huh!” grunted Harry, with fine contempt. “Think because you’re an inch taller ’n me you own the farm, don’t you?” They were still arguing this all-important question when with toot of horn and a fine flourish the automobile drew up at the gate, and the chauffeur bent over the wheel to inquire: “This Cloverleaf Farm?” “Well, I just guess, and that is our automobile!” was the sat- isfactory, if rather inelegant response. “Glad to see you, very glad to see you!” was Mr. Treat’s cordial welcome as he hastened to shake hands with the driver. “Glad to meet you too, sir, and to deliver the car safe and sound. She’s in finest trim. Suppose we might as well proceed right to business. I must get back to Springfield to-night to catch the eight-forty westbound. Shall I teach you to drive her now?” “Well, to-morrow is Fair day, and we’ll want to use her, of course. But come in, and have a drink of sweet cider and a dough- nut first. You must be thirsty,” urged Mr. Treat, not forgetful of hospitality. “Boys, run and tell mother to put on her bonnet and to come out for a little spin.” During this time Billy Whiskers had not been idle. He had observed the approach of the car, and leisurely ambled around to *5 Billy IVhiskers at the Fair the front of the farmhouse, nibbling grass and occasionally taking a sample of Mrs. Treat’s special pride, a gaudy bed of scarlet ger- aniums bordered with sweet elyssum. At last he took up his station on the front steps, in order to view the automobile to best possible advantage. With one long look, he said to himself: “That is a mighty fine contraption. Glad I was able to earn it for the boys. ’Twas well worth a summer of toil, hardship and privation to give my Dick a bit of pleasure. What fine times we’ll have in it! But why, w-h-y, how is this?” questioned surprised Billy from the porch steps, for Mrs. Treat had needed no second bidding to take her first ride in the automobile, and had brushed past him, unheeding. In fact, she had laid her hat on the bed of the spare room down- stairs early that morning, all ready to be donned for this very occa- sion, and even now the family was being stowed away in the rear seat of the auto, doors were being securely fastened, last cautions and warnings given, and the driver was cranking the machine pre- paratory to starting. “Why, w-h-y,” repeated Billy in astonishment, “They’ve for- gotten me. I’ll just remind them,” and he ran down to the gate, bleating his displeasure. “Good-bye, old Billy!” 16 Billy IVhiskers at the Fair “ Race along behind! There’s a good fellow!” Harry called. And with these words of scant consolation, the machine glided off, leaving Billy a very much disconcerted and crestfallen goat. Then jealousy crept into his heart, and filled it near to burst- ing. “They surely remember that it is my automobile. I am the one who really earned it, I’d have them to know! I am the one who should have had the honor of the very first ride. It is my money they are spending, and yet here I stand, alone and forsaken, while they go whizzing off in such fine style! ” Now as everyone knows, boys and girls especially, jealousy is a very naughty thing to cherish, and revenge is even worse, but, his anger mounting higher and higher, Billy proceeded to plan vengeance. “I don’t like the smell of the thing, anyhow, and if they don’t let me ride in it, perhaps my horns can take some of the shine off its sides. I’ll bite a piece out of the tires, too, and then maybe they’ll have time to remember a little of what Billy Whiskers has done for this family. I might even drink the gasolene, but you see that might explode after it’s inside of me and not prove alto- gether a safe undertaking,” and he sadly returned to the cellar door for his usual afternoon nap. The Treats did not return for two hours or more, and then all 17 Billy FFhiskers at the Fair were so loud in their praises of the automobile that poor Billy was quite forgotten. A bountiful supper was spread, and the machinist entertained in true country style. After the meal, all repaired to the porch for a final chat before the driver should be taken to Springfield by Mr. Treat. “I'll remind them of my existence,’ ’ thought Billy, and he stalked slowly across the front lawn with majestic tread, in full view of the group, on his way to the bam and his quarters for the night. “What a very fine goat you have there,” complimented the chauffeur. “Oh, yes,” agreed Mr. Treat, “but a great nuisance, I sometimes think.” “Why,” interrupted Mrs. Treat, “what do you think? A few weeks ago he came back home with a whole pack of trained monkeys he had led in a Circus performance this last summer, and glad enough I was when we were finally rid of them. He’s a scapegoat, I’m sure of that.” “A goat is all right, but an auto is lots better,” decided unloyal Tom. “I wish we could sell him now.” “You do, eh?” thought Billy, as he disappeared around the house. “If I ever have a chance at some of the people who are 18 Billy Whiskers at the Fair always so ready to discard their old friends, they will wish I had never come back from the Circus with enough money to buy their automobile,” and as a balm for his wounded vanity, Billy wandered down to the bam to spread discontent and rebellion among his animal friends. “Well, Browny,” he began, as he entered that faithful horse’s box stall, “the new auto has come, and all the farmyard animals will have to look to their laurels now. They may even be entirely for- gotten and perhaps left to starve.” You can see from this remark that Billy was possessed of a remarkably vivid imagination. — “I’ve gone supperless to-night, which may be but the beginning of the new order of things.” “Now, Billy Whiskers, that is sheer nonsense. Why, I’ve been with the Treats ever since they were bride and groom, and I have carried each of the boys around on my back as soon as they were able to hold on to my mane. They’ll never forget the ser- vices of old Browny.” And he proudly tossed his noble head. “Oh, don’t be too sure of that,” returned Billy. “Just re- member what I did for them this summer. And now Mrs. Treat is calling me a nuisance and a scapegoat, whatever that is. This minute they are planning long trips, but never a word of thanks to Billy.” Browny gave a hoarse laugh of mingled contempt and ridicule. l 9 Billy IVhiskers at the Fair “Why, William Whiskers,” he said in a tone of sharp rebuke, “you are carrying on like a half -grown kid instead of a full-grown, bewhiskered goat!” “Never mind, well see how you behave when your time to be cast aside comes. You’ll not even get to the Fair this year.” “You’re wrong there, Billy. I’ll go the same as I have for the past fifteen years. Be up bright and early to-morrow morning and you’ll see me on the way.” “Perhaps, and again perhaps not.” “Well, at any rate I’m not worrying. Why, this morning you saw our farmyard beauty, the Duke of Windham, along with Dick’s Plymouth Rock, Toppy, as they started for the exhibit. They’ll be prize winners, or I miss my guess. The Treat farm is always well represented. By the way, Billy, are you going? Lots of fun — such fun as you’ve never seen. Better come along,” cordially. “Oh, I’ll be there. But be sure you are among those present, that is all,” retorted the goat, with a knowing wink. “Going to walk, same as you did to get to the Circus?” prodded droll Browny. “Not if I know it,” was Billy’s quick reply. Ambling up closer, he reached up and whispered confidentially: “I’m going in the automobile, with the rest of the family. A goat of my experience and breeding goes with the best,” and with 20 WHACK! RESOUNDED A BROOMSTICK ON BILLY'S BROAD BACK. * • '! Billy Whiskers at the Fair that Billy stalked off, head held high, well satisfied at having filled Browny as full of uncomfortable forebodings as he himself had been a short time before. “I surely smell doughnuts,” thought Billy as he sniffed the keen outside air, and he quickened his steps toward the kitchen, which had been the scene of unusual activity that day. Peering cautiously in, he found the field clear, much to his sat- isfaction. “Deserted! I’ll now eat the supper I didn’t have a while ago.” And into the pantry walked the naughty Billy, to pilfer the results of Mrs. Treat’s day spent at baking and brewing. “Dear me! there surely are doughnuts somewhere about. I never make a mistake in that regard, for they are prime favorites with one B. W. Ah, there they are, and a two-gallon crock piled high with the brown beauties! I’ll try just one, and then that pumpkin pie on the next shelf looks a bit toothsome, too. I really think that all these doughnuts, six pies all in a row, a chocolate cake, and then another that they call a sponge, though I never could see the reason for the name, besides three fried chickens in that earthen bowl are just a little more than the boys ought to be allowed to eat to-morrow. It might make them sick, and so I’ll play the good fairy and remove temptation from their path,” and Billy fell to with a will. 23 Billy Whiskers at the Fair His stomach was commencing to bulge with the goodies, and even his goatish appetite was half satisfied, when Whack! Whack! re- sounded a broomstick on Billy’s broad back, wielded vigorously by the mistress of the household. Discouraged and back beaten, his goatship scurried to the bam, there to nurse his many grievous wrongs. “Small use in my trying to do right,” he cogitated. “Somebody is always against me, and as soon as I am up, they are sure to knock me down. I am getting sore,” and he mbbed his poor back against Browny’s stall. “Anyway, there’s a good time ahead to-morrow.” Now Billy had heard a great deal of this annual county event, for the Treat boys had discussed it at length. Nevertheless, it would all be new to him. As he sought his bed of fragrant hay, his thoughts ran: “Wonder what a Fair is like. Maybe just a miniature Circus, and then it will be a bore to me. But I’ll go in the auto. That will be a new experience, anyway. Will sit on the front seat, too; if not going to the Fair, at least on the return trip. There will be room for me somewhere. I have always managed my own affairs with a fair measure of success, and I believe I can this time. They say where there’s a will there’s a way, and I am the Will in this in- stance. With a good night’s rest and an early breakfast, I will be in trim and — and — ” but Billy was off to the land of dreams. 24 CHAPTER II FAIR DAY DAWNS S IS the invariable custom with all thrifty farm folk, the Treat family was astir as soon as the sun had begun his journey across the sky. Just as the first bright streaks of light shot up from the horizon in the east, Mr. Treat went to the stock bams to do his morning chores, and his good wife was busy in her kitchen preparing the morning meal. The boys were eager to lend a hand — an extraordinary state of affairs, to say the least, but they were so brimming full of excitement at the prospects of the day before them that finally they were banished from the kitchen, their mother declaring them nuisances and far more of a hindrance than a help. As the sound of the clicking gate leading from the barnyard to the vegetable garden at the rear of the house proclaimed Mr. Treat’s return, his wife poured out the steaming, fragrant coffee and Tom was summoned to carry the savory ham and eggs to the table. Mrs. Treat was one of those women who realize that a farmer must dilly-dally at his meals no more than any business man, and seldom indeed was this family asked to wait for a meal. Billy JVhiskers at the Fair “ Looks like a fine day ahead of us,” Mr. Treat reported as he opened the door. “The little fog in the valley is clearing fast, and by noon it will be warm enough for our picnic dinner in the maple grove.” “Evening red and morning gray Sets the traveler on his way, ” quoted Mrs. Treat. “I was not worrying about the weather, for that sign never fails.” “Goody! Goody!” exulted Dick. “Let’s hurry, father.” “Well, all the stock has been fed, and my work is done. If mother will pack the lunch, we’ll be off within the hour. I’ve taken a look at the automobile and everything is in shape for the start.” “ I’d much rather go in the carriage, with Browny,” remonstrated Mrs. Treat nervously. “You know, father — ” “ Oh, father, please don’t! ” chorussed Tom and Harry in a breath. “I’ll drive Browny!” cried cheery little Dick, always ready to acquiesce to any plan. “Now, mother,” wheedled Mr. Treat, “don’t you worry! That machinist told me a lot of things about the auto, and you know I drove to Springfield and back again last night after supper. I made the return trip alone, too, and so nothing’s going to happen to-day. Boys,” dismissing the subject, “help pack the hamper, and I’ll fill the gasolene tank.” 26 Billy Whiskers at the Fair Boys and girls who have lived all their years in the city have scant idea of all the good things that went into the Treat hamper that morning. There was a crisp salad of celery, apples, nuts and lettuce, doz- ens and dozens of sandwiches with a liberal filling of boiled ham, pickles — tomato pickles, cucumber pickles, pickled pears, pickled onions — cold chicken, sliced ham, baked beans, mince pie, pumpkin pie, doughnuts, and a delicious cake. The preparation of the lunch was Mrs. Treat’s special pride, and all her housewifely art was exerted to make it the best her ovens could produce. As she spread the snowy napkins over the top of the bountiful feast, she said: “This lunch basket is rather large, but it will set in that hamper on the auto very easily. I’ve packed this basket tight, and the things won’t jiggle at all. Now, Tom, you take hold of this side, and Harry, you may take this, and tell your father to crowd in news- papers securely about it so it can’t move an inch. I always think when I see an auto go spinning by that the trunk’ll surely bump off when they go over the thank-e-ma’ams on the hill.” “Mama said to fix it tight,” cautioned Tom, as the basket was lifted to its place in the larger hamper on the rack. “I’ll do that, my son, and now run in and bring me some more papers. This lunch must carry safely, or our day will be spoiled.” 27 Billy JVhiskers at the Fair “There!” sighed Mr. Treat, as he tested the hamper to see that no amount of 1: umping would disturb the lunch, “that will do, but I will let the lid be open, for mother’ll be sure to want to tuck in something else at the very last moment. Come along, boys, we’ll get our hats and then be off,” and they merrily trooped into the house. Jealous Billy had not been idle all this time. Indeed, he had been spying out the situation from a favorite hiding-place in the hay mow, and now he descended to reconnoiter further. “How am I ever to get to the Fair in that? There’s no place underneath where I can hang on. I can’t get inside, for they’ll see me first thing, and then I’ll be taken into the bam and securely locked up. That was the treatment I received in the summer when the Circus came to Springfield. I can’t ride anywhere that I can see.” Once more he circled around the machine. “If there was only a top to the machine, I might manage to ride on it. To be sure, it might prove rather slippery, but I’d dig in my toes. There would be one disadvantage, though. I’d receive the full benefit of all the bumps on the road, perched up there.” With a saucy side toss of his magnificent head, he paused sud- denly to chuckle: 28 Billy BFhiskers at the Fair “Ha, ha! Ho, ho! Just the very place for me! Ha, ha, ha!” and with one light spring he was up beside the hamper. “Plenty of room with a few of those papers out of the way,” so he proceeded to dispense with them by eating them — not a very appetizing meal, but goats are not the most epicurean of beasts. When they had been disposed of in this manner, he stepped daintily inside the hamper, though it was a very tight fit. Then his eyes popped open and a broad smile lighted up his countenance, and he wiggled his chin whiskers, a trick he had to express extreme pleas- ure. “What luck for Billy! Breakfast all laid! And Mrs. Treat’s best cooking, too.” With a little flirt of his horns, wicked Billy brought the cover down over himself and the lunch basket, and to all outward ap- pearances everything was very snug. “Good thing this is so large,” ruminated Billy. “Really it is more of a rattan trunk than a hamper. I suppose it is meant to do duty for a trunk on short trips,” and he settled himself com- fortably, and only just in time, for Mr. Treat was even then calling in his hearty, jovial way: “All aboard!” and was helping Mrs. Treat into the tonneau. After an argument as to whom belonged the honor place — the seat beside the driver — Tom was installed there, while the 29 Billy hVhiskers at the Fair younger boys were tucked in beside their mother, pacified by the promise that on the return trip it would be turn-about. In the excitement of getting off, Mr. Treat forgot all about the unfastened hamper, and so with a few preliminary coughs and rumbles, the machine glided smoothly out of the drive on to the highway — a si#-passenger car. From the time the boys had been out of bed, they had been popping to the front window in the kitchen at every noise made by passing vehicles. “Mama, mama, there go the Ripleys!” they complained, eager to be off. “We’ll never get there if we don’t start pretty soon,” they fairly groaned. “Never mind, never mind,” Mother Treat comforted. “We are going in the automobile, you know, and we will overtake all those people before they are so very many miles on their way.” And now that they were skimming along so rapidly, they really began to pass their neighbors in their slower, horse-drawn convey- ances. Farmer Treat honked merrily as he rolled up behind them and as horses were turned to one side to give liberal passing room, the 3 ° Billy IVhiskers at the Fair boys answered the friendly greetings with happy shouts and waving caps. “We will beat the whole township to the Fair,” predicted Tom, ever full of confidence. “B-b-b-b-u-u-u-r-r-r-r-r-r!” came a hoarse, grating sound from the depths of the auto as they reached the first slight incline which began the long, steady half-mile mount of Rex Hill. Mr. Treat, full of fear at the unusual noise, put on the emergency brake and brought the car to a standstill with a sudden jolt. “Mercy me!” shouted Mrs. Treat, from the tonneau. “Let me out! I told you something would happen and we’d all be killed. Let me out!” she repeated, fumbling frantically at the door. “What’s the matter?” inquired the boys, as they began to tin- ker with spark plug, brake and lever. “ Let those be! ” commanded Mr. Treat, not in the best of humor, and trying in vain to conceal his uneasiness. “I’ll soon have it fixed,” and he continued his search for the cause of the trouble. “It isn’t the tires as I can see, and nothing’s wrong with the sparker, either,” he said nervously. “And there comes the George Petersons, and he’ll have a spell if he sees me in difficulty. He is always glad to laugh at one in trouble. Besides, I know he’s wanted an auto for a long time, and a chance to laugh at— Mother, 3i Billy Whiskers at the Fair come on! Climb in. It’s all right. I must have fed the engine too much gasolene. Climb in and we’ll be hustling along.” All went well until they topped the hill and struck a new cinder road when b-b-bu-ur-r-r-r! came the same dismal, warning sound. “Land sakes! What ever can be the trouble now? I am getting that fidgety that I sha’n’t be able to enjoy anything at the Fair when we do get there!” fretted Mrs. Treat. “I’m pretty certain it is the gear,” said her husband, “or else the carbureter.” “Perhaps it is the spark plug,” offered knowing Tom. “Mightn’t it be the batteries,” suggested Dick with a wise ex- pression in his great blue eyes, and a frown on his face. “Or may be one of the differentials,” added Harry, eager to be of help to his father. “Well, I am pretty sure it is a judgment on us,” responded Mrs. Treat. “I think we had better turn back and get old Browny and the surrey. We’ll be sure to get there some time then. Now I don’t know that we ever shall.” “What did I do?” questioned Mr. Treat as the engine began to respond to his vigorous cranking. “I’ve cranked and cranked and cranked , and why it should begin now and not ten minutes ago is beyond my comprehension.” If the driver had been of an inquiring turn of mind and had con- 32 Billy IVhiskers at the Fair ducted his investigations a little further, he might have located the real cause of all his difficulties. In the course of the last half hour, Billy Whiskers had been feasting himself upon the pies and cakes and other delicacies stored in the hamper. “My, what would Browny think if he could see me now!” he thought. And it was his roar of delight that resulted in the first consternation of the inexperienced chauffeur. “ Deary me! ” thought the goat when the auto brought up with a violent jerk. “I wish Mr. Treat would be more careful. I’ll surely be caught now, and he will be the death of me if he finds me in here,” and a nervous shiver or two ran down his spine. But when all quieted down and the machine was making good time over the country roads, Billy resumed his repast, only to be interrupted once or twice by his chuckles of bubbling good nature. At last, even his appetite being fully satisfied, he began to lay further plans for his outing. “In the first place,” he mused, “how am I ever to get out of this box? My legs are cramped, and I ache in every bone from remaining so long in such an awkward position. I’ll stretch a bit and see where we are, at the same time,” and he cautiously raised the hamper lid with his head. “Well, well! If there isn’t the gate to the grounds. How glad 33 Billy Whiskers at the Fair I am to see it. I’ll crouch down here and ride right in with the family.” But the flowers on Mrs. Treat’s hat proved his undoing, for they waved so temptingly near, Billy could not resist one little nibble to see if they were as delicious as they looked. Feeling the twitch as his teeth fastened upon them, that lady turned suddenly, and Billy, making a hurried effort to es- cape her eye, dodged down behind. Unfortunately, he lost his balance and fell into the dust, and it was only due to the fact that the hamper was strapped on securely that he did not carry that along. He rolled over and over in the deep dust of the unpaved roadway until his beautiful white coat was soiled and grimy. Regaining his footing with a bound, he shook himself to free his coat of the dirt and to express his disgust. “ ’Twill never do to let a trifle like this keep me from the Fair. 34 Billy JVhiskers at the Fair I must gain an entrance somehow,” and he ran as fast as his fleet legs could carry him. He made a desperate effort to overtake the automobile, now al- most at the gate, but just as the machine rolled past the entrance and into the enchanted territory, Billy dashed up, only to be con- fronted by the gateman, who nim- bly swung the wide gate back into place — and Billy was outside! “Beaten!” he gasped, gazing wrathfully after the fast disap- pearing automobile. “How can I get inside of that high fence?” The gateman threw a few stones at Billy to chase him away, and so he sadly and slowly began to patrol the fence, searching for some place that would offer easy entrance. Two or three times he was half way under, squirming his way in like a common dog, but a crowd of boys found him and, taking advan- 35 Billy IVhiskers at the Fair tage of his helpless position, threw sticks and stones, and forced him to withdraw. Coming to a high bluff that overlooked the grounds, he climbed it and lay down for a few moments of rest, to rearrange his dis- ordered plans. TT ild see the tops of the many the roof of the grand stand, r white in its new coat of paint, and the long, curv- ing course of the race track stretching before W it. All of these things a he quickly recognized Ir from the descriptions he ) had heard the boys give, and then, too, it resem- bled the Circus to a striking degree. About the tents and buildings he could see the crowds begin- ning to surge. He could hear the barking of many dogs, the cack- ling of chickens, the lowing of the co .vs, the baaing of the sheep, the squealing of the pigs, and the confused murmur of the people, — a great hubbub down there, but just a faint murmur at this distance. 36 Billy Whiskers at the Fair “ Oh, if only I were there! It must be glorious. See that beau- tiful horse trotting around the track at the far side — and there, there is our auto, I’m sure of it! I wonder what Mrs. Treat will say when she discovers that something has happened to her fine lunch. But here, I must gain entrance to these grounds by hook or by crook.” He thought a long time, but one plan after another was cast aside as being too foolhardy, or unworthy his prowess, or beneath his dignity. At last, just below him, he spied little Dick coming along beside his mother. “Ah, there is my playfellow!” and with no thought but to join him, he bounded over the forbidding fence. “Oh, Billy, Billy!” shouted surprised Dick. “I’m so glad to see you,” but Billy needed just one quick glance at Mrs. Treat’s face to realize that it was wise for him to keep his distance and away he scurried, free as when on his native hills in far-away Swit- zerland. 37 CHAPTER III IN THE NEEDLEWORK EXHIBIT FTER Billy had put a safe distance between himself and Mrs. Treat to feel at ease, he wandered aimlessly along, letting himself be carried here and there, wherever he chanced to see anything that offered interest, when sud- denly he heard a squeaky, high-pitched voice saying: “Oh, where have you been Billy boy, Billy boy?” “Who is that? I do not recognize the voice, but it may be some of my old friends from the Circus,” and knowing that the voice issued from a tent near by, he promptly stuck his head under the canvas side and took a look about. Billy Whiskers, as you already know, had a very large bump of curiosity, and tents were no mystery to him after his long exper- ience of the summer just gone. “Nothing there,” he quickly decided, when from the other side of the tent came the inquiry in a sing-song, high falsetto: “Oh, where have you been, Billy boy, Billy boy? Oh, where have you been, Charming Billy? ” 39 Billy Whiskers at the Fair By this time Billy's eyes commenced to bulge with wonder, for he was as susceptible to flattery as any. “I wonder which of my friends is playing this joke. Come out, old fellow, and give me a fair chance,” he demanded. “Oh, where have you been, Billy boy, Billy boy? Oh, where have you been, Charming Billy? I’ve been to seek a wife, For the pleasure of my life, She’s a young thing, And cannot leave her mother!” came the mocking answer. “If I could find the insolent fellow, I would cure him of prying into other people’s affairs. More trouble is made in this world by prying eyes and itching ears than any other one thing. That much I’ve learned in my short career. But there is nothing here except that box with the tin horn sticking out of the top. It must be some- one is trying to play a practical joke on me.” Billy crept all the way into the tent, for he still hoped to find one of his friends in hiding. Walking about cautiously to explore, he had all but reached the mysterious box when once more the voice began to repeat: 40 Billy Whiskers at the Fair “Oh, where have you been, Billy boy, Bil ” ‘Now I know who ’tis. It’s one of those parrots who traveled with the Circus, and that box must be her cage. They always were the sauciest things, and her a much-needed Backing away to made the attack box full in the went with a great noise summoned who rushed in happened. “Get out o’ o’ here! You’ve greatest inven- age,” and, stick started after wrath in his full of importance, and I’ll teach lesson.” gain a start, Billy and struck the center. Over it clatter, and the an attendant, to see what had here! Get out smashed the tion of the in hand, he Billy with eye. Deciding that discretion was much the better part of valor, Billy took quick refuge in precipitous flight. He crept under the side of the tent once more, but this time his departure was hastened a trifle by a final prod from his pursuer. 