ranch, and
the little fellow has just about taken the goat over himself."

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mrs. Martin. "Trouble couldn't hitch the goat to
the wagon and drive off with him."

"Oh, yes he could, Mother!" said Teddy. "He's seen me and Janet hitch
Nicknack up lots of times, and he's helped, too. At first he got the
straps all crooked, but I showed him how to do it, and I guess he could
'most hitch the goat up himself now all alone."

"Then that's what he's done," said Mr. Martin. "Come on, Curlytops,
we'll go over to Mr. Newton's and get Trouble."

"I hope you find him all right," said Mrs. Martin, with a sigh.

"Oh, we'll find him all right--don't worry," her husband answered.

Laughing among themselves at the trick Trouble had played, Janet, Teddy
and Mr. Martin started for the home of Mr. Newton, which was three or
four long streets away, toward the edge of the town.

On the way they looked here and there, in the yards of houses where the
children often went to play.

"For," said Mr. Martin, "it might be possible that when Trouble found he
could drive Nicknack, which he could do, as the goat is very gentle, he
might have stopped on the way to play."

"Yes, he might," said Jan. "He's so cute!"

But there was no sign of the little boy, nor the goat, either.

Finally Mr. Newton's house was reached. Into the yard rushed Janet and
Teddy, followed by their father. Bob Newton was making a kite on the
side porch.

"Hello, Curlytop!" he called to Ted. "Want to help me fly this? It's
going to be a dandy!"

"Yes, I'll help you," agreed Ted. "But is he here?"

"Who here?" asked Bob, in some surprise.

"Nicknack, our goat," answered Teddy.

"What! Is he lost?" exclaimed Bob in some dismay, for he was counting on
having much fun with the goat when the Curlytops went West.

"Nicknack----" began Ted.

"Have you seen Trouble?" broke in Janet.

"Is he lost, too?" Bob inquired. "Say, I guess----"

"Our goat and little boy seem to have gone off together," explained Mr.
Martin to Mrs. Newton who came out on the porch just then. "We'd been
talking before Trouble about bringing Nicknack over here, and now that
both are missing we thought maybe Baby William had brought the goat over
himself."

"Why, no, he isn't here," said Mrs. Newton slowly. "You didn't see
anything of Trouble and the goat, did you?" she asked her son.

"No. I've been here making the kite all morning, and I'd have seen
Nicknack all right,