ered the little girl. "Trouble was in the
bathroom this morning, Uncle Toby, getting washed," Janet explained.
"He found some of your shaving soap, and he liked the smell of it. He
was rubbing it on his face when I stopped him. He asked me where you got
your soap and I told him in a barber shop, I thought. Then he wanted to
know what a barber shop was like, and I told him it was a place that had
a red, white, and blue pole in front of it. So that's where he's
gone--to the barber shop to get some of that nice smelling soap."
"I shouldn't wonder," agreed Uncle Toby. "I hope the barber kept him
there, if he went in."
They hurried to the shop in front of which was a gay red, white, and
blue pole, and there they found Trouble. But they found him more than
just inquiring for scented soap, for he was up in the chair, kept
specially for children.
In front of Trouble, draped around his neck, was a white apron, and the
barber, with comb and scissors, was just about to cut the little
fellow's long hair.
"Trouble! What are you doing?" cried Uncle Toby, his voice causing the
barber to turn around in surprise.
"I goin' get hair cut!" announced the little fellow.
"Oh, no! You mustn't!" exclaimed Jan.
"I wants hair cut an' nice smelly stuff on my face," announced the
little fellow, holding tightly to the arms of the barber's chair, lest
he be made to come out.
"No, no!" said Janet. "Not now, Trouble!"
"Didn't some of you send him to have his hair trimmed?" asked the
barber, in some surprise.
"No, indeed!" laughed Uncle Toby, who knew the barber quite well. "He
ran off by himself. I'm glad we reached here in time to stop you. He's a
little tyke; that's what he is!"
"Well, he came in here as bold as you please," said Mr. Miller, the
barber. "He climbed up in the chair himself, and though he didn't tell
me so exactly, I thought he wanted a hair cut, as it's pretty long. He
did say he wanted some nice perfume on him, but all the children say
that when they come in here. And I've often had them as young as he is
come in here alone. But of course their fathers or mothers sent 'em. And
you didn't send this little chap?" he asked, as he helped Trouble down
out of the chair, much to William's disgust.
"No, we didn't send him," chuckled Uncle Toby. "He just took the notion
himself. Tried some of my shaving soap this morning, so his sister says.
Well, I am glad he's found. We'd better take him back so the boys will
kno
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