Freddy and the Perilous Adventure by Walter R. Brooks Page B

I’m doing,” said Freddy angrily, “and what business is it of policemen to throw rocks at me, I should like to know. Going about my lawful business, I am, and it’s your duty to protect me, not throw things at me. Wait until I report this to your commanding officer, my lads, and see what he says.”
    The troopers glanced at each other. After all, throwing stones, even at a scarecrow, wasn’t part of their duty, and if they were throwing them at a man, and the matter was reported to the lieutenant—well, it wouldn’t be any help towards promotion.
    â€œWe’re sorry,” said Bill. “We thought you were a scarecrow.”
    â€œA scarecrow!” yelled Freddy. “Me—a scarecrow? By George, young man, I’ll see you punished for that kind of insulting talk if I have to carry the matter to Albany. Fine guardians of the peace, you are! Calling names; throwing rocks—”
    â€œExcuse me, mister,” said Wes. “We really didn’t mean anything against you. But you were standing out there with your arms apart, and not moving—”
    â€œ Course I’m not moving,” said the pig. “How can I catch ’em if I move?”
    â€œCatch what?” asked Bill.
    â€œMice. I’m a professional catcher and trainer of mice. Put crumbs on my hat, come out and stand still, mice get on hat for crumbs, I scoop ’em into my pocket, take ’em home and train ’em. Anything illegal about that?”
    â€œNo, no,” said Bill soothingly. “It’s a new occupation to me, but as far as I can see, no harm in it if you like it.”
    â€œAnd I hope,” said Wes, “that you’ll reconsider about reporting us. A report like that—”
    â€œI can tell you one thing, my lad,” said Freddy; “you’ll be reported if you give me any more of your talk. Get along, and we’ll say no more about it. But keep this up another minute or two—” The balance of his remarks was lost in the roar of the motorcycles as the troopers kicked them into action.
    â€œWow!” said Freddy. “Now I have got to sit down and cool off!”

Chapter 10
    The tents of Boomschmidt’s Colossal and Unparalleled Circus had been pitched in the fair grounds just west of the village of South Pharisee. Freddy and Jinx saw the flags flying a long way off, and then as they came closer they saw the big tent with the little tents around it, and the red and gold wagons, and the crowds of people. They went up to the gate where, in a little booth, an ostrich was taking tickets.
    There was one thing about Mr. Boomschmidt’s circus that was different from every other circus, and that was that the animals weren’t kept locked up in their cages, but were allowed to mingle with the customers, and even did a good deal of the work usually done by attendants. Naturally at first people were inclined to be a little nervous when they were shown to their seats by a hippopotamus, or when they went into a sideshow and found a full grown tiger looking over their shoulder. But as the Boomschmidt show came back to the same towns year after year, they got used to it and began to like it. And when mothers saw their children being chased by a leopard or a hyena, they didn’t scream and carry on, but just smiled happily and said: “What fun they have, to be sure!” It was a very good arrangement all around.
    Freddy and Jinx got in line and moved up to the gate.
    â€œHello, Oscar. How are you?” said Freddy.
    But the ostrich just looked at him and said: “Tickets, please.”
    Freddy took off his hat. “Remember me now? I’m—”
    â€œIf you haven’t tickets,” said the ostrich in a snippy voice, “kindly stand to one side.”
    Some of the people giggled, and a woman behind Freddy said: “Oh, move on; we can’t stand here all day!”
    â€œBut I want to see Mr.