ute! I have not finished!" said the Elephant Judge. "What I
was going to say was that before I could decide who wins I must see the
prize. What is the prize? Bring it here that I may see it, and then I
will decide who is to get it."

[Illustration: "Wait a Minute!" Trumpeted the Elephant.

_The Story of a Stuffed Elephant._ _Page_ 97]

"Oh, the prize!" cried the Shovel.

"That's so, we forgot all about it!" gasped the Rake.

"What was the prize to be?" asked the Pick. "I declare we did not settle
on any. How stupid!"

"Until I see the prize I cannot give judgment," said the Elephant; "so
the case will have to 'go over,' as I believe they say in Court, until
the prize is brought here. Stop disputing now, and get me the prize!"

"Yes! Yes! The prize! The prize!" cried the Rake, the Shovel and the
Pick, and away they scurried.

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed another voice in the corner whence had come the
three tools.

"What silly chaps!" came in another voice.

"To forget the most important thing of all--the prize!" added another.

"Who are you, if you please?" asked the Elephant, stepping down off the
onion crate.

"I'm the Hoe," was the answer of the first. "If I had wished I could
have told how useful I am. In fact, I think I will have a try for the
prize."

"I'm just as much entitled to it as you are," some one else said. "You
needn't think you can get ahead of me!"

"Who are you?" asked the Elephant.

"The Wheelbarrow," was the reply. "You ought to see the loads I carry. I
ought to get the prize!"

"What about me?" asked a third voice.

"Who are you?" asked the Elephant.

"The Lawn Mower. Just think what an ugly place this estate would be
unless I kept the grass trim and neat. It should be my prize."

"Oh, my goodness!" exclaimed the poor Elephant. "If there are to be more
disputes, and more evidence in this case, I shall go mad. Stop!" he
cried, as the Wheelbarrow, the Hoe, and the Lawn Mower came forward,
all talking at once. "Stop! I will do nothing until I see the prize!
Court is adjourned!"

And as the Elephant said this the sound of loud barking sounded through
the barn.

"Oh, maybe that is Nip coming to carry me back," thought the Elephant.
"I certainly hope so!"

CHAPTER IX

OUT IN THE RAIN

You remember that Nip, the big dog, had carried away the Stuffed
Elephant when Archie set his Christmas toy down on the barn floor for a
moment. And, coming back, after having gone to loo