“Gone.” She and Magdalene had disappeared. Mimi ran upstairs. She must find them.
They were not in Tumble Inn. Sue, who was brushing her hair one hundred strokes every night paused long enough to say——
“Fifty-five—Betsy is spending the night with Madge—I guess Mrs. Cole gave her permission.” Then she changed her hairbrush to her other hand and continued brushing—“fifty-six, fifty-seven.”
So that was it. Madge’s room (Sue insisted on calling her that) was on the third floor at the head of the stairs. It would be easier to sneak down from there. Perhaps she should ask Sue what to do. But no, Mimi was a lot like the cat who walked by herself. She could figure this out and act alone. If she ran the risk of being caught out of her room after light bell, and if her plan did not succeed she might be caught and considered a plotter herself.
Mimi tried to be natural as she undressed, cleaned her teeth, and said her prayers. Chloe almost sat on Mimi’s flashlight she had sneaked under her pillow.
“Chloe.” Sue sounded so lonesome in the darkness. “Please, come sleep with me. I can’t go to sleep by myself.”
“Move over and give me your warm place and I will.”
Mimi didn’t stir until several minutes after she heard Chloe’s bare feet patter across the floor. She could get up now without disturbing anyone. Carefully she eased up to a sitting position, then lifted herself noiselessly to her feet. The bed springs squeaked as she stood up and Mimi stood rigid listening. She slipped into her felt slippers and bathrobe and, inch at a time, opened the door.
The hall was twilight dark—only dim lights above the bathroom entrances. Staying close to the wall she moved toward the stairs. She froze in her tracks, one foot on the first step, as she heard a door close softly and a whisper “sh-sh.” Then acting without knowing why, Mimi hid in the bathroom and waited. Peeping out she saw Madge and Betsy creep by, casting goblin shadows against the wall.
For a mad instant Mimi wanted to join them rather than foil their plans. Then she decided to have some fun of her own. She’d pay Miss Betsy back for some of the insults she had endured during Green Cap Week.