They ran after him through the hall, through the dining room, to the pantry. Popeye barked.
Mrs. Blake and Aunt Hilda turned from their work, startled by the racket, and Aunt Hilda nearly dropped a teacup.
"What in the world?" said Mrs. Blake.
"Well, I tell you, ma'am," Mr. Caduggan said gustily, heaving with mystery and importance. "If you'll just step up-attic for a minute, I think there's something there you'll want to see."
Foster and Davey, who had been in the laundry, sitting cozily in a washtub reading comics, dislodged themselves and came to find out what was happening.
"What in the world?" repeated Mrs. Blake, dusting her hands on her dusty apron. "What can it be, Mr. Caduggan?"
"I'd rather you saw for yourself, ma'am," he replied cryptically.
"Is it something good or something bad?" Portia pleaded as they all mounted the stairs to the second floor.
"Wait and see," said Mr. Caduggan.
"Is it something dangerous?" asked Foster, alight with hope.