“There he is!” they shrieked.
Mrs. McCall was visible behind them. She said something far more practical. She demanded: “Is that the boy that’s been stealing my pies and doughnuts?”
Tommy shrank back and turned to flee. But Uncle Rufus darted out from behind the woodshed and caught him.
“Glo-ree! is dis de leetle rapscallion I done see squeezin’ out of dat cellar winder? An’ I declar’! I didn’t t’ink nobody more’n a cat could git in an out o’ dat winder.”
A window opened above, and Mrs. Treble put out her head. “Hold him till I come down there,” she ordered. “That little tyke tried to play ghost and scare me. I’ll fix him.”
She banged the window again, and was evidently hastening down stairs. Even Dot turned upon the truant:
“Have you been living in our garret, Tommy Rooney?” she cried.
Tommy nodded, too full for utterance at that moment.
“And we thought it was a goat!” declared Dot.
“And you ate the cookies and doughnuts Mrs. McCall missed,” accused Agnes.