“They say he got so he wouldn’t give away a pin, at the last,” said Agnes. “And some of these old things must have belonged to people dead and gone when Uncle Peter himself was a boy.”
“I expect so,” agreed Ruth.
“What do you suppose is in all these chests and trunks, Ruthie?” asked Tess.
“Don’t know, honey. But we’ll find out some day.”
Just then Uncle Rufus’ tones reached them from the stairway. He called, in his quavering old voice:
“Missie! An’ you oder chillen. I done got somet’ing ter tell yo’.”
“What is it?” cried Agnes, running to open the door at the top of the stairs.
“I done foun’ out what happen ter dem kittens, Missie,” said Uncle Rufus. “You-all come ri’ down an’ I’ll show yo’.”
[CHAPTER XII—MRS. KRANZ COMES TO CALL]
The girls came down from the garret in a hurry, when they heard this news. Uncle Rufus hobbled on before to the kitchen. There was Sandy-face and Spotty in front of the range. They were both very wet and the old cat was licking the kitten dry.