“I gotter take this cage back,” said Sammy. “Can’t fool here all day with a parcel of girls.”
“But Almira—”
But Ruth had gone into the woodshed. She peered into the corners and all around the barrels. Suddenly she heard a cat purring—purring hard, just like a mill!
“Where are you, Almira?” she asked, softly.
“Purr! purr! purr!” went Almira—oh, so loud, and so proudly!
“What is it, Almira?” asked Ruth. “There! I see you—down in that corner. Why, you’re on Uncle Rufus’ old coat! Oh! What’s this?”
The eight mice had been caught by the other cats and killed. Tess came to the woodshed door.
“Oh, Ruth,” she asked, “has anything happened to Almira?”
“I should say there had!” laughed the oldest Corner House girl.
“Oh! what is it?” cried Dot, running, too, to see.