“Get the beefsteak,” Sammy ordered, with an air of one used to being obeyed.
“I’ll get it. There’s some in the ice box,” offered Tess. “But don’t do the trick until I get back,” she commanded.
“I won’t,” Sammy promised.
While Tess went to the pantry Dot knelt in a chair as close to the mysterious box as she could get.
“Let me just peek at him until Tess comes back,” she pleaded. “You don’t need do the trick.”
Sammy obligingly raised the cover of the box slightly.
“Oh, Sammy Pinkney, what have you done to the lovely alligator?” cried Dot, starting back.
“Keep still! It’s part of the trick,” answered Sammy.
“Oh, you said you wouldn’t do it while I was gone!” cried Tess accusingly, as she came in with some shreds of meat and heard the last words.
“I didn’t,” declared Sammy. “I was just showing him to Dot. I’ll lift him out now. Put the meat on the table.”