“The one we brought you from Plam Island?” demanded Dot.
“’Tisn’t Plam Island, I tell you!” insisted Sammy. “It’s Palm, and——”
“I call it Plam,” remarked Dot sweetly and with an air of finality. “But where is he, Sammy—the alligator I mean? He was so cute, even if he was homely.”
“I have him outside,” Sammy answered. “I didn’t want to bring him in until I was sure it was all right. That’s the reason I looked in first and said ‘hello!’”
“And nearly made me drop my cake,” sighed Dot.
“But what about the raw beefsteak?” asked Tess.
“That’s to make the alligator do the trick,” explained Sammy.
“What trick?” cried both little girls at once.
“I’ll show you.”
Sammy went outside again. Tess and Dot were so eager they could scarcely await his return, but it was not many minutes before Sammy again made his appearance with a small box which he put on the kitchen table, shoving to one side spoons, pans and dishes that had been used with prodigal extravagance in the making of two very small cakes.