“It would be a good idea,” said George. “We ought to have the monkey, though, to get Patter used to him.”
“Let’s go and see if we can get Wango,” suggested Harry.
The boys went over to the home of the old sailor. Usually Wango was outside on the porch, if the weather was warm enough, and it was now, for it was summer. But to-day no Wango could be seen. Miss Euphemia Winkler, Jed’s sister, was there, however, and she seemed very busy about something.
“What do you boys want?” she demanded rather crossly, as she saw them stop just outside the fence.
“Please, Miss Winkler,” began Bunny, “could we take Wango a little while? We’ll be sure to——”
“Don’t speak to me about that horrid monkey!” cried Miss Winkler, shaking her broom at the boys. “I never want to see him again. If he were here you could take him and welcome, but he isn’t here!”
“Where’s he gone, if you please?” asked Bunny.
“Don’t ask me! I hope he’s gone back to China, or India, or wherever it was my brother was foolish enough to bring him from! I never want to see him again—the monkey I mean!” added Miss Winkler quickly. “Look at the work he made me!”
“What did he do?” asked George.
“Why, when I was baking cookies he swooped down off the mantel and grabbed both paws full,” said Miss Winkler, as she went on sweeping dirt from the porch. “Then, when I chased him, he ran out here and grabbed up two flower pots and threw them at me. The pots smashed and the dirt flew all over! Oh, I never saw such a monkey!”