Early before breakfast the next morning, Norma and Mrs. James were planting the seeds which had been soaked through the night. They planted them where the soil was richest, and planned to dig up the tiny shoots when they came up, and transplant them over by the fence which would be all ready for the vines by that time.
“Now I’ll go and get the wonderful nasturtium seeds, Jimmy,” said Norma, when the swollen wet seeds were all planted.
She ran to the pantry and got the box. She ran out again with it in her hand and did not open it until she stopped in front of Mrs. James. Then she carefully lifted the cover from the box to show her companion the six queer shrivelled seeds that would bring forth such beauty. To her amazement she saw but two.
“I know Mrs. Tompkins gave me six!” she exclaimed.
“You didn’t drop any on your way over here, did you?”
“No, I never removed the lid until I got here.”
“That’s very strange! I wonder if there are any field mice in the house. I’ve heard they love nasturtium seeds,” said Mrs. James.
“Jimmy, if a mouse got the seeds, wouldn’t the cover be off, or a hole eaten into the box?”
“Yes, of course it would! And the cover was on when you picked it up?”
“It was on exactly as I left it last night, and just as I showed it to you this minute.”