mming and festooning of the big dining room completed. Neale O'Neil came over early to help the Corner Hou

gility that made it possible for the rope of green to be festooned from the heav

said to Ruth, for the oldest Corner House girl was

s mess on the carpet, and then dust the rugs. Mercy, Agnes!" exclaim

ow," admit

k at this old book you brought down f

t over to the broad window-seat on which she sat t

o gather up the litter. Ruth became very still at the window with

ng-pictures?" asked Ag

res," Ruth sai

chuckled Neale, "by

ld volume. Had the others noticed particularly they would have seen tha

! I do wish you'd come out here and see what that Sammy Pinkney'

s. Mac," Ruth said nervously,

instead of going out through the butler's pantry after Mrs. MacCall, s

ound that old album myself; and I hav

cold porch, where Sammy Pinkney, done up in the folds of a huge red comforter like a boa-

MacCall, spectacles on nose and eyeing the co

d. Sandyface, the mother cat, was arching her bac

they?" dem

cats. They like 'em, don't they? But my m

l. "Being kicked to death with grasshoppers would be mild puni

," said Dot, the literal, as she an

ff statement. He saw that his present was not entirely appreciated by the human

ill cry for "Spotty, Almira, Popocatepetl, Bungle, Starboard, Port,

r most mysteriously from the ground. Big cats and little ca

m they'd eat us out of house a

thie! don't let him open the cage till Almir

exclaimed the housekeeper. "How can you? Want

s?" demanded Sammy, gri

he pests!" cri

ira, Ruthie,

said Sammy. "Can't fool here a

Alm

the corners and all around the barrels. Suddenly sh

, Almira?" she

went Almira-oh, so l

I see you-down in that corner. Why, you're

by the other cats and killed.

ed, "has anything h

ad!" laughed the olde

" cried Dot, run

red Ruth. "Did you ever see the like? You cunning 'ittle

her knees to worship. But Dot looked gravely at t

face, you're a gran