"Have you little people lost a cat lately ?" We stared.

Peter said "I knew it!" in a triumphant pig's whisper.

The Story Girl started eagerly forward.
"Oh, Mr.Dale, can you tell us anything of Paddy ?" she cried.
"A silver gray cat with black points and very fine marking ?" "Yes, yes!" "Alive ?" "Yes." "Well, doesn't that beat the Dutch!" muttered Dan.
But we were all crowding about the Awkward Man, demanding where and when he had found Paddy.
"You'd better come over to my place and make sure that it really is your cat," suggested the Awkward Man, "and I'll tell you all about finding him on the way.

I must warn you that he is pretty thin--but I think he'll pull through." We obtained permission to go without much difficulty, although the spring evening was wearing late, for Aunt Janet said she supposed none of us would sleep a wink that night if we didn't.

A joyful procession followed the Awkward Man and the Story Girl across the gray, star-litten meadows to his home and through his pine-guarded gate.
"You know that old barn of mine back in the woods ?" said the Awkward Man.