160 Pussy Meow 
Buttercup was gone, she had her own little kitteil 
to keep her company. 
We were just enjoying our vacation very nicely, 
when one morning Budge disappeared, and that 
night we could not find him anywhere, although 
we could hear his doleful cry coming from some 
place, no one knew just where. I tremble to think 
what would have become of poor Budge, if mis- 
tress hadn’t come home in time to save him. 
Late the next afternoon she and Guy rode up to 
the curb. I was lying on the grass, and Toddy was 
in the hammock with Charlie. 
As soon as I heard mistress’ voice, I rushed out 
to meet her, and she picked me up and petted me, 
and said how glad she was to get home again. 
Then Mrs. Watt told her the distressing news that 
Budge had not been seen for two days. As soon 
as Guy reached his room up-stairs, he heard a 
muffled “ meow ” coming out of the wall, and in 
reply to his name Budge answered “ meow,” 
“ meow.” In the cellar his voice could be heard 
very plainly, so mistress went there and tried to 
coax him down with a piece of raw beefsteak. He 
was just above the studding ; having taken fright 
at something, and crawled up between the boards 
