I would certainly have gone crazy had it not been for Max . He was worth his weight in gold during the awful week that followed . We did not dare advertise , lest Aunt Cynthia should see it ; but we inquired far and wide for a white Persian cat with a blue spot on its tail , and offered a reward for it ; but nobody had seen it , although people kept coming to the house , night and day , with every kind of a cat in baskets , wanting to know if it was the one we had lost . `` We shall never see Fatima again , '' I said hopelessly to Max and Ismay one afternoon . I had just turned away an old woman with a big , yellow tommy which she insisted must be ours -- `` cause it kem to our place , mem , a-yowling fearful , mem , and it do n't belong to nobody not down Grafton way , mem . '' `` I 'm afraid you wo n't , '' said Max . `` She must have perished from exposure long ere this . '' `` Aunt Cynthia will never forgive us , '' said Ismay , dismally . `` I had a presentiment of trouble the moment that cat came to this house . '' We had never heard of this presentiment before , but Ismay is good at having presentiments -- after things happen . `` What shall we do ? '' I demanded , helplessly . `` Max , ca n't you find some way out of this scrape for us ? '' `` Advertise in the Charlottetown papers for a white Persian cat , '' suggested Max . `` Some one may have one for sale . If so , you must buy it , and palm it off on your good Aunt as Fatima . She 's very short-sighted , so it will be quite possible . '' `` But Fatima has a blue spot on her tail , '' I said . `` You must advertise for a cat with a blue spot on its tail , '' said Max . `` It will cost a pretty penny , '' said Ismay dolefully .
`` Fatima was valued XXXXX one hundred dollars . ''
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