The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers Read Online Free PDF Page A

Maggie could probably give him some tips.
    Qwilleran phoned Maggie and was offered: a nice cup of tea! He said he would come up right away. (Someday the Qwill Pen would address the question of tea—and the difference between an ordinary cup of tea and a nice one.)
    He biked to the rear of the Sprenkle Building and was admitted to the small elevator lobby, just large enough for his British Silverlight.
    The upstairs apartment—over the insurance and real estate offices—was of Victorian splendor. The five front windows were occupied by Maggie’s five “ladies” from the animal shelter. Tea was ready to be poured.
    After the niceties, Qwilleran broached his idea for the Old Manse column. She thought it was splendid.
    He stated his case, and the practical octogenarian said, “I never heard Nathan claim a connection between his grandfather and the author…but he never disclaimed one either!”
    â€œMr. Barter advised me to arrange an appointment with Miss James or Miss Babcock.”
    She paused significantly. “I think…you would find Daisy Babcock…amenable to your idea. She’s a lovely girl. Alma Lee is a little… starchy, although I must admit she’s an encyclopedia of information on Georgian silver and eighteenth-century crystal. She’s not there every day, so you have to make an appointment. She spends three days a week in Lockmaster, where her parents have a gallery of art and antiques.”
    She said more, but Qwilleran had made up his mind to choose Daisy. He said, “The Ledfields have been very generous to the community.”
    â€œNathan was always a good and generous soul. There was a couple that worked for him—Mr. and Mrs. Simms, and they were killed in an auto accident, leaving a seven-year-old daughter. Nathan found a good home for her with a family at the church. But he also kept in touch with her, checking her report card at every marking and giving her gifts for birthdays and Christmas—nothing inappropriately expensive but useful and thoughtful. After high school he put her through business school and then hired her to handle his correspondence and personal expenses.”
    â€œWhere is she now?” Qwilleran asked.
    â€œHis will stipulated that Libby Simms should continue to handle his private matters. He made sure that his lawyers knew her position in the family.”
    â€œA touching story,” Qwilleran murmured. “How old is she now?”
    â€œEarly twenties, I think. But this illustrates the Ledfields: fondness for children and their sorrow over not having any of their own.”
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    When Qwilleran phoned the Old Manse to request a tour of the building, he had his strategy planned.
    He talked to a cheery individual whom he rightly guessed to be Daisy. Informed when Miss James would be in town, he scheduled an appointment for the day of her absence, saying he was on deadline.
    Daisy said she could conduct him through the building the next day.
    That evening at eleven P . M . it was Qwilleran’s turn to phone Polly with news.
    â€œI’m interviewing Daisy tomorrow. Have you met her?”
    â€œYes, she’s friendlier than the other one. Married to one of the Linguini sons…Their parents retired from the restaurant business and now live in Florida, although they visit Italy every summer. The sons preferred a party store to a restaurant, and I don’t blame them!”
    Qwilleran said, “Their store is the only place I can buy Squunk water by the case, and they deliver!”
    â€œAre you looking forward to visiting the Old Manse, Qwill? I wish, now, that I had accepted Doris Ledfield’s invitations….”
    He said, “Do you think it’s crazy to think that Nathan’s grandfather might have have been inspired by Hawthorne’s book?”
    â€œNot at all. Mosses from an Old Manse was much revered in the days when the house was being built….”
    â€œDo