d at the boys so sternly they all began to feel uncomfortable.
"We've got either to kill them or drive them out of the house,
otherwise the lady folks won't be able to sleep to-night."

"I'll get a poker and kill as many of 'em as I can," cried Randy, and
ran out into the kitchen to do as he had mentioned.

The other boys, as well as their fathers, armed themselves with canes,
umbrellas, and brooms, and for the next fifteen minutes there was a
rapid and thorough search for all of the rodents. Several were driven
outside through the open doors, while others were caught and
slaughtered in various parts of the kitchen, the pantry, and the rooms
adjoining. Then the goldfish were gathered up and put into another bowl
of water and the bits of broken glass were removed.

"I'm awfully sorry, Uncle Randy, you broke the fish-globe," said Randy,
contritely, "but I'm glad you saved the fish."

"Look here, young man, I want to talk to you--and to you, too!" cried
Tom, sharply, and without more ado caught each twin by the arm and
marched them into the library.

"Wow! I'm afraid Andy and Randy are in for it now," whispered Fred to
Jack.

"Well, Randy certainly had no right to put those mice in the pantry,"
answered his cousin. "Just the same, I hope Uncle Tom isn't too severe
with 'em."

"I don't see why Andy should be punished for this."

"Oh, they always stick together. You know that as well as I do."

"So I do. Isn't it wonderful how each is willing to share the blame
with the other?" added Fred, with deep admiration.

Once in the library, Tom Rover shut the doors tightly and then faced
his twin sons.

"Now then, I want the truth about this," he commenced sternly. "Where
did those mice come from?"

"They came from under the flooring of the old wagon house," answered
Randy. "I caught them there when the carpenters tore up the floor to
put down the new one."

"And where did you put them?"

"I put 'em in a--er--a couple of boxes."

"Randy was going to keep the mice and try to teach 'em to do tricks,
just the same as those mice we once saw in a vaudeville show," put in
Andy, quickly, to do what he could to shield his brother.

"More tricks, eh?" was Tom's dry comment. "It seems to me that it is
nothing but tricks lately. I suppose you placed the boxes in the pantry
just so the mice wouldn't catch cold, didn't you?" he went on
quizzically.

"No, sir. I--I--placed 'em there just for safekeeping," was the
hesitating