The Rover Boys at Colby Hall | Page 9

heard him.
"Everybody get a stick and go at those mice," commanded Dick Rover,
and looked 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
answer. "I didn't know that Lulu would disturb them."
"That's it, Dad. I'm sure Randy didn't want 'em disturbed."
"And what did you have to do with this, Andy?" demanded the father.
At this the boy addressed had nothing to say.
"He had nothing to do with it, Dad," answered Randy. "I got the mice
and put 'em in the two boxes. I s'pose it wasn't just the right thing to put
'em in the pantry, but I give you my word I didn't think they'd be upset
the way they were and be sent running all over the house. If Lulu hadn't
touched the boxes, the mice would be there yet."
"Perhaps," answered Tom Rover, dryly. "Just the same, I think you
placed the boxes there hoping that Lulu or the cook would have
curiosity enough to see what they contained. As it is, your actions have
upset the whole house, brought on the destruction of the fish-globe, and
the cook is so upset that she has threatened to leave."
"Oh, she won't leave, Dad. She likes her big wages too well," remarked
Andy, quickly.
"I don't know about that, Son. Nobody is going to stand for your tricks
much longer. They are getting altogether too numerous." Tom
continued to look as stern as possible. "I've got to take both of you in
hand, and that is all there is to it. You are growing wilder every day.
Something has got to be done. Now you go right upstairs and finish

dressing, and don't dare to let me hear of any more tricks being played
for the rest of this day, otherwise I'll not only give you a sound
thrashing, but I'll cut off your spending money and do several other
things that you won't like;" and, thus speaking, the father of the twins
opened the door to the hall and shoved them both out towards the stairs
with more force than they had felt for some time. The two lads lost no
time in retiring to