“Wherever did you get so many mice, boys?” asked Mrs. Evans.
“We found them,” said the Captain, “all boxed up, just like this, They were right out in the middle of that field over there. We were on the way over here and saw the box and looked in. When we saw what it was we thought we could play a joke on the girls. So we brought them along. Looks as though someone had fixed them that way for a joke. Probably were going to send them by express. They were in an express box, although it was not nailed shut.”
The girls began to look at one another significantly. The same thought came into all their minds at once. Were not these the mice that were to attend the Junior party?
“The joke is on the Seniors, after all,” said Hinpoha.
“What do you mean?” asked the boys. “The joke is on the Seniors?”
“Shall we tell them?” asked Hinpoha.
“I don’t see any harm now,” said Gladys. “The scheme has collapsed like a pricked balloon.”
And they told the Sandwiches what they knew about the plot of the Senior boys to interrupt the Junior party.
“Wasn’t such a bad idea to try to play a joke on you girls after all, was it?” said the Captain. “Because if we hadn’t done it we wouldn’t have nipped their little scheme in the bud. We’ll play lots more jokes on them, won’t we, Slim? Don’t you girls think you ought to invite us up to supper to celebrate?”
“Not until the last mouse is back in the box,” said Gladys firmly.