"And he's starred just as brightly in his profession since then," chimed in Bert.
"I guess that 'never say die' motto has stuck by him all the time," mused Tom. "It's a bully motto, too. By the way, have you fellows ever heard the story of the mouse that fell in the milk pail?"
They stared at him suspiciously. Long experience with that facetious youth had taught them the folly of biting too quickly, when he put a question.
"No catch," protested Tom. "This is on the level."
"Well," said Dick, "if a crook like you can be on the level, shoot."
"It was this way," continued Tom, cheerfully accepting the reflection on his character. "Two mice fell into a bucket of milk. They swam about for a while and then one of them gave it up and sank. The other one, though, was made of different stuff and wouldn't give up. He kept on kicking until he had churned the milk into butter. Then he climbed on top of it, made a flying leap for the edge of the bucket and got away. You see, he was a kicker from Kickersville and his motto was 'Never say die'."
They looked at him reproachfully, but Tom never "batted an eye."
"That mouse was a smooth proposition," murmured Dick softly.
"A slippery customer," echoed Bert. "But, Tom," he asked, in mock innocence, "is that story true?"
"True?" snorted Tom, "you'd butter believe that it's true. Why——"