he was making. He went out whistling, and
soon he and Laddie were heard pounding away on the back porch.

Russ was not happy unless he was whistling, or unless he was making
something, just as Laddie was very fond of asking riddles.

"I guess maybe I got a riddle, now," said the little chap who was
Violet's twin.

"Is it about Mun Bun and the balloon basket?" asked Russ.

"No, it's about why is a cat like a kite."

"It isn't," said Russ. "A cat isn't anything like a kite."

"Yes, it is, too!" declared Laddie. "They both have tails."

"Oh, well. But some kites don't have any tails," said Russ. "I know a
boy, and he knows how to make kites that go up without any tails. So
that riddle's no good!"

"Yes, it is!" insisted Laddie.

"Why is it?"

"'Cause some cats haven't got tails either."

"Oh, there are not any cats without tails."

"Yes, there are! You go and ask Mother. She showed me a picture of one
the other day. I think it's called a Banks cat, 'cause maybe it lives in
a bank, and it doesn't have any tail so it can't get caught in the
door. You go and ask Mother if a kite isn't like a cat 'cause they both
have tails, and some kites have no tails and so haven't some cats."

"I will!" exclaimed Russ. "I'll go and ask Mother if there's ever a cat
without a tail!"

Away the two boys started, but they had not reached the house before,
out in the street in front, they heard a loud bang, a most awfully loud
bang. At the same time they heard their Grandpa Ford crying:

"Whoa! Whoa there! Don't run away!"

"Oh, what's that?" asked Laddie.

"We'll go and see!" exclaimed Russ; and the two boys set off on a run.

CHAPTER VI

OFF TO GREAT HEDGE

Russ and Laddie saw Grandpa Ford holding the bridle of a horse harnessed
to a light carriage, in which sat a pretty young lady. The horse was
trying to rise up on its hind legs, and Grandpa Ford was doing his best
to make the animal stand still.

Not far away was a large automobile, and smoke was coming from the back
of this, while a man, who seemed to have just gotten out of the car, was
hurrying toward the prancing horse.

"I guess he's all right now, Miss," said Grandpa Ford. "When that
automobile back-fired, and made such a bang, it scared your horse."

"I never knew him to be afraid of an auto before," said the young lady.
"But then I never heard one, before, make such a loud bang."

"Nor I," returned Grandpa Ford. "It was enough to scare any hors