in' any
harm.

"But they are," says Pinckney. "They're raising the very mischief with
my plans. The maids are scared to death. They say the house is
haunted. Four of them gave notice to-day. Aunt Mary is packing her
trunks, and that means that I might as well give up. I'll inquire
about a home to send them to this afternoon."

I guess it was about four o'clock, and I was tryin' to take a snooze in
a hammock on the front porch, when I hears the twins makin' life
miserable for the gard'ner that was fixin' the rose bushes.

"Lemme dig, Pat," says Jill.

"G'wan, ye young tarrier!" says Pat

"Can't I help some?" says Jack.

"Yes, if ye'll go off about a mile," says Pat.

"Why don't the roses grow any more?" asks Jill.

"It's needin' ashes on 'em they are," says Pat.

"Ashes!" says Jack.

"Ashes!" says Jill.

Then together, "Oh, we know where there's ashes--lots!"

"We'll fetch 'em!" says Jill, and with that I hears a scamperin' up the
steps.

I was just gettin' up to chase after 'em, when I has another thought.
"What's the use, anyway?" thinks I. "It's their last stunt." So I
turns over and pretends to snooze.

When Pinckney shows up about six the twins has the pony carts out and
is doin' a chariot race around the drive, as happy and innocent as a
couple of pink angels. Then they eats their supper and goes to bed,
with nary a mention of sayin' good-night to the jars, like they'd been
in the habit of doin'. Next mornin' they gets up as frisky as colts
and goes out to play wild Indians in the bushes. They was at it all
the forenoon, and never a word about Grandfather and Aunt Sabina.
Pinckney notices it, but he don't dare speak of it for fear he'll break
the spell. About two he comes in with a telegram.

"Miss Gertie's coming on the four o'clock train," says he, lookin' wild.

"You don't act like you was much tickled," says I.

"She's sure to find out what a muss I've made of things," says he.
"The moment she gets here I expect the twins will start up that
confounded rigmarole about Grandfather and Aunt Sabina again. Oh, I
can hear them doing it!"

I let it go at that. But while he's away at the station the kitchen
talk breaks loose. The cook and two maids calls for Aunt Mary, tells
her what they think of a place that has canned spooks in the parlour,
and starts for the trolley. Aunt Mary gets her bonnet on and has her
trunks lugged down on the front porch. That's the kind of a receptio