usekeeper as she fastened on her hat. "Uncle
Toby said you were to take charge of his collection of pets. That's all I
know. If he never comes back--and I don't believe he ever will--the pets
are yours to keep. I'd keep them if I were you--all except the pigeons.
There's a boy down the street who will take them and be glad to get 'em.
The pets are valuable--especially Tip and Top, the dogs. They do tricks
separately, but they do more tricks together--a sort of team, you know.
Those dogs are very valuable for a show."

"Then I know what we can do," said Mr. Martin. "We can sell the pets
Uncle Toby left and give the money to a home for children, or something
like that. I'll do it--we'll sell the pets!"

In another moment--just as if they had been waiting for their father to
say this--there came a storm of objections from Ted and Janet. In they
ran from the room where they had been playing with the animals.

"Oh, don't sell 'em!" pleaded Janet.

"Let us keep 'em!" begged Ted. "Those dogs are the best I ever saw! They
can do dandy tricks! I could get up a show with them and Skyrocket."

"And this cat and our other cat, too," added Janet. "Don't sell Uncle
Toby's pets, Daddy! Let us keep them!"

Daddy Martin looked at his wife. And then, as if they had been waiting
for something like this, Tip and Top did one of their best tricks. Tip
began turning somersaults again and Top walked around on his hind legs.
Then the two dogs barked, and, without anyone saying a word to them, they
did another trick.

Tip stopped turning somersaults and stood still. In an instant Top jumped
up on Tip's back and stood there on his hind legs. Then Tip walked around
the room.

"Oh, aren't they too sweet for anything!" cried Janet.

"That's a dandy trick!" declared Ted. "Do, please, let us keep Uncle
Toby's pets for our own."

"Well," said his father slowly, "I don't see how in the world----"

But at that moment there came a knock at the door, and the dogs began to
bark, the parrot shrieked, the monkey chattered and Snuff, the Persian
cat, began to mew.

What was going to happen now?

CHAPTER VI

WHERE IS TIP?

"Someone is at the door," said Mrs. Martin to Uncle Toby's housekeeper.

"Yes, I hear 'em," answered the queer little old lady. "I 'spect it's the
boy after the pigeons. I told him to call as soon as he saw the Curlytops
arrive, and he's probably been watching for you. I'll let him in as soon
as I finish putting on