"I don't want the kind that kills the mice, I only want to catch
them and tame them," said Harry.

His mother laughed and told him when he had tamed his mice he
must keep them well out of her way.

The trap was set, the mice were caught, and sure enough, in a
short time were so tame they would eat from Harry's hand. He made
a little house for them, and kept in it his bedroom. Whenever he
went out, he always shut the door carefully.

Now it happened that among Harry's acquaintances, there was one
very disagreeable boy. His name was Dick Taft. Harry did not play
with him very often, for he was so ugly it was hard to get along
with him.

Dick never liked to be beaten at any game, and sometimes made it
very uncomfortable for the one who got ahead of him.

One day Harry happened to beat him at one of their school games.
Dick called after him when it was over, "I'll pay you for this,
see if I don't."

Harry only laughed as he walked away going in the opposite
direction from his own house.

When he was out of sight, Dick ran to Harry's house, made some
excuse to go up in his bedroom, and let in the big cat, who was
eagerly watching outside.