The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-06

the white of his eyes showed all round the iris. a rarer thing than you may think.
 At the same moment I heard the snuff fling feet and the low, excited young voices on the other side of the door. and a faint light shone round Rallies wrist.
 Well done Beefy!'
 Hang on to him''
 Good old Beefy.''
 "Beefy's got himl'
 "So have I-so have IT.
 And Rallies caught my arm with his one free hand They've got me tight, he whispered. '1m done"
 Blaze through the door" I urged. and might have done 1t had I been armed. But I never was It was Rallies who monopolized that risk.
 'T can't-it's the boys-the wrong house. he whispered curse the fog It's done me. But you get out, Bunny while you can; never mind me; it's my turn. old chap"
 His one hand frightened in affectionate farewell I put the electric torch In 1t before I went. trembling in every inch, but without word.
 Get out His turnl Yes, I would get out. but only to come in again. for 1t was my turn-mne-not his. Would Rallies leave me held by hand through hole in a door? What would he have done in my place was the thing for me to do now began by diving head first through the pantry window and coming to the earth on all fours. But even as I stood up and brushed the gravel from the palms of my hands and the knees of my knickerboekers I had no notion what to do next And yet I was half way to the front door before I remembered the vile crape mask upon my face and tore 1t off as the door flew open and my feet were on the steps.
 "He's into the next garden" I cried to a bevy of pajamas with bare feet and young faces at either end of them.
 "Who? Who?' said they. giving way before me.
 Some fellow who came through one of your windows head first"
 "The other Johnny, the other Johnny" the cherubs chorused.
 fBiking past-saw the light-why, what have you there?"
 Of course, it was, Rallies hand that they had, but now l was in the hall among them. A red-faced barrel of a boy did all the holding, one hand round the wrist, the other palm to palm, and his knees braced up against the panel. Another was rendering ostentacious but intellectual aid, and three or four others danced about in their pajamas. After all they were not more than four to one. I had raised my voice, so that Rallies might hear me and take heart. and now I raised 1t again. Yet to this day I can not account for my inspiration that proved nothing less.
 Don't talk so loud,' they were cry ing below their breath don't wake 'em upstairs, this is our show.
 Then I see you've got one of them, ' said I, as desired Well if you want the other. you can have him. too. I be- lieve he's hurt himself"
 After him, after him!"' they exclaimed, as one.
 But I think he got over the wall'--
 "Come on, you chaps. come onr' And there was a soft stampede to the hall door. Don't all desert me. say!" gasped the red-faced hero who held Rallies pris- oner.
 "we must have them both, Beefyi' That's all very well'- Look here" I interposed. "I'll stay by you. I've friend outside. I'll get him, too.'
 Thanks, awfully," said the valiant Beefy.
 The hall was empty now. My heart beat high How did you hear them?' I inquired, my eye running over him. We were down having drinks-game O nap-in there" Beefy jerlSed his great head toward an open door and the tail of my eye caught the glint of glasses in the freight, but the rest of it was otherwise engaged.
 Let me relieve you," I said, trembling. "No. I'm all right" Then I must insist. And before he co,ad answer I had him round the neck with such will that not