The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-19

by simply turning the knob had never
occurred to either Of them. But now the
horror OF such condition came full upon
them.
what shall we dor" walled May, jump
ing to her feet and herself trying the
door, to no avail. Oh, why did we not
obey papa? He told US to come right
home as soon as the show was over, and
now we are being paid for our dlsobedl-
enee to him."
''Well. l never meant to stay only few
minutes-just long enough to get peep
at the workings of those marionettes aud
the arrangement of the stage, for l want
to fix something like 1t myself" said ar
thur by way of excuse for his dlsobedl.
ence. az never thought of our being
locked In
mo, that's always the way with dis
obedlent children" walled May. "They
always find some loophole to try to creep
out through. As for mel confess to
having done wrong; and II | get out Of
this place with my skin whole | promise
you I'll never dlsobey either of my dear
parents again. One always gets punished.
SO one does"
81 know It," agreed poor, repentant
Arthur. who censured himself entirely for
the present dilemma into which he and
May had fallen. Its all my fault; and
I'll assume all the blame when we con-
front papa and mamma"
mo you shan't," declared May, too
fond of her dear, big brother to allow him
to suffer alone for their wrong doing.
"I'll stand half the blame, for IL l hadn't
consented to stay you would not have
done So"
well. sister. blame is not now the i'm
portant question. How to get out Of this
mess is the matter for us to consider. |
move that we go back to that little win
dow that overlooks the alley and call out
of 1t for help"
May agreed to this plan. and soon both
uuavering, childish voices rang out on
the midnight air calling for help. The
cries reached the ears of poor man who
was sleeping on the roof of his tenement
home, which stood dire opposite the
hall In which the children were prisoners
He got up and came to the edge OF the
roof and looked across the alley. Soon
he detected the source of the call, and
bending over, called down know what
the matter was.
You may be sure Arthur was not long
In explaining the situation. Then the man
lOlu Iueu To walt duC ne WOuiu GUILT 10
their rescue. After what seemed an end
less wait the children saw, to their great
happiness, the man approaching the rear
of the hall with a long ladder which he
placed against the windowsii tthe hall
being in the second story, and down
which Arthur and May gladly made their
escape. But before going down behind
his sister Arthur closed the window be-
hind him. leaving 1t as secure us when
he had found 1t.
Once In the alley, and after thanking
heartily their kind rescuer, the two little
ones ran to the corner, where they caught
a car which let them off In front of their
own home. On ringing the doorbell both
Arthur and May breathed easily TO hear
the dragging, sleepy footsteps of Cook.
When she opened the door to admit them
she rubbed her eyes half open and said
Guess | must a-fell asleep waitin' fer
you. Is the show jest out, an did you
have a nice timer"
You shall hear about 1t tomorrow"
promised Arthur, who felt relieved TO
find that Cook had not noticed the time.
Then as he and May said good night to
her, thanking her for staying up for them,
he whispered to May as they mounted