The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-04-20
girl. must lock the door after me. and

girls must lock the door AFTER me, ana
stay right here"
The little ones screamed again, and
Fairy said: "Don't be silly. Prue. II
YOU go I'm going with you, OF course.
Wen leave the kiddies here and they
can lock the door. They'll be perfectly
safe in here"
But the children loudly objected 90
this. Ii Prue and Fairy went. they
would go. So down the stairs they
trooped. a timorous trembling crowd.
Prudence went at once 10 the tele-
phone. and called up the residence OF
the Allans, their neighbors across the
street. After seemingly never-ending
wait. the kind-hearted neighbor left
his bed 10 answer the insistent tele-
phone. Falteringly Prudence explained
their predicament. and asked him 10
come and search the house. He prom
ised 10 be there in five minutes, with
his son 10 help.
"Now," said Prudence more cheer
fully, "well just 80 out 10 the kitchen
and wait. It's quiet there, and away
from the rest of the house. and We'll
be perfectly safe" To the kitchen.
then. they hurried, and found real
comfort in its smallness and secure
ness. Prudence raked up the dying
embers of the fire. and Fairy drew the
blinds 10 their lowest limits. The
twins and Connie trailed them fear
fully at every step.
Every breath OF wind against the
windows drew startled cries from the
younger girls, and both Fairy and Pru-
dence were white with anxiety when
they heard the loud voices of the Al
lans outside the kitchen door. Pru-
dence began crying nervously the mo-
ment the two angels OF mercy ap-
peared before her, and Fairy told their
tale of woe.
well there now" Mr.. Allan said
with rough sympathy. you just got
scared, that's all. Everything's sus-
picious when folks get scared. l told
my wife the other day l bet YOU girls
would get good fright sometime. left
here alone. Come on. Jim, and We'll
60 over the house in n Jlffy."
He was standing near the dining
denly, and seemed To sniff little.
There was undoubtedly "A faint edor
of tobacco in the house.
"Been any men in here toniGht2" he
asked. "Or this afternoon? Think,
now"
"No one" answered Prudence. 81
was alone all afternoon, and there has
been no one in this evening"
He passed slowly through the din
ing room into the hall, closely followed
by his son and the five girls, already
much reassured. As he passed the
dungeon door he paused for a moment,
listening intently. his head bent.
"Oh, Mr.. Allan" cried Prudence,
Tets look in the dungeon first. l want
to see if the money is safe" Her hand
was already on the lock, but he showed
her away quickly.
"Is there any way out OF that closet
besides this doorT he asked.
"No. We call IL the dungeon"
laughed Prudence, her self-possession
quite recovered. 1T is right under
the stairs, and not even IA mouse could
gnaw its way out, with this door shut"
"Who shut the door," he inquired
still holding Prudence's hand from the
lock. Then, without waiting for an
answer, he went on, Lets 20 back in
the other room minute. Come on, all
Of %Nu." In the living room he hur-
ried 10 the telephone, and spoke 10 the
operator in n low voice. Call the po-
lice headquarters, and have them send
two or three men to the Methodist par
sonage, right away. We've got bur-
glar locked in closet, and they'll have
to get him out. Please hurry"
At this, the girls crowded around
him again In renewed fear.
'Don't be scared" he said calmly,
"we're all right. He's in there safe
enough and can't get out for a while.
Now, tell me about It. How did ven