NAHUM SPRAGUE'S SURPRISE.
PHILIP waited impatiently from supper-time till half-past nine o'clock.
Fortunately Mr. Sprague and Oscar went to bed rather earlier than usual.
On account of Philip's being locked up some of the "chores" which he had
been accustomed to do fell to the father and son. So it happened that
when it was twenty minutes to eight Mr. Sprague said: "I feel sleepy. I
think I shall turn in now."
"I am sleepy too, pa," said Oscar. "I wonder how Philip feels."
"You can sleep with him if you want to," said Mr. Sprague jocosely.
"Thank you, dad. You're very kind, but I don't care to sleep on the
floor. I guess the young beggar will feel pretty sore in the morning."
"It's his own fault," said Nahum grimly.
"All the same you'd better let him out to-morrow. I don't care about
doing his chores right along."
"I'll see about that. Whenever he will get down on his knees and beg my
pardon he can go free."
By nine o'clock Mr. and Mrs. Sprague and Oscar were in bed, and by
half-past nine all were fast asleep. The whole family were good
sleepers, and it may be added for the senior Sprague that he was a good
snorer also.
Philip posted himself at the window. About five minutes after the time
agreed upon he saw in the moonlight his two boy friends approaching,
bearing between them a long ladder.
His heart leaped within him. They had not forgotten him after all.
He stood at the open window and waved his hand.
"There he is, Albert!" said Arthur Burks. "I guess he's glad to see us.
We'll soon have him out of there."
The two boys came under the window and called up softly:
"Has old Sprague gone to bed?"
"Yes," answered Phil. "I hear him snoring."
"I hope they are all fast asleep," said Albert. "Here, Arthur, you just
hold on to the ladder while I raise it."
"Do you think it is tall enough?" asked Arthur.
"I'll risk it."
The two boys worked till they had the ladder raised and leaning against
the window.
"Will you dare to get out of the window and get down?" asked Arthur.
"I guess so."
"Be very careful. You don't want to fall."
Cautiously Phil put out one leg and placed his foot on one rung of the
ladder. Then clutching firm hold of the side he put out the other, and
now he had both feet on the rung.
"Now come down carefully!" said Albert.
Phil followed directions. He was only ten years old, and he certainly
did feel a little timid, but he felt that behind him was a prison and
before him was liberty, and he did not hesitate. So rung by rung he
cautiously descended, till he stood on the ground beside the ladder in
the company of his two friends.
"Bravo, Phil!" said Arthur Burks. "You've done splendidly. Now, Albert,
let's get away before old Sprague hears us."
The ladder was carefully taken down, and the two boys walked off with
it. Albert at the head and Arthur at the foot, while Phil followed
behind.
"We'll go to your house first, Albert, and take the ladder," said
Arthur. "Then Phil will go home with me."
The two boys lived not far apart, and this arrangement proved
convenient.
"I wonder what old Sprague will say in the morning," laughed Albert.
"He'll wonder how in the world Philip got away."
"Perhaps he'll think he jumped out of the window."
"How do you feel, Phil?" asked Arthur.
"I feel pretty hungry."
"What did you have for supper?"
"Two thin slices of bread and a cup of tea."
"I guess we'll find something in the pantry at our house," said Arthur,
"unless Rob's got out of bed and eaten it up."
By ten o'clock the ladder was replaced and the several boys were safe at
home.
Arthur was as good as his word. He got out some bread and butter, some
cold meat and a glass of milk, and Philip made a hearty meal.
"I haven't had as good a supper for a long time," he said with a deep
sigh of satisfaction.
"That's why you're so skinny. If we had you here we'd soon fat you up.
Now are you ready to go to bed?"
"Yes, Arthur. How kind you are to me."
"I can't compare with your friend Oscar, Phil."
"I hope not. Oscar's about as mean a boy as I know. He's very different
from you and Albert."
Meanwhile unconscious of the loss of one of their little household Mr.
and Mrs. Sprague and Oscar slumbered on till after sunrise.
"Get up, Oscar!" called Nahum Sprague, going to his son's room. "You
must get up."
"What must I get up for?" grumbled Oscar.
"Because you will have to do Philip's chores this morning."
"Why don't you call him, pa? I don't see why I should do his work."
"Because he is locked up for punishment. I am not ready to let him out
yet."
"It seems to me I am being punished. He has nothing to do while I have
to get up early and work."
"Would you be willing to change places with him, be locked up all day,
live on bread and water, and sleep on the hard floor?"
"Well, he's done it, and now you might let him out and set him to work."
"I have already said that I would let him out when he got down on his
knees and begged my pardon."
"And have I got to do his work till he begs your pardon? I say, that
ain't fair."
"I begin to think, Oscar, you are very lazy. I'll tell you what you may
do. When you are dressed you may go to the door of the attic room and
ask Philip if he is ready to apologize to me. If he says yes, I'll go
up and receive his apology, and then he can come down and go to work."
"All right, pa, I'll do it. I guess he's got enough by this time."
Five minutes later Oscar was at Philip's door. He had forgotten to bring
up the key which his father had taken down-stairs the evening previous.
He put his mouth to the keyhole, first rapping at the door to command
attention.
"I say, you Phil!" he called out.
There was no answer.
Oscar rapped again.
"Philip Lillis!" he called.
For reasons which we understand, though Oscar didn't, there was no
response.
Oscar became angry, and began to pound vigorously at the door.
"There, if he doesn't hear that he must be deaf!" he said to himself.
"I say, do you want to be let out?"
No answer.
"He hears me, and won't answer out of pure spite," reflected Oscar
indignantly.
He continued to pound.
"Look here, you young beggar," he cried, "if you don't answer me I'll
get pa to bring up the horsewhip and flog you within an inch of your
life. There won't be any bar-room loafers to save you this time."
Even this threat seemed to produce no effect, and Oscar, quite out of
temper, descended the stairs.
"Well," said Mr. Sprague, "what does he say?"
"What does he say? He won't say anything."
"Perhaps he didn't hear you," suggested Mr. Sprague.
"If he didn't he must be as deaf as a post."
"Slickening, is he?"
"That's about the size of it."
"Well, we can cure him of that."
"I'll tell you what to do, pa. I'll get the horsewhip and you can give
him a good thrashing. I told him you would. There won't be any one to
interfere up there."
"That's true. Go and get the whip, Oscar."
No employment was more congenial. Oscar went down-stairs with alacrity
and soon reappeared with the whip. By this time his father was dressed
and ready for action.
"Here's the whip, pa. May I go up with you?"
"Yes; come up."
Father and son ascended the stairs and stood before Philip's door.
"Speak to him first, pa, and see if he will answer you."
Nahum Sprague in a stern and authoritative tone called "Philip."
No answer.
"Didn't I tell you, pa."
"Philip Lillis!"
Again no reply.
"I didn't think the boy would be so owdacious. I'll soon learn him!"
Mr. Sprague turned the key and opened the door, entering the room with
upraised whip. He gave a gasp of surprise.
"Why, he isn't here!" he ejaculated.
"Isn't here?" shouted Oscar in amazement.
"No; and the winder is open," exclaimed Mr. Sprague.
"He wouldn't dare to jump out, would he?"
Nahum Sprague advanced to the window and put his head out, expecting to
see Philip on the ground beneath, perhaps with a broken limb. But no
Philip was visible!