Mark Mason's Victory: The Trials and Triumphs of a Telegraph Boy
Page 32
CHAPTER XXXII.
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 hadbeen accustomed to do fell to the father and son. So it happened thatwhen it was twenty minutes to eight Mr. Sprague said: "I feel sleepy. Ithink 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 thefloor. 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 aboutdoing his chores right along."
"I'll see about that. Whenever he will get down on his knees and beg mypardon he can go free."
By nine o'clock Mr. and Mrs. Sprague and Oscar were in bed, and byhalf-past nine all were fast asleep. The whole family were goodsleepers, and it may be added for the senior Sprague that he was a goodsnorer also.
Philip posted himself at the window. About five minutes after the timeagreed 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 justhold 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 againstthe 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 theladder. Then clutching firm hold of the side he put out the other, andnow he had both feet on the rung.
"Now come down carefully!" said Albert.
Phil followed directions. He was only ten years old, and he certainlydid feel a little timid, but he felt that behind him was a prison andbefore him was liberty, and he did not hesitate. So rung by rung hecautiously descended, till he stood on the ground beside the ladder inthe 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 withit. Albert at the head and Arthur at the foot, while Phil followedbehind.
"We'll go to your house first, Albert, and take the ladder," saidArthur. "Then Phil will go home with me."
The two boys lived not far apart, and this arrangement provedconvenient.
"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 athome.
Arthur was as good as his word. He got out some bread and butter, somecold 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 deepsigh 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 differentfrom 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. "Youmust 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 outyet."
"It seems to me I am being punished. He has nothing to do while I haveto 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 hisknees and begged my pardon."
"And have I got to do his work till he begs your pardon? I say, thatain't fair."
"I begin to think, Oscar, you are very lazy. I'll tell you what you maydo. When you are dressed you may go to the door of the attic room andask Philip if he is ready to apologize to me. If he says yes, I'll goup 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 bringup 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 commandattention.
"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 noresponse.
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 Oscarindignantly.
He continued to pound.
"Look here, you young beggar," he cried, "if you don't answer me I'llget pa to bring up the horsewhip and flog you within an inch of yourlife. 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 oftemper, 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 givehim a good thrashing. I told him you would. There won't be any one tointerfere up there."
"That's true. Go and get the whip, Oscar."
No employment was more congenial. Oscar went down-stairs with alacrityand soon reappeared with the whip. By this time his father was dressedand 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!"
A
gain 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 withupraised 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 tosee Philip on the ground beneath, perhaps with a broken limb. But noPhilip was visible!