Mark Mason's Victory: The Trials and Triumphs of a Telegraph Boy

"Then I'll tell you what I'll do. At half-past nine Albert Frost and I will come around with a tall ladder – Mr. Frost has got one – and we'll put it up against your window. Will you dare to get out of the window, and come down?"

"Yes, I'll do anything to get away. But can you get the ladder?"

"Yes; Albert will manage it. Do you think the old man will be likely to see or hear us?"

"No; he sleeps on the other side of the house."

"All right! You can expect us. I guess I had better go now, for fear I may be seen, and they might suspect something."

"But where can I go when I leave here?"

"Come to our house. You can sleep with Rob, my little brother."

"Thank you, Arthur. I'll expect you."

Philip felt a good deal more cheerful after Arthur had gone. He knew that in Arthur's house he would be very differently treated from what he had been by Nahum Sprague. He did not feel it wrong to leave the Spragues', as they were constantly complaining that he was a burden.

"If Mr. Burks would only let me live with him," he thought, "I should be happy, and I would be willing to work hard."

At half-past five Oscar came up to the room again, this time accompanied by his father.

"How do you like being locked up here?" asked Nahum.

"Not very well."

"Get down on your knees and beg my pardon for your bad conduct, and I will let you out."

"I would rather not, sir."

"Do you hear that, Oscar? He would rather not."

"I heard it, pa."

"It is only right that he should suffer the penalty of his headstrong conduct. Give him his supper and we will leave him to think of his sinfulness."

Oscar produced two more thin slices of bread and a cup of very weak tea.

"You are not entitled to tea," said Nahum. "It is only because we are kind-hearted that I permitted Mrs. Sprague to send up a cup. I have not put in milk or sugar because I refuse to pamper you."

Philip made no comment, but disposed of the tea and bread in a very short space of time. He felt ready to join in with Oliver, in Dickens's immortal story, when he asked for "more." But he knew it would be of no use.

"Now, we will go down, Oscar."

"All right, pa. I hope the house won't catch fire in the night," he added, with the laudable purpose of terrifying Philip, "for we might not be able to come up and unlock the door."

Philip felt uncomfortable, but he reflected that before many hours, if Arthur Burks kept his promise, he would no longer be an inmate of Mr. Sprague's home.

"He'll have a sweet time sleeping on the floor, pa," said Oscar as they went down-stairs.

"It will serve the little fool right," returned Nahum Sprague grimly.

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 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."