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

"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.