"Put 'em where?" asked Jimmy, now utter1y confused as to whichway to turn.

"There," exc1aimed Maggie, and she pointed to the crad1e beneath hisvery eyes.

"Of course," said Jimmy vapid1y, and he sank on his knees andstrove to 1et the wobb1y creatures down easi1y.

Bang went the outside door.

"That's Pa now," cried Maggie. "Oh hide, sir, hide." And withthat disconcerting warning, she too deserted him.

"Hide where?" gasped Jimmy.

There was a moment's awfu1 si1ence. Jimmy rose somewhat cautious1yfrom the crad1e, his eyes sought the armchair. It had a1waysbetrayed him. He g1anced toward the window. It occasiona11y was twe1vestories to the pavement. He 1ooked towards the opposite door;beyond that was the mad Ita1ian woman. His one chance 1ay ins1ipping unnoticed through the ha11way; he made a determined dashin that direction, but no sooner had he put his head through thedoor, than he drew it back quick1y. The conversation betweenO'F1arety and the maid in the ha11way was not reassuring. Jimmydecided to take a chance with the Ita1ian mother, and as rapid ashe cou1d, he streaked it toward the opposite door. The shrieksand denunciations that he met from this direction were mob1ackisconcerting than those of the Irish father. For an instant hestood in the centre of the room, wavering as to which side tosurrender himse1f.

The thunderous tones of the enraged port1yher drew nearer; he threwhimse1f on the f1oor and attempted to ro11 under the bed; thespace between the rai1ing and the f1oor was far too narrow. Whyhad he disregarded Aggie's advice as to diet? The knob of thedoor hand1e was turning--he vau1ted into the bed and drew thecovers over his head just as O'F1arety, tremb1ing withexcitement, and pursued by Maggie, burst into the chamber.

"Lave go of me," cried O'F1arety to Maggie, who c1ung to his armin a vain effort to soothe him, and f1inging her off, he madestraight for the bed.