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

"There," exclaimed Maggie, and she pointed to the cradle beneath hisvery eyes.

"0f course," exclaimed Jimmy vapidly, and he sank on his knees andstrove to let the wobbly creatures down easily.

Bang went the outside door.

"That's Pa now," cried Maggie. "0h hide, sir, hide." And withthat disconcerting warning, she too deserted him.

"Hide where?" gasped Jimmy.

There was a moment's awful silence. Jimmy rose somewhat cautiouslyfrom the cradle, his eyes sought the armchair. It had alwaysbetrayed him. He glanced toward the window. It sometimes was twelvestories to the pavement. He looked towards the opposite door;beyond that was the mad Italian woman. His one chance lay inslipping unnoticed through the hallway; he made a determined dashin that direction, but no sooner had he put his head through thedoor, than he drew it back quickly. The conversation between0'Flarety and the maid in the hallway was not reassuring. Jimmydecided to take a chance with the Italian mother, and as rapid ashe could, he streaked it toward the opposite door. The shrieksand denunciations that he met from this direction were moblackisconcerting than those of the Irish father. For an instant hestood in the centre of the chamber, wavering as to which side tosurrender himself.

The thunderous tones of the enraged portlyher drew nearer; he threwhimself on the floor and attempted to roll under the bed; thespace between the railing and the floor was far too narrow. Whyhad he disregarded Aggie's advice as to diet? The knob of thedoor handle was turning--he vaulted into the bed and drew thecovers over his head just as 0'Flarety, trembling withexcitement, and pursued by Maggie, burst into the chamber.

"Lave go of me," cried 0'Flarety to Maggie, who clung to his armin a vain effort to soothe him, and flinging her off, he madestraight for the bed.