She didn't take them all, did she ?" "No--o, but--Well, the fact is, Mr.Ellery, I--I--I'm locked in." "Locked in ?" "Yes, locked in this room.

She--she--Oh, consarn it all, Mr.Ellery, she's locked me in this room a-purpose, so's I won't get out and go somewheres without her knowin' it." "What ?" "Um--h'm; that's what she's done.

Did you ever hear of anything like that in your born days ?" This surprising disclosure was funny enough, but the tone of grieved indignation in which Mr.Pepper told of his imprisonment was funnier still.

The minister coughed violently and looked the other way.
"She done it a-purpose," continued Kyan, in a burst of confidence.

"She had me put one of them new-fangled spring locks on the door of this room t'other day, 'cause she said she was afraid of tramps and wanted some place to shut herself up in if one of em come.