Chapter XI. “Down Brakes”

outh,caughthimbythecollarwiththeother,andhustledhimintotheante-roombeforeanyoneelsecouldhearthebadnews. “Tellmeallaboutit,anddon'tshout.What'scometotheboy?”shedemanded,inatonethatreducedJoetoawhisperatonce. “Gorightbackandseewhathashappenedtohim,thencomeandtellmequietly.I'llwaitforyouhere.Iwouldn'thavehismotherstartledfortheworld,”saidthegoodsoul,whensheknewall. “Oh,Idar'sn't!Iopenedtheswitchastheytoldmeto,andBillwillhalfkillmewhenheknowsit!”criedJoe,inapanic,astheawfulconsequencesofhisdeedrosebeforehim,showingbothboysmortallyinjuredandseveraltrainswrecked. “Thentakeyourselfoffhomeandholdyourtongue.I'llwatchthedoor,forIwon'thaveanymoreridiculousboystearingintodisturbmylady.” Mrs.Pecqoftencalledthisgoodneighbor“mylady”whenspeakingofher,forMrs.Minotwasatruegentlewoman,andmuchpleasantertolivewiththanthetitledmistresshadbeen. Joescuddedawayasiftheconstablewasafterhim,andpresentlyFrankwasseenslowlyapproachingwithanunusuallysoberfaceandapairofverydirtyhands. “Thankheaven,he'ssafe!”and,softlyopeningthedoor,Mrs.Pecqactuallyhustledtheyoungmasterintotheante-roomasunceremoniouslyasshehadhustledJoe. “Ibegpardon,buttheparlorisfullofcompany,andthatfoolofaJoecameroaringinwithacock-and-bullstorythatgavemequiteaturn.Whatisit,Mr.Frank?”sheaskedeagerly,seeingthatsomethingwasamiss. Hetoldherinafewwords,andshewasmuchrelievedtofindthatnoharmhadbeendone. “Ah,thedangeristocome,”saidFrank,darkly,ashewentawaytowashhishandsandpreparetorelatehismisdeeds. Itwasaverybadquarterofanhourforthepoorfellow,whososeldomhadanygravefaultstoconfessbuthediditmanfully,andhismotherwassogratefulforthesafetyofherboythatshefounditdifficulttobesevereenough,andcontentedherselfwithforbiddinganymorevisitstothetoocharmingNo.11. “Whatdoyousupposewillbedonetome?”askedFrank,onwhomtheideaofimprisonmenthadmadeadeepimpression. “Idon'tknow,dear,butIshallgoovertoseeMr.Burtonrightaftertea.Hewilltelluswhattodoandwhattoexpect.Gusmustnotsufferforyourfault.” “He'llcomeoffclearenough,butJoemusttakehisshare,forifhehadn'topenedthatconfoundedswitch,noharmwouldhavebeendone.ButwhenIsawthewayclear,Iactuallycouldn'tresistgoingahead,”saidFrank,gettingexcitedagainatthememoryofthatblissfulmomentwhenhestartedtheengine. HereJackcamehurryingin,havingheardthenews,andrefusedtobelieveitfromanylipsbutFrank's.Whenhecouldnolongerdoubt,hewassomuchimpressedwiththedaringofthedeedthathehadnothingbutadmirationforhisbrother,tillasuddenthoughtmadehimclaphishandsandexclaimexultingly,— “Hisrunawaybeatsmineallhollow,andnowhecan'tcrowoverme!Won'tthatbeacomfort?Thegoodboyhasgotintoascrape.Hooray!” Thiswassuchadrollwayoftakingit,thattheyhadtolaughandFranktookhishumiliationsomeeklythatJacksoonfe