Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/180

106 janitor thought everybody was out and locked the outside door; and I banged and banged, but nobody heard me.”

“Why did n’t you call before?”

“I tried to, but could n’t make you hear, until I thought of the pointer.” “Well, well, well,” said the judge. Then he lighted a match,

“Lean out a bit and let me see you,” he commanded.

The yellow glare showed a pale little face with earnest blue eyes, red-rimmed from crying, and fair hair braided in a thick braid.

“Why have n’t your people looked you up?” the old gentleman asked querulously, as the light went out.

“I have n't any people,” sighed Lisbeth, “only my sister.”

“How old is she?”

“Oh, she 'll soon be sixteen, and she works at Roby’s ribbon counter, She won't get home till late to-night, ‘cause they don’t shut up until late on Christmas eve.”

“Hum,” said the judge, crustily, “I suppose I ‘ll have to look after you.”

He went back to his desk, and Lisbeth, shivering at the open window, saw him pick up the telephone receiver.

Suddenly he put it down and came back to the window.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

“Awfully,” said the little voice in the darkness,

“Why did n‘t you say so before,” questioned the judge, testily—“before I ate up my dinner?”

“I could n’t make you hear, you know,” was the patient answer.

“Well, there ’s nothing left but some crackers and a pickle.”

“Oh, a pickle!” Lisbeth’s sigh was rapturous.

“Crackers and a pickle, _Do you want them?”

“Ob, yes, thank you.” Lisbeth wondered how the judge could ask such a question, But the judge had gone back to his desk and was emptying the dish of crackers into a large manila envelop. He laid the pickle on top, pinned the flap, and tied a string around the whole.