“Hello, partner!” returned Pete in a happy bellow. “Isn’t this great? Here I sit at my parlor window and watch all the wealth, beauty and fashion of our charming metropolis. And, say, ain’t the racket fine? This is more noise than I’ve heard since a dynamite blast went off behind my back! Why, it’s almost like living in a city! Say, if you fellows----” “We want to come up,” shouted Allan. “Unlock your door.” Pete shook his head. “Not on your life, partner; I’ve only got my nightie on. Want me to freeze to death?” “Well, put something on,” said Allan anxiously, “and come down.” “’Fraid of catching cold. Besides, I must turn in now; I’m losing my beauty sleep.” “But--but, Pete, they’re--they’re putting up a ladder!” blurted Allan. “Are they?” asked Pete imperturbably. “Well, I’m not coming down to help ’em. They’ll have to get on without me, my boy. Hello, Hal, that you? Ain’t this wano? Such a cheerful----” Pete’s roar stopped suddenly, as did the noise of the crowd. Two firemen half-way up the ladder at the front of the building nearly fell off. For a sudden appalling silence gave place to the uproar! The bell was still! After a moment of startled surprise--for at first the silence seemed louder than the noise--every one broke into incoherent laughter and ejaculations. The men on the ladder paused, undecided, and finally slid back to earth to hold a consultation. “Well, ain’t that a shame!” lamented Pete. “Just when I was beginning to get sleepy! Now I’m all woke up again. Say, you chaps, wait a bit and I’ll slip something on and let you up.” He disappeared from the window and was gone some time. Then the key scraped in the door at the foot of the stairs and Allan, Hal, and Tommy slipped through. Pete, standing guard, locked the portal in the faces of several undesired fellows and followed them up-stairs. As Allan entered the room he glanced eagerly around. Just what he expected to find would have been hard to say, but whatever it was he didn’t find it. The room presented its usual appearance, save that articles of apparel lay scattered widely about just wherever Pete had happened to be when they came off. Pete locked the room door, took his pipe from the table and proceeded to fill it. The others looked about the room, looked at each other and looked at Pete. Pete scratched a match, lighted his corn-cob and smiled easily back. Allan sank into the easy chair. “How--how did you do it?” he gasped. “Do it? Do what?” asked Pete, blowing a cloud of smoke toward the open window. Outside sounds told of the dispersing of the throng. “You know what,” said Allan. Pete went to the window, called good night to an acquaintance, closed the sash and ambled back, smiling enjoyably.