"While I'm down here you can't do much else," said the Devil dourly. "But it can't last--it never has. This concrete will disintegrate finally..." Joe Emerald stared at the Devil a moment, then turned and went thoughtfully up the stairs. At the top, he flicked the switch and the basement went dark. Peering down, he could see only two balefully glowing yellow orbs, slanted and evil, shining in the darkness. He opened the cellar door, stepped into the room above and closed the door behind him. Pearl stood in the doorway of the living room, staring anxiously at him. He looked at her a moment, and suddenly he grinned. "Pearl," he said. "We've got the Devil downstairs, chained to the wall!" "Oh, Joe," she said with a wail. "What are we going to do?" He walked over and took her in his arms and kissed her. "It's not what we're going to do," he said. "What's _he_ going to do?" She stared up at him. "What _can_ he do?" "Nothing, so far as I can see," said Joe. "As long as nobody goes near him, he's helpless." His eyes lit up. "Maybe this is the beginning of that thousand years the Bible says he's to be chained!" "Here, in _our_ basement?" asked Pearl. "Why not? He's down there right now, isn't he?" "Yes," she said hesitantly. "Well, can you think of any reason why he shouldn't stay there?" "No," she said, but there was doubt in her voice. * * * * * As the weeks passed, her doubt began to fade. It began to become increasingly evident that the Devil couldn't break the chain that held him, and he had even ceased rattling it. Joe had nailed the basement door shut so the kids couldn't open it, and had promised them a spanking if they tried. Strangely enough, they had accepted the warning without comment, and had, indeed, behaved like little angels. Neither of them had even approached the door. As a matter of fact, they had been a source of constant surprise because of their good behavior in all respects. There hadn't even been a quarrel over toys. "What's the matter with the kids?" asked Joe one night. "Why, nothing," said Pearl. "They've been just as happy and contented as they can be." "Aren't they a little too happy and contented?" Pearl looked at him sharply. "Of course not. How can they be too happy?" "I think they are. When's the last time Jimmy has complained about Sally kicking him?" "I..." Pearl hesitated. "Sally hasn't been kicking him. So why should he complain?" "Why hasn't Sally been kicking him?" "Joe, what on earth's the matter with you? Do you _want_ Sally to kick him?" "Of course not. But the point is, she hasn't." "Not much of a point," said Pearl. "I think it's natural she should outgrow it." "Have you been listening to the news reports?" asked Joe. "Certainly. I have the television on at noon every day. Richard Z. Hardlett gives the complete news every day." "Okay, what's been happening?"