"We can't let that happen!" exclaimed Pearl. "If anybody ever goes down in that basement, the Devil will be loose again, and he'll be awful mad. The world would take a real beating...." "I rather suspect he'd go hog-wild for a time," Joe agreed. "And he'd probably want to take it all out on us. Revenge would be his first thought." "Then you've _got_ to get another job. Right away. We don't want to miss a single payment!" "Nor any meals," said Joe. "Which reminds me, I wonder if the Devil ever gets hungry?" "I never thought of it," confessed Pearl, a slight expression of contrition crossing her features. "The idea of the Devil eating is just something that I've never considered, nor knew anybody who did consider it." "I don't believe he eats," said Joe. "Why should he need food? He's immortal." "I'd hate to think of him starving down there," said Pearl hesitantly. "Don't you even begin to think he might!" said Joe in sudden alarm. "He doesn't eat, that's all there is to it. Even if he did, it would be just for pleasure--and it won't hurt him to go without. Besides, it would be the best thing that ever happened on this old world if he _did_ starve to death." "Don't worry," said Pearl. "I couldn't go down in that basement for love or money!" Joe looked at her sharply. "You'd better not--for either of them!" he said. "I'll do the loving around here, and I'll make the money!" * * * * * The sound of running feet interrupted him, and he turned to the door to see Jimmy and Sally coming in from their play. Their faces were flushed, shining with exertion and health. "Daddy," said Sally. "Will you read us a fairy-story before supper?" Joe lifted her in his arms and held her high with a grin. "Sure thing, little girl," he said. "Come on into the parlor, Jimmy, and we'll rattle one off." "I'll get the book," said Jimmy, racing for the bookcase. Joe seated himself on the easy chair and plumped Sally down beside him. He took the book from Jimmy and made room for the boy opposite Sally. He opened the book and read the title. "Pandora's Box," he said. "The story of the little girl whose curiosity loosed all the troubles upon the wor...." He stopped suddenly and looked toward the kitchen where Pearl was rattling dishes preparing the supper. "What's the matter, Daddy?" asked Jimmy. "Why don't you read the story?" Joe looked down at him. "I will," he said. "But I hope you realize this is only a fairy-tale, and didn't really happen?" "The man on the television said it did," protested Jimmy. "On the television?" "Yes. He said it was almost like somebody had closed Pandora's box, the way things were going in the world these days. And how could anybody close the box if it wasn't real?" "Is that why you got me this book to read?" asked Joe. "Sure. Now read it, Daddy. I want to know about Pandora's box, and how she opened it, and what happened."