"We can return to the station," said Mr.Peterkin; "the rooms will be warm, on account of the midnight train.We can, at least, think what we shall do next."At the station was one of their neighbors, proposing to take the New York midnight train, for it was now after eleven, and the train went through at half-past.
"I saw lights at the locksmith's over the way, as I passed," he said;"why do not you send over to the young man there? He can get your door open for you.I never would spend the night here."Solomon John went over to "the young man," who agreed to go up to the house as soon as he had closed the shop, fit a key, and open the door, and come back to them on his way home.Solomon John came back to the station, for it was now cold and windy in the deserted streets.The family made themselves as comfortable as possible by the stove, sending Solomon John out occasionally to look for the young man.But somehow Solomon John missed him;the lights were out in the locksmith's shop, so he followed along to the house, hoping to find him there.
But he was not there! He came back to report.Perhaps the young man had opened the door and gone on home.Solomon John and Agamemnon went back together, but they could not get in.Where was the young man? He had lately come to town, and nobody knew where he lived, for on the return of Solomon John and Agamemnon it had been proposed to go to the house of the young man.The night was wearing on.
The midnight train had come and gone.The passengers who came and went looked with wonder at Mrs.Peterkin, nodding in her turban, as she sat by the stove, on a corner of a long bench.At last the station-master had to leave, for a short rest.He felt obliged to lock up the station, but he promised to return at an early hour to release them.
"Of what use," said Elizabeth Eliza, "if we cannot even then get into our own house?"Mr.Peterkin thought the matter appeared bad, if the locksmith had left town.He feared the young man might have gone in, and helped himself to spoons, and left.
Only they should have seen him if he had taken the midnight train.
Solomon John thought he appeared honest.Mr.Peterkin only ventured to whisper his suspicions, as he did not wish to arouse Mrs.Peterkin, who still was nodding in the corner of the long bench.
Morning did come at last.The family decided to go to their home;perhaps by some effort in the early daylight they might make an entrance.
On the way they met with the night-policeman, returning from his beat.He stopped when he saw the family.
"Ah ! that accounts," he said; "you were all out last night, and the burglars took occasion to make a raid on your house.I caught a lively young man in the very act; box of tools in his hand! If I had been a minute late he would have made his way in"- The family then tried to interrupt-to explain- "Where is he?" exclaimed Mr.
Peterkin.
"Safe in the lock-up," answered the policeman.
"But he is the locksmith!" interrupted Solomon John.
"We have no key!" said Elizabeth Eliza; "if you have locked up the locksmith we can never get in."The policeman looked from one to the other, smiling slightly when he understood the case.
"The locksmith!" he exclaimed; "he is a new fellow, and I did not recognize him, and arrested him! Very well, I will go and let him out, that he may let you in!"and he hurried away, surprising the Peterkin family with what seemed like insulting screams of laughter.
"It seems to me a more serious case than it appears to him," said Mr.Peterkin.
Mrs.Peterkin did not understand it at all.Had burglars entered the house? Did the policeman say they had taken spoons ? And why did he appear so pleased? She was sure the old silver teapot was locked up in the closet of their room.Slowly the family walked towards the house, and, almost as soon as they, the policeman appeared with the released locksmith, and a few boys from the street, who happened to be out early.
The locksmith was not in very good humor, and took ill the jokes of the policeman.Mr.Peterkin, fearing he might not consent to open the door, pressed into his hand a large sum of money.The door flew open; the family could go in.
Amanda arrived at the same moment.There was hope of breakfast.
Mrs.Peterkin staggered towards the stairs."I shall never go to another carnival!" she exclaimed.
