Cecilia of the Pink Roses
Then the wilds of Sieberia had demanded attention. 

 "Them young devils," Mrs. Fry had said, with a bob of her head backward.  "They are raising Cain! Something's wrong."  She went off muttering. She still cherished and resented the encounter with the reptile. Father McGowan went toward Sieberia. It was one of the few times in his life that he hadn't wanted to. 

 "Now what?" he called from the back porch. A scream was the only answer. It came from one of the brick dwellings. The chastised of yesterday, Father McGowan saw going quickly over the fence. 

 "Oh, drat!" said Father McGowan. There were wilder howls from the brick mansion. Father McGowan went toward it. He looked for the door, then he chuckled softly, for the door was entirely gone. He took off his gloves and began to pull out the bricks. 

 "Walled in," he muttered. 

 "Lemme out! Lemme out!" came from within, in muffled tones. Then with the opening Father McGowan had made, and with the advent of light, the screams dissolved into pathetic sobs. 

 "When I git him!" came in moist tones. A small boy wiggled out. He had a paper covered book in his hands.  "He done it," explained the boy, between sniffs, "while I was a-readin' in the secret chamber. He done it. When I git him! I'll smash him! I mighta starved!" he ended pathetically. 

 "Well," said Father McGowan, "that is a shame! Won't you come have a piece of pie now? You must be hungry." 

 The boy nodded. He followed Father McGowan toward the house.  "He done it," he went on, "because I told on him fer smoking. I thought I oughta."  The sufferer's tone was pious.  "My nerves is shook up," he said when they reached the porch.  "I was afraid I'd starve. There's pictures in our physiologies of starving Cubans—they ain't so nice. 

 "Mrs. Fry," said Father McGowan, "we do need a piece of pie. Could you find us some?"  Mrs. Fry muttered and went to the refrigerator. Out on the back fence the chastised called, "Yi! Yi!"  A note expressing scorn. He added, "Cry baby! Cry baby!"  The cry baby turned and exhibited a piece of pie. The chastised relaxed into a pained silence. 

 "Come here!" called Father McGowan. The boy slid from the fence and came slinking toward him.  "Mrs. Fry saw you smoking," said Father McGowan.  "I never listen to what you tell of each other. 
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