her dipper once more
from the tub, causing Pietro to withdraw hastily to a greater distance.
"Don't you tell Bridget McGuire that she lies."

"My brother is in the house," reiterated Pietro, doggedly.

"He is no brother of yours--he says so."

"He lies," said Pietro.

"Shure and it's somebody else lies, I'm thinkin'," said Bridget.

"Is he in the house?" demanded Pietro, finding it difficult to argue
with Phil's protector.

"I don't see him," said Bridget, shrewdly, turning and glancing round
the room.

"I'll call the police," said Pietro, trying to intimidate his adversary.

"I wish you would," she answered, promptly. "It would save me the
trouble. I'll make a charge against you for thryin' to break into my
house; maybe you want to stale something."

Pietro was getting disgusted. Mrs. McGuire proved more unmanageable than
he anticipated. It was tantalizing to think that Phil was so near him,
and yet out of his reach. He anathematized Phil's protector in his
heart, and I am afraid it would have gone hard with her if he could have
had his wishes fulfilled. He was not troubled to think what next to
say, for Bridget suddenly terminated the interview by shutting down the
window with the remark: "Go away from here! I don't want you lookin' in
at my windy."

Pietro did not, however, go away immediately. He moved a little further
to the rear, having a suspicion that Phil might escape from the door at
the back. While he was watching here, he suddenly heard the front door
open, and shut with a loud sound. He ran to the front, thinking that
Phil might be taking flight from the street door, but it was only a
ruse of Mrs. McGuire, who rather enjoyed tantalizing Pietro. He looked
carefully up and down the street, but, seeing nothing of Phil, he
concluded he must still be inside. He therefore resumed his watch, but
in some perplexity as to where he ought to stand, in order to watch both
front and rear. Phil occasionally looked guardedly from the window
in the second story, and saw his enemy, but knew that as long as he
remained indoors he was safe. It was not very agreeable remaining in
the chamber alone, but it was a great deal better than falling into
the clutches of Pietro, and he felt fortunate to have found so secure a
place of refuge.

Pietro finally posted himself at the side of the house, where he could
command a view of both front and rear, and there maintained his
stand nearly underneath the window at which hi