ERNEST'S ESCAPE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 137, 6 December 1930, Page 20

ERNEST'S ESCAPE

Ernest was a very poor boy who lived in London with his mother, for his father was dead. His another earned their living by sewing, and Ernest went out in the street to play upon his whistle, and so earned a few pence. One morning as Ernest was walking home, a very richly-dressed gentleman passed him. As the gentleman passed out of sight Ernest caught sight of something on the ground in front of him. He stopped to pick it up, but before he could do so some rough hands seized him. Then he felt himself being lifted up and half-pushed down somo steps, and then thrust aside in a dark cellar. A door was locked and a mocking voice cried, "Ha, ha! You can't get out of here." Ernest looked about him, and, to his delight, he saw a tiny window which was open. Then in & corner he found some poles which he fixed together, and soon he was climbing ont of the

window. Ernest then found himself a dark garden. He walked a few stepftj when suddenly ho hoard footsteps. Quickly jumping behind a tree he caw, a rough man come into sight and walk past him. out of a gato into the streetErnest came out of his hiding place and followed tho man, branching off in_aa opposite direction to the police station. 'When he arrived there he told then! his story.- Soon Ernest and the poli«« were racing after the man. Suddenly, the man tripped over a,: stone and fell to the ground with a groan. The polioe lost no "time in taking him to thai police station, where they found thflj very thing Ernest had seen that morning. Arriving home Ernest told hi* mother his story. Tho ' next morning tho' police returned the wallet to th« gentleman, and a reward of fivo pound* was given to Erneßt. PAULINE PAB&S&k Petone. • ■ ; _....,. r • •.;-.