"How came the ladder down?"
"Miss Dimple done did it."
"What for?"
Bubbles hung her head, and began scraping the other foot.
"What for?" again asked Mr. Dallas.
"I done stole," said Bubbles, solemnly.
"And she did it to punish you?"
"Yas, sah."
Mr. Dallas could not avoid smiling, but he said, "Go along into the house, and tell Mrs. Dallas about it. By the way, didn't you see any one looking for you?"
"No, sah. I was clean tuckered a waitin', and I went to sleep. 'Specs they came then mebbe."