"Something terrible has happened!" she cried. "Did the tree catch on fire?"
Then Mr. Cane took a hand in the proceedings.
"Stop that sniveling, and speak up!" he ordered. "What—has—happened?"
Sube drew a deep breath, and said in a husky voice, "I ran away from it."
"Ran away from a party!" cried his father. "You!—What in thunder did you do that for? What had you been doing that you wanted to run away from?"
"I stole the Chris'mus tree—!"
"Stole the Christmas tree!" cried Mr. Cane. "What are you talking about?"
"Yessir; that's what I did—"
"Well, that's a new one on me!" thundered Mr. Cane. "I've heard of stealing a red-hot stove, but as for an illuminated Christmas tree with all the presents on it— That—gets—me!"
"There wasn't any candles or presents on it when I took it," Sube explained weakly.