“Hurry then,” cried Mabel anxiously. “I’ll come right after you.”
Shirley wasted no further words. She drew herself to the sill, and looked down. Then she shuddered slightly. It was a long drop, fully twenty feet.
But Shirley did not hesitate, for she realized that the jump must be taken. She lowered herself until she clung to the window with her hands, then released her hold and dropped.
She fell in a sprawling heap, and she felt a sharp pain in her ankle. In spite of this, she was up in an instant, however, and turned her eyes to the window, where Mabel’s head had just appeared.
The latter drew herself to the window sill, and then glanced down at the ground.
“I can’t do it, Shirley,” she exclaimed.
“Of course you can,” called her chum. “Lower yourself as far as you can and then drop.”
Mabel maneuvered about the window trying to get into such a position that she could lower herself. But her fright was such that she was afraid to loose her hold long enough to change her position. She looked down at Shirley helplessly.
“I tell you I can’t,” she declared.
“But you must, Mabel,” replied Shirley anxiously. “Hurry!”