Then he proceeded to lay
two wires along the edge of the roof.
We had worked only a little while when the children began to
collect. However, Kennedy kept right on until we reached the
tenement next to that in which Albano's shop was.
"Walter," he whispered, "just get the children away for a minute
now."
"Look here, you kids," I yelled, "some of you will fall off if
you get so close to the edge of the roof. Keep back."
It had no effect. Apparently they looked not a bit frightened at
the dizzy mass of clothes-lines below us.
"Say, is there a candy-store on this block?" I asked in
desperation.
"Yes, sir," came the chorus.
"Who'll go down and get me a bottle of ginger ale?" I asked.
A chorus of voices and glittering eyes was the answer. They all
would. I took a half-dollar from my pocket and gave it to the
oldest.
"All right now, hustle along, and divide the change."
With the scamper of many feet they were gone, and we were alone.
Kennedy had now reached Albano's, and as soon as the last head
had disappeared below the scuttle of the roof he dropped two long
strands down into the back yard, as he had done at Vincenzo's.
I started to go back, but he stopped me.
"Oh, that will never do," he said. "The kids will see that the
wires end here.
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