Publisher's Synopsis
miss Terry rose and crossed two rooms to the front window, looking out upon the street. Aflare of light almost blinded her eyes. Every window opposite her along the block, as far as shecould see, was illuminated with a row of lighted candles across the sash. The soft, unusual glowthrew into relief the pretty curtains and wreaths of green, and gave glimpses of cosy interiors andflitting happy figures."What a waste of candles!" scolded Miss Terry. "Folks are growing terribly extravagant."The street was white with snow which had fallen a few hours earlier, piled in drifts along the curb ofthe little-traveled terrace. But the sidewalks were neatly shoveled and swept clean, as became theeminently respectable part of the city where Miss Terry lived. A long flight of steps, with iron railingat the side, led down from the front door, upon which a silver plate had for generations in decorousflourishes announced the name of Terry.Miss Terry returned to the play box and drew out between thumb and finger the topmost toy. Ithappened to be a wooden box, with a wire hasp for fastening the cover. Half unconsciously shepressed the spring, and a hideous Jack-in-the-box sprang out to confront her with a squeak, a leeringsmile, and a red nose. Miss Terry eyed him with disfavor."I always did hate that thing," she said. "Tom was continually frightening me with it, I remember."As if to be rid of unwelcome memories she shut her mouth tight, even as she shut Jack back into hisbox, snapping the spring into place. "This will do to begin with," she thought. She crossed to thewindow, which she opened quickly, and tossed out the box, so that it fell squarely in the middle ofthe sidewalk. Then closing the window and turning down the lights in the room behind her, MissTerry hid in the folds of the curtain and watched to see what would happen to Jack.The street was quiet. Few persons passed on either side. At last she spied two little ragamuffinsapproaching. They seemed to be Jewish lads of the newsboy class, and they eyed the display ofcandles appraisingly. The smaller boy first caught sight of the box in the middle of the sidewalk.