The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-04-15


barn and skulked in the COW managers or
| hid in the haymow. Once they were seen
| to peep mysteriOusly around the corner
| of the chicken coop. and that day at din
ner they looked at each other and burs;
out laughing in the most unaccountable
manner.
All this was very distressing to Frank
and Nell. In vain they tried to guess the
secret so carefully guarded by their broth
er and sister, and in vain they begged TO
be taken into partnership. But when they
found that George and Bertha only grew
more mysterious and akulked oftener
about the barn they laid their heads to-
gether and decided 10 find out what the
excitement was all about.
So Frank watched George and Nell
watched Bertha. Toward evening Frank
heard George whisper something to Ber-
tha about the haymow. That was enough.
The moment the plotters were out of sight
he ran through the barn, climbed the steep
ladder to the loft. and. trembling with
excitement. stuffed himself into the hay.
drawing it well over his face. Hardly
had he concealed himself when George
and Bertha entered the barn. George had
his hat in his hand and he was carrying
it with the greatest caution. They looked
all about 10 see that no one was watching,
and then they steaithly climbed the lad
der chuckling 10 themselves. From his
place in the NOV Frank saw them dis
tinctly. They crossed the loft. cautiously
climbed q little ladder on the other side.
and then eoth of thefu stopped over and
seemed to he examining the contents of
the hat \ moment later Bertha pulled
q wisp of hay ont of the NOW and laid it
lightly over the place where they had
stood, and then the two plotters skulked
away. In his eagerness to see everything
that took place Frank had thrust his head
out of the hay, and now, as he drew it
suddenly back, the dust got i'll his nos
trils, and in spite of all he could do Il
sneeze escaped him.
whats that exclaimed Bertha.
.'Oh. that's one of the horses" said
George. and then they went out.
Frank was down from the NOW in a
moment. Then he ran swiftly into the
house and found Nell wandering about
trying to guess the great secret.
Come, come" whispered Frank. eXcit-
edly And he dragged Nell off TO u dark
corner of the woodshed and told her
breathlessly Of what he had seen. Nell's
eyes grew big and she trembled with the
weight of the mystery.
"What shall we do!' she asked.
$50 out and find what they've got in
that hole" said Frank.
Aren't you afraid:' asked Nell, lit
tie awed by the boldness of the scheme.
NO" said Frank. although in his Sc
cret heart he admitted TO himself that he
would much rather have some one with
E!m when he began explorations.
As soon as George went out to do his /!
regular chores and Bertha came in 10
help her mother get supper Frank and !
Nell set out. They climbed the steep lad |
der 10 the NOV and skullied across the .
hay. 1t WAS growing dark and their |
hearts beat rapidly. When they reached
the hole Frank carefully pulled the hay
aside and they pcered into it.
Eggs. exclaimed Nell.
Eggs repeated Frank.
They re hiding Easter eggs already.
and it's more'n three weeks yet before
Easter is here
Frank knew exactly what that meant.
Most boys and girls who live in the coun-
.
and sometimes the old folk too. begin to
hoard eggs. hiding them away TO see who
will have the greatest store when Easter
arrives. They are concealed in all sorts
Df places, and sometimes boy or girl
begins the work month or more before
hand in order TO get Il good supply ahead.
And il is a rule thai if any one of the
Young egg miscrs finds aGothcr's store he
nay fake it for mis- own.
So II wasn't moment after Frank and
Nell made thcir great discovery before
Nell had filled her apron with eggs and
Frank was leading the way TO new
hiding place. They knew that they must
,e very careful with their treasure. for
when George and Bertha discovered their
oss a great hunt would at once begin. So
Frank scrambled up on tall Old wagon
md placed the twelve eggs. one by one.
Imong some cornstalks which were
brown over Tie raftcrs.
They never. never find EN- here" he
aid, "and we won't look 1T EN- once until
Caster, SO they can't follow u.s.
Then they went back 20 the house, SO
uu of their secret that they couldn't keep
rom chucklipg Ut the supper table.