Evening journal., 1906-12-29
THE LUCY CAVE.

7 was very nice at Aunt Hetta Carries
for John and Arthur but It was a little
DUH for Lucy. The Cold Spring farm
where Aunt Hetta lived and where her
parents had lived before her lay Tar OUT
B on the old deserted turnpike ten miles
from the nearest village on one side
ana ten miles from The nearest town on thel
other. Even when YOU got 20 the village
Il was only the tiniest place. with church
ana a store and half a dozen quaint old
houses but no little girls that Lucy had
ever been able to discover In her infre-
uuent visits there Between the village
and the Gold Spring farm there were Few
HOUSES lar back in the road, the nearest
one to the farm being a quarter OF q mile
AWAY And II was Lucy's conviction that
there were no little girls In these houses
either
Always before thore had been beside
Arthur and John and Lucy Mary anu
niilicent and John, the second. who We're
also Aunt Hottas grandnieces ana
hephews. But this year It had been ne
bessary for Nj and Mrs Brerly. VINO
were tho parents OF Mary and Mlhceht
and John the second. to spend the summer
Ia Europe. and for the FIRST time they mao
decided not TO send the children 70 the
farm. but to take them with Them
John and Arthur weren't unkind' lhes
tidnt mean 20 make Lucys life unhappy
Nut the fact OF the matter was tneS
lett they couldn't be bothered With siil,
For the boys had been accustomed 20
70 off on very long tramps over the NUS
And Tar away. Distant fishing streams
had aliured them They had tagged az the
hesia ~ Older sportemen VINO were going
hn on the mountain after rattlesnakes.
which they wanted Tor their peauuiul
sixins. There were dangerous trees 70 DC
climbed after birds nests.
But the boys never suggested tasins
her with them and Lucy was too tiulio 10
AK. Dolls clothes ceased 10 be interest,"
INK when there were no other hitlc eless-
rnakors TO talk 10, and as Tot "ue 49, 49,
Lncy gave them up after one sol'eIs
morning IN the bakery.
Aunt Hetta noticed Lucy'e loneliness,
huf Aunt IIetta WAS wise MOI "olp
dd she say on tho subject. Perhaps 'he
hovs would see that Lucy had no one ~
NAV with and would take her INTO tnei'
charmed Fellowship OF their own 49, ~. ~, y.
80, rfetta waited patiently but day by
A. fhe bows continued 20 go on on lene
-. ,,naccompanied by Lucy, and DAY
~, dav Lucy grew moro lisuess ana ione-
II was nearly me middle OF the sum
r,er when Aunt Hetta made up her iillhu,
rhen one night after supper she sSt'ereu
them an around her ana askea, D'o s''
ever hear OF the robbers cave
yohn. and Arthur looked interested
mo" they said; they never mao 49,.
..voars ago" explained Aunt Hetta
..,,.re was famous band of desperaooe'
-, f7,e mountain here. They preyeo opoi
she people in the village and lived a w
- ~-,tiaxvrv and they could never be cap
t.,~.d .houah the constablcs organized
har,ds ana tgted their very best
sryl,en their leader had died anu 1heS Ie'
ala wandered from this part or tne Soun y.
- the retreat which they had heiu =
..,s.oesef,illv Tor so many years was dis
,,-,ered 1t was cave IN a thcket OF
~. roo,,ntain. II Is protected by natu
- ercrurth OF branches of great elm ree'
GA ~ 50 hidden chat no one could pos
.shiv End II without knowing rhe cle"'
,rhtch lead 70 it. When I was quite
,oounr eiri il was discovered pnt sine'
ther neopie have forgotten about H. an'
there are very few people indeed "an
KNOW anything about it to-day
Art7,,,r and John asked innumerable cues
49, al 20 the direction OF the cave, nov
far 81 was from certain roads ana now Ia
IN the mountain. 10 all OF Wnich Aui'
TTetta was able to give only very Nasu
answers But the interest OF me ooys ~
beer keeniy aroused. Wen mo II any
novV D. said Arthur as they marched on
Nd IL was an adventure after their o"
hearts.
Tho next ssorpins. true o their pfoinisl
The boys stnrted olt. they knew adi "a
people Who lived in farmnouses near az
~ on tho way so the mountain and the
dei,atea 1vhere the best place would be
snauire. But some Of the people were nov
s6mcrs. ann these thcy knew Noei4 II
he likely 20 know. Others were not pa
4,c,llarly friendiv % boys, and they didn
care 10 ask these iinsocia folk. Inei
were other things 10 consider. The cav
Aunt Hctta had SAID. was FAR crofn ar
rnod and 70 be approached only throla
"a pathlcss forest cvcrgrovm Will prus
oniv tho most accurate directions YOU
be OF anv use IN such q casa Ana All
Hetta had said no one had visited i %
years. II they asked about it at hou
where there were young people L w
more Than probable mat the farmers DO,
would want 70 60 10 md he cave "
ssnen r. existence was recalled 10 the
elders minds John and Arthur itkcd G
idea OF having it All TO themselves.