Evening star., 1907-10-26
IN THE OLD HIDING PLACE.
BY M s. SMITHSON.

great excitement rapping on the wooder
wall behind the shelves in the cupboard
hear how hollow 1t sounds and see how
it rattIesr'
''Yes. indeed, this is it," said Jennie
Tets get 1t open"
That was easier to say than to do, bu
at last, after a great deal of pushing
the lower half Of the wall. swinging
slowly inward. proved to be door. Tht
two girls looked eagerly into the gloomy
recess beyond and hesitated
The square stone house had been bull
long ago byN Daisy's great-srandfather
1t had a big chimney right in the cen
ter; there were four rooms on the ground
floor and In each room a fireplace wa
built across a corner in the middle
the house, so that between the backs .l
the four f1ues there was a good-sized
space. In the old colonial days this had
been used as a hiding place in times oi
danger. Light and air came in at the
top. yet. the four flues sloped toward
each other as they rose. very little rair
or snow could penetrate.
The entrance was concealed in mar
row cupboard at the side of the dining
room fireplace.
Daisy and her friend were alone in the
house, for the rest of the family had
gone to town, and Maggie. the maid, was
out. too. and they had chosen this time
to be discoverers.
After littla their curiosity got the
better of their fears. and. STOPPING down,
they crept under the lowest Sh IF of the
cupboard and into the secret room. 1t
was a small brick compartment, dimly
lighted from above.
This is just as great Aunt Jane told
me-" said Daisy in delight, when she
came to see us in tha west. But She did
not know how to get into it, and when
the old house became ours and we moved
east to live in it | made up my mind to
find the hiding place. Won't the boys
WONDER The next minute a brilliant
idea flashed into the speakers brain; sh
whispered to her friend and then the two
ran up to the garrat treasure house,
opened a hair trunk and took out some
quaint costumes.
In little while there came downstairs
Mistress Deborah and Mistress Jemima,
as pretty pair of colonial maidens as
the old house had ever held. Clad in
long skirts of a large flower pattern
stuff, pointed bodices, lace handkerchefs,
caps and mitts, with powder and patches
complete, they swept into the parlor
hand in hand.
Sister Jemima," said Deborah. "if you
will open the spinet and discourse some
music | will tread you measure"
Then Jennie played Long, Long Ago"
her only piece SOma of it with one hand,
where she had forgotten the bass.
Mistress Deborah held up her skirt. CUR
tested slowly to right and left. turned out
her tees, pranced with a grand air. swung
round and curtesied low again, smiled
over her sh0u der and took more steps,
trying hard to keep time to the music,
which was rather shaky, as the player
kept looking round to admire the dancer.
Suddenly the latter stopped and ex-
claimed What was that"
The WyandotS are on the warpath,'
cried Jamima. closing the piano hastily.
Let us hide" and they ran to the secret
room, snatching up two dolls as they
went
We must rave food" was the next
thought. and N a twinkling all the fresh
ly made cookies and gingerbread. six ap-
pes and soma molasses candy found
their way into the hiding p ace. A hearth
rug. shawls and sofa cushions made the
brick floor comfortable. the dolls were
told not to make bit of noise for their
lives. then the cupboard door was closed
from the inside, the secret door behind
the shelves was tightly shut and the
wooden bars were put up to hold it.
The two little girls felt so easy and safe
as they lay on the cushions eating cook
les and apples. that they almost wished
the redskins would really come. Daisy
told her friend all she knew about colo
NAL days and ways. and Of how her an
cestors used to hd. in this very place
until al last when the light grew more
dim they began to feel "creepy" and
nervous When, therefore, a knocking
sound was heard somewhere in the dis
taEca they drew the shawls over their
heads. put their fingers into their ears
and kept them there until the noise
ceased. After that they did not seem to
want any more cookies but sett'ed them
selves for a nap ard were soon sound
asleep. Jennie awoke first and for a min
ute did not know where she was. 1t was
pitch dark night. and away up above her
a bright star was twinkIng in the sky.
Then she rousad Daisy. who must have
been dreaming all kinds of things. for she
sat up directly and asked:
Whats that?"
At last jennie heard muf1ed voices and
the sound of people walking about. What
could it mean? Indians?
Don't stir or they will find us said
Jennie in her friends ear. and with their
arms clasped round each other the two
girls sat in the darkness straining their
ears and trembling. until suddenly a
streak OF light on the floor showed that
the outer door Of the cupboard had been
opened and some one said:
I've looked in here and everywhere
before"
Daisy jumped up directly and uttered a
soft. "Coo-coo."
There was a dead silence for a minute
Frank" and the two gir.s stuffed corners
of the shawl into their mouths to keeI
from laughing.
"Coo-coo. Daisy" called her brother at
last where are you?"
Then the secret door flew open and out
dashed the colonial maidens. flushed and
breathless. their caps and kerchiefs al
awry. their faces soiied and their eyes
! blinking In the sudden light.
! When they explained matters to the
astonished family Daisy's mother said
I'VE were anxious about you for Frani
has looked all over the house and inquired
! of the neighbors. We found Maggie walt
| ing on the steps. for she could not get in.
Did you hear her knocking?"
! I'VE heard something" said Daisy. but
we thought it was Wyandots. didn't We,
| jennie"
Yes. indeed" was the reply. ''and we
wera awfully frightened. but We did have
! lots of fun"
~ saAAN ,InnC tn lA1lM TlIF