The San Francisco call., 1908-04-05

and 1 stole back we wanted our COLE
AT the door / nssstated- scolding and
logic could not entirely destroy mem
ory. But ITO strode boldly In ano
flung open the windows
..Iust look at this lovely room, she
said. "ard we might be playing here
now II 1t hadn't been for your foolish
ness. MISS
My dolls were in the wardrobe
started toward them. then suddenly
something happened. In that sunns
room. with Ffo's chatterins presence
beside me, I saw nothing, heard notn-
ing ghostlike. and yet I knew that De-
tween me and the wardrobe there stood
forbiddingiy the slender. youthful fs-
ure of the boy who. had he not 50 sud
denly and so tragically become a man
and died. would have been my Uncle
Joe. And somehow seemed 10 IN
derstand that his protest to our pres
ence In the room had not been for his
own sake. but for ours
"Fraidcat," Flo was saying. and.
giving a mighty tug at thu doors. she
here" she cried
Polly and I looked. In the back Of
the wardrobe was 3 small door which,
being exactly like part OF the wall
had hitherto escaped notice. 1t was
slightly open now. Flo's mighty tug
at the wardrobe had evidently Jared it,
We peeped in. all fear forgotten in
curiosity. 1t opened between the walls
into a space which. left from the part
taken for the fireplace. made tiny
inner closet. Flo and / crept in
1t was only a little place with few
shelves fitted along the chimney and
on them, covered with dust. books and
papers. rusted tools and some models
of wood which we did not understand
Flo and I examined II all delightedly.
We stood UP to see how tall the closet
was, sat down TO see how wide IL was.
and while we were sitting the door
swung to and snapped
knew right then that we could not
get out. though we laughed at first and
tried, feeling for the knob or the latch,
which was not there The light came
side Polly was crying
Thoroughly frightened. we called TO
her. Run, Polly; 20 tell mamma; go
tell Sarah Ann"
We heard her start away. then We
wished her back. Polly was such a
little girl-supposs she SHOULD wander
of and not tell any one7 She could
not talk plainly-supposs no one would
understand We began to pound on
the floor and scream
In a few moments they came. Polly
had fortunately found one OF the maids
on the floor below and had made her
understand enough to frishten her SO
that she alarmed the family They
came rushing up the stairs and. guided
by our screams. after a terrible de-
lay OF fumbIing. found the catch latch
and we tumbled out.
OF course We were severely punished.
and OF course grandpa. coming home,
had the room examined. partly torn
down and made over. after which the
gentle ghost OF Uncle Joe was never
more known to haunt the place. The
little crypt was one which ne mad
made to store his favorits books and
tools. and 1t had been his fancy to keep
II secret
1 shall always believe that II was
his knowledge OF the danger to Us OF
the unknown hiding place that had
kept him lowering watchfully near US.
and that at the moment OF our discov-
cry he made a supreme EFFORT to ward
US away.
As proof that this was not my mag
ination there are members Of the fam
lily now living who remsmbsr the cir
cumstances and will swear that when
my mother was saying excitedly:
~Oniy think. II Polly had not stayed
out we might never have found you.
that Polly got up with an injured. In
dignant air.
big boy" she said. lifting her hands
and giving a little push In the air.
big boy wouldn't let Polly go; push
Polly back.