Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-06-13
THE SIGNAL
OF DANCER.

Playmates ever since they could re-
member bad been Jimmy Brown and
Ned Give. Their mothers SAID tnat
their friendship began when they crept
on the floor.
1t is needless to say that they were
fast friends and that there were many
things that they did not have to say TO
each other to be perfectly understood.
They had a great many words OF their
own making to denote certain Things
or feelings; they had good many Sc
crets and many plays OF Imagination
But the thing which no one else under
stood was the signals. sometimes
when there seemed to be no reason
for It jimmy would suddenly leave the
room when no one else knew that Ned
was at the door. and 1t was quite I'M
possible to find out how Jimmy knew.
Often when Jimmy came along the
road on his way to school he would
say, Med has gone along" None OF
the bows were able to find out how he
knew this.
When there were a number OF boys
together and plans were being maze
about the game Jimmy always couio
tell lust what Ned was going to do'
although the boys could not see that
they had looked at each other. Inc
mystery about this was Of interest to
every one in the school.
One signal, however, was at last dis
covered. and this by Jimmy's mother.
The boys had been playing In the barn
and they wanted some pieces OF oid
felt to cover a box. Mrs. Brown told
Jimmy that In the attic in an old
chest were some heavy strips OF felt
inst what he needed. and to open the
big box under the caves and reei IN
very carefully and that he would not
| need light because there was very
little else In the chest
Ned sat down on the cricket near
| where Mrs Brown was sewing, ana
Jimmy hurried of to find the felt.
Mrs. Brown WIS asking Ned about
school. and they were laughing togetn'
or when there came the sound OF three
quick raps and then one short one
She had Just asked Ned what the class
was doing in nature study. Instead OF
answering her he stared with vice
eyes.
excuse me. Mrs. Brown" he said
md away he few up the stairs three
stems Mt time and then up the attie
stairs. fairly tumbling over himself
Mrs Brown laid down her work anc
followed from curiosity. Something
told her there was trouble. and she
too, ran up the stairs.
When she was half way up sne
heard Ned tugging at the chest. try
| ing to open It. "Oh. come, please!
he cried. when he heard her step. y
can't manage the lock!'
| Mrs. Brown hurried into the attic
and when she heard from TIN
inside of the chest the repeated
one. two. three. and then the shor
knock. she seized the heavy hal
of the lock. raised it with 5erk ant
Jimmy rose up. pale and frightened
He had gone to the wrong chest-tn'
one with a spring lock, and as 1t wa
deep he had stepped in and knel,
down to feel about. The cover ha'
dropped upon him.
"Oh. how did you known she crieo
when she had Jimmy out. How OH
you know"
The boys looked at each other
minute, and then Ned said. ut wa
our signal for danger. Three raps
danger. but when the short rap come
after that means come at once
"What IT, began Mrs. Brown, bu
she could not say more. The boy
knew that she could hardly cree
down the stairs for trembling. An
that was how one Of the signals cam
To be known.-Youth's Companion