Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-11-01
The Hidden Den and
CapitOla

| ~sSFASVASS
Capitola was girl Of fifteen sum.
mers and as she was always wild and
saucy she was disliked by all of her
schoolmates.
On the evening before Halloween
she with a crowd of other girls were
walking merrily home from school.
Edrle was the first to speak:
girls believe that there really is 4
haunted den or rather the hidden den
las you mostly call it)?" said Edria.
giving Capitola sharp look.
why, sure, of course" said Cant.
tola, knowing she was telling an UNI
truth. but haven't time to talk with
you, she said, darting ahead Of all.
smart" said Esther, as Capitola dis
appeared around a bend. And about
that hidden den; I don't believe there
Is such a thing" said Audry.
, Kupy, one OF Capitola's best friends,
said not q word, but walked on. Final
~ she thought she would hold up for
Capitola, and she dashed ahead in
search for her. When she reached Cap
ltola she told her all that the girls had
| said. AT this Capitola gave a loud
ringing laugh. Let them talk so If thew
WISH" she said
But really. is there such a DEM"
| asked Ruby.
TIA! hal" laughed capitola again.
or course there is den over there in
the wild wood, on the other road from
cripple Creek, but Of course it isn't
haunted. l was only trying to scare
them little just for fun. They are all
sucn 1raldy cats anyway. Why / would
not be afraid to meet Black Donald.
Black Jutus the two fierce outlawsl
q ,sr-l.A
thickest part of the wild wood at mid
night said Capitola with a still loud
er laugh.
Say Ruby, I'll tell you what let's
DO. Tonight, being Halloween, I'll run
on nome, get my pony and catch the
girls before they reach their homes.
and now you run on home and dress up
IN your witch costume you had made
purposely for tonight and meet me at
,, my home at o'clock, and I'll give you
further information them.
Away ran the two girls with their
eyes cleaning with mischief
Get Fleetfoot, my pony ready" said
Capltola to one of the grooms as she
ran in the house to get on her riding
habit In few minutes she had
| reached the. girls.
Haven't you lazy girls got home
YETI said Capitola with a toss of her
head "
The girls gave her no answer, but
started on Wait minutes sharply
called Capitola. Are you girls going
out tonight?''
Sure" answered the girls.
We'll, so am t. said Capitola, land
I'll meet YOU girls up on Cripple Creek
| road at 9 O'clock and Well have the
time of our lives; and be there at az 8
o'clock. sharp" said Capitola, urging
Fleetfootainto a gallop as she dashed
on. W.
The girls gave her no answer I'VE
don't want her, do we?'' said Edrie.
'Oh, l know what let's do" said
Cornelia. Lets go the other road, OPP
posite Cripple Creek and then wen
miss her sure"
Capitola was waiting patiently in her
yard for Ruby. When she arrived Cap
you look" And you too,"s said Ruby,
with your hair hanging and those
black streaks on your face, and our
pointed hoods are fine
Now what are we to do?" asked
Ruby.
well" said Capitola, II told the girls
to meet me on Cripple Creek road and
they would go the other road because
that's the road the den is on) and I
know they don't want me with them
and they do not know where the den
is. Now follow me and on our way we
will arrange what to do
| They reached the den in the very
| thickest part Of the wild wood. They
red globe. There was hole in the side
of the den facing the road which a
| light could shine through.
They finally heard the girls voices
approaching. Now said Capitola,
| keep your shawl down close to you and
when I say go, you must go out lean
ing over like a witch. Walk along with
| your cane and murmur to yourself.
wait" said Edrie, my Jack-o' Ian
| tern has blown out. Someone give me
match" and at that the girls stop
ped right by the den. Then Capitola
| held the red light up to the hole in the
den and Ruby would pass to and fro in
order to make a shadow. Then the.
would make the light disappear and
| then come again.
ooh, mercy! look there" said Cor
nelia, in frightened tone, pointing to
the light.
"Oh, we have found the hidden den
at last said Martha.
The girls started to run. but Capftola
and Ruby ran out just in the nick OF
time to head them off.
"Who brings you here to the haunted
den this dark Halloween night?" said
Capitola with loud harsh voice. This
frightened the girls till they could
scarcely get their breath.
Then Capitola and Ruby threw off
| their hoods, stood bold upright and
with their heads high in the air gave a
long merry laugh.
"Now then, who had the most fun,
you girls or us?" said Capitola, and
why didn't you meet me at Cripple
| Creek road?"
"Why, we-we-" said the girls, but
they were so frightened they could not
continue their sentence.
Ethel E. Huffman, age IA,