MYSTERY OF THE SHED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22081, 1 May 1937, Page 6 (Supplement)

MYSTERY OF THE SHED

Whet was hidden in the, shed? Cath and Yvonne suspected something, and Yvonne determined to find out. The fwiener was mysterious, too. What was he doing there in their father's absence, and why would tr not let them go near fat shed?

yh, yon; I really carft believe ht we are going home to-morrow, ras last term has simply dragged fatif along." Cath ; and Yvonne Pearson were taking their suitcases ready for Be next day when, as Cath had fcstsaid, the two sisters were going tana, .- /WeD, I'm rather glad myself," ivonne admitted; then her face traded. fOf course mother will gt be home, but I suppose Mrs «ate will make up for her a aaer "Yes, It is a shame that mother g[ not be back from Sydney, but Pa Moore is a good sort, and will Wainly welcome us home for tee Christmas holidays."

"Marthy? .itfho's Marthy?" And, sure enough, when Yvonne ■M Cattj. -went from, boardmg{P" o**! 0 **! to their home in Papanui W. would never have found a homecoming in any other K * Of Christchurch.. •2**. your mother's having a r?sant time over in Sydney," Moore in response to £«r questions, "but she does miss S-fcome so much. She says that such like are never the £*■ Your dad's having a won**il time, too." Kif*d is Dave coming home these Cath as she be- ™ taking off her hat and coat. fas- 7? s ' your brother is comnot for a few days yet. Si™? be staying with his chum, "*«. for a week." Mrs Moore, who's that Sg^Out. there?" Yvonne asked, Egwng their attention to a man wearing a brown jj/ugfij John Winlow, our gardent*Sv ,1 ? ed to come about twice fct*2»r a 0" kee P the garden and 2B"f>Jn good condition, but at Eh£ *£ is here every day. Your l Jim t 0 do some extra tSvS? 1 * he *■ away." fS?**«ffl." Yvonne exclaimed. "I £L£™* that dad would employ ■■" mow while he was away

Come on. Cath. Let's go and speak to him," and the two of them went outside, r --• "Do'you like working here, Mr Winlow?" This was rather an embarrassing question' on Yvonnes part, but it was the first thing that came into her head. "Aw. I find it enough, he replied. "Now where did that, rake get to? I know, it's in the Mr Winlow" ofThe gardener was quite: emphatic on this point, •I'll get IV and he hurried off to the toolshed. m ~-* n "Why did you not want to the rake?" asked Cath when he came back. ■ . "Oh, never mind about that just now. You see Marthy might not like to be "Marthy? Who's Marthy? rne twogirls were puzzled. '\, n ,,^ "Never mind, missies, I should not have let the cat out of the bag, as vou might say. Only, will you OTonSse both of you, that you will not^f o into that shed for a few d£ Th!" girls did not like ask "Why?" so answered meekly: very W "lsn't it queer," said Yvonne as the eirls went back into the house, "ttat Mr Winlow will not allow us to enter the tool-shed? "He mighf be hiding someone there, an escaped convict °r someone. It must be a woman, because he said 'she,' you know. . "Nonsense,' Von. ■; It.would be impossible for him to do that in a country like ours. He would soon b Howe n ver?"hat night Yvonne could noTsleen. awake thinkmg about Mr Winlow andl 'Marthy Hark; what was that! Yvonne was sure she heard . something. Yes there it was again, a long drawn-out howl; then.another queer noise. Added to these were the loud duckings of the hensr in their'yard. Surely someone must nave disturbed them., Someon* must have climbed over the back Hce into their yard and was coming into— Yvonne shivered and neltled farther down among her bed clothes. s t—i.- t* r.r-»c No. this person-perhaps it was Marthy—was escaping over the back fence—that was right—and was taking with her some of their most valuable possessions. But what afcout tHat howl?, Yvome I imagination ran on n ß Ji nt 2l she was so exhausted that she at last fell asleep. „ .. . Next morning Yvonne told her sister about her fright. M only Dave were borne. He would J>e able to help them find the culprit and they would be like real heroes an 4is y Mainly .very puzzlin|" remarked Cath seriously. "Doyou thiSrwe f had better tell Mrs, Moore ab « ? Oh! U Oh. don't do that," begged Yvonne. "Let's keep it to ourselves. It makes the mystery much more in day, while Cath appeared to have forgotten about the mystery, Yvonne could not help Sing about it. She was quite "Thifnight. when the girls were about to go to bed, Yvonne said: "See that th« door is securely fastened, Mrs Moore. We don t want, to run any - risks to-night Wi 'TYvonne. what on earth are you talking'about?" asked Mrs-Moore. Then more gently, "Dearie, do you *$ 1 well, thank you. Mrs Moore. I should not have blurted it out like that, I had forgotten

you did not know, but as I have told-you so much you may as well hear the rest." When Mrs Moorp had heard Yvonne's story, she began tO laugh. «m/r„^v.« "Why, Yvonne," she said, Marthy is John's dog, who is in the sheci She had her leg broken about a week ago, and often howls at night because the leg still hurts her I suppose John did not want her disturbed, so he left her m the shed and told you nothing about her. Perhaps I really should have told you myself before this." "There," said Cath heartlessly. "I knew all the time that the 'she was hot a burglar or anything of the kind. You are silly, Von. "Well, you didn't know she was a dog, anyhow," Yvonne retorted. AH the same she felt very humiliated. Wouldn't Dave laugh when he heard about the "mystery. —"MATE JAPONICA. L.8.H., St. Albans.

WITH FUR COATS

One day my brother came inside, and said, "There are some things over in the garden witn fur coats on." . He meant peaches! —'MATE JANUARY.