IN HOLIDAY TIME

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 10

IN HOLIDAY TIME

(Original; by "Stella," aged 13, of Lower Hutt.)

JACK and Molly were twins, and they both attended Western House Boarding College. I (suppose you are thinking how strange it is that a boy and girl should both attend the same, boarding-school. But Jack wasn't a boy. Her real name was Henrietta, but she disliked it fo . much and was so much of a tomboy that herfriendrnicknamed her "Jack " They were fourteen years of age, and a more mischievous pair were never created. It was Christmas time, and the twins had just received a letter from their parents stating /that Jack, and Molly would not be able to return home for the Christmas vacation, as the maid had caught'scarlet fever. ' "Bother!" said Jack, ruffing up her hair. "What rotten luck!" groaned Molly tragically. "But never mind we shall be able to make those explorations we planned now, Jackie. Oh I say! I'd never thought of that." ' ' "Why, so we shall!" cried Jack, looking brighter. "Well, come on down _to tea, _or L Matron will be raving. No, brush your hair first —you look like nothing on earth with your hair ruffled up like a floor mop.", She gave her hair a hapty pat down, and flew from the room with her Bister at her heels., It was Christmas Eve when Jack said to Molly:— "Come on, Moll, now's the time. Miss Henry and Matron are out, so we're by ourselves except for the servants." During the former term, the twins had discovered a sliding panel im the wall of their study, and they .had made up their minds to explore it on tho first opportunity. The; opportunity was now! Molly advanced towards the door and pressed what looked like a knot in the door post. Immediately the panel to the left of the door flew back, showing a flight of steps descending into inky blackness. With beating hearts the two girls began carefully to descend the steps until they came to the bottom. Here Jack flashed her. torch to reveal a small stone chamber. To the left was a narrow tunnel, and along this the girU made their way. Captiously they continued until they stepped out into another room. For the second time Jack flashed her lamp, and this time a gasp of amazement broke from both girls, for they were standing on an old-fashioned carpet, while the room was furnished with a heavy mahogany desk and an iron-bound box. An old cavalier hat hung on a peg. "Whatever " began Jack. . "Great Scott!" exclaimed Molly. "I remember! This must be Sir Lane* lot Wes'ton's secret room." , - • "What luck!" said Jack. , "Oh, listen, Jack. Perhaps his 'will' is in this room." This from Molly: -»Tm going stiaight" back to tell Miss Henry," To make a long story short, I shall say that Sir Lancelot's will was in the •room, and he left Weston House to his eldest great-grandchild, who was Miss .Henry. Needless to say, the twins were handsomely rewarded.