Part 13 (1/2)

The library of Ten Eyck Hall was, to Bab, the most beautiful of all the rooms. The walls were literally lined with books from floor to ceiling, and there were little galleries halfway up for the convenience of getting books that were too high to reach from the floor. Big leather chairs and couches were scattered about and heavy curtains seemed to conceal entrances to mysterious doors and pa.s.sages leading off somewhere into the depths of the old house.

”This is just the place for a secret door or a staircase in the wall,”

exclaimed Grace.

”There is a secret door, I believe, in this very room,” replied the major; ”but it is really a secret, for the location was lost long ago and n.o.body has ever been able to find it since.”

”How interesting!” said Ruth. ”Can't you thump the walls and locate it by a hollow sound?”

”But, even if you discovered a hollow sound, you wouldn't know how to open the door,” said Martin.

”Press a panel, my boy. That is all that is necessary,” replied Jimmie.

”With a wild shriek Lady Gwendolyn rushed through the portals of the lofty chamber. With trembling hands she pressed a panel in the wainscot.

Instantly it flew back and disclosed a secret pa.s.sage. Another instant and she had disappeared. The panel was restored to its place and Sir Marmanduke and her pursuers were foiled.”

All this, the irrepressible Jimmie had acted out with wild gesticulations.

They all laughed except Alfred Marsdale, who stood looking at Jimmie in a dazed sort of way.

”Wake up, Al, old man! What's the matter with you?”

”Oh, nothing,” replied Alfred, ”I was only wondering where I had read that before.”

There was another laugh, and the major led the way to the red drawing room. It had been the ball room in the old days.

”It's a long time,” observed the major, ”since anyone has danced on these floors.”

The room took its name, evidently, from the red damask hangings and upholstering of the furniture. The walls were paneled in white and gold and there was a grand piano at one end.

”We'll have to take turn about playing,” said Ruth. ”Grace and I each play a little.”

”Oh, Jimmie can play,” replied Martin. ”Is there anything Jimmie can't do?”

”Jimmie, you're a brick,” said Alfred.

Back of the red drawing room was another smaller room which, the major said, had always been called a morning parlor, but it had been a favorite room of the family when he was a young man, and had been used as a gathering place in the evening as well as after breakfast.

”This is the prettiest room of all, I think,” observed Mollie.

And it was certainly the most cheerful, with its brightly flowered chintz curtains and s.h.i.+ning mahogany chairs and tables.

After that came a billiard room, a small den used as a smoking room, and a breakfast room.

”Who wants to see the attic?” said Martin.

”We all do?” came in a chorus from the young people.

”Now, girls,” protested Miss Sallie, ”remember you were to take your rest this afternoon.”

”Oh, we shan't be up there long,” said Martin. ”We promise you to bring them back in time for the beauty sleep.”

”Very well,” answered Miss Sallie; ”go along with you. It's very hard to be strict, Major. Don't you find it so!”