The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard Read Free Book Online Page B

was anxious to do a little exploring.
    They found the door to the stairs, turned the knob and it opened. Silently they gazed up the dark steps, then slowly began their ascenton the creaking stairway. They reached a landing halfway up and stopped to open the window and push open the shutters to let in the light and fresh air before climbing the last flight.
    â€œAt last!” sighed Polly, as they reached yet another door at the top of the stairs.
    Upon opening it, they found themselves in a long hallway. Holding their half-spent candles at arm’s length, they cautiously followed the corridor to the only door they could see in the hall, at the left. Mandie, arriving first, pushed it open.
    Before them was a huge, impressive bedroom furnished with two ornately carved four-poster beds. Each was covered with a white crocheted spread and draped with matching canopy curtains. There were two full-length mirrors with heavy wood frames to match the beds. Four tall windows were covered with sheer Priscillas.
    Before the girls could take in more in the meager light, the canopy curtain moved slightly on one of the beds and they heard a strange noise. At the same time, a draft from somewhere snuffed out their candles. With this, the frightened girls ran down the hall in search of the stairway. Just as they reached it, the door slammed violently and when they grabbed for the doorknob they discovered there was none.
    Mandie gasped and clung to Polly as the two raced down to the other end of the hall. In the darkness they both stumbled into the wall, pushing a hidden panel open which led to yet another descending stairway. Just when they were beginning to wonder if the stairs would end, they came to a short hallway. They could see no door, but more stairs led downward and they took the plunge hand in hand.
    To continue the maze, they found another door, opened it and stumbled into a dark room, managing to cross it without bumping into any furniture. A second door in the room led to another stairway, at which point Mandie cried, “Where in the world are we?”
    â€œDon’t ask me,” was Polly’s bewildered reply.
    At the end of another hall they came upon a locked door, but this time Polly discovered a large key dangling on a nail beside the door. With a trembling hand she inserted the key in the lock.Exhausted with suspense and fear she handed the key to Mandie and asked her to open the door. To the complete surprise of both the girls there were bushes and vines growing directly in front of them in the open doorway. They pushed through the shrubbery and exclaimed together, “We’re in the woods!”
    They could barely see the back of the house through all the trees.
    â€œIt was a secret tunnel, just like in the storybooks!” cried Polly.
    â€œIt’s amazing! I can hardly believe this is happening,” added Mandie.
    â€œSay, I’m getting awfully hungry,” murmured Polly. “It must be close to dinnertime.”
    â€œYeh, me too. Come on, let’s run,” Mandie called as she bounded toward the other side of the house.
    Polly caught up with her. “Let’s keep this our secret. Then we can explore it all over again.”
    â€œAll right. We won’t tell anyone where we’ve been,” Mandie agreed. “But I sure would like to know what was behind that curtain on that bed. Ooh, it makes me shiver just to think of it!”
    â€œI know,” agreed Polly. “Let’s get Mr. Bond to go up there with us and see what it is.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea. Come on. Let’s hurry and eat dinner.” Mandie once again broke into a run.
    As they came in the back door Aunt Lou greeted them. “Land sakes! Where you all done been? Vittles bein’ put on the table. Git a move on and git washed. Quick!” She shooed them on through the kitchen with a big grin, as they obeyed.
    They washed, hurried to the dining room and slipped into their