Yes, poor Uncle
Isaac was terrible fond of this old barn, and I sure will hate to see
it go up in smoke."
"I wish Uncle Isaac had been fonder of business, an' had left some
word where his money went--and ours, too," observed Sandy. "I don't
want to blame him for what he couldn't help, but it sure is hard for
us!"
The carpenter was chopping away, taking off a section of the roof, to
afford easy egress for Ruth and Alice when the time should come.
Suddenly he uttered a cry of surprise.
"What's the matter--cut yourself?" called Sandy.
"No, but I've cut into something queer. Better come up here and see
what it is--I don't want to touch it."
"I hope it isn't a hornet's nest!" exclaimed Sandy.
"No, it isn't that."
The others wondered what the queer find might be, as Sandy and Russ
hurried up the ladder.
As they reached the roof, which at this point was nearly flat, they
saw that the carpenter, in taking off a section, had uncovered what
proved to be a small secret room. It was built into the barn in such
a manner, between false walls, that its existence had never in the
past been suspected.
It was a small place, just large enough to contain a table and a
chair, and there were no openings or windows on the sides. It must
have been a dark place, but there was an old lantern on the table,
showing that the occupant, whoever he had been, was not left in the
gloom.
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