NANCY’S WAY
BY NORA BENNETT
The wind was whistling round the house and shaking at the door,
The sky was dull, the snowy fields lay level as a floor;
I ‘d tired of my fairy book, and Dot began to fret;—
“These stupid winter days,” I yawned, “I wish the sun would set!”
Then Nancy Joyce came running in, her cheeks like roses red,
“I ‘ve found the finest coast and slide! You must come out,” she said;
“And Billy ’s skating on the pond, and says he ‘ll pull the sled,
Or that he ‘ll come and help us build a big snow house, instead!”
We hurried into coats and hats, so Nancy need not wait,
And, laughing, hand in hand we flew down to the garden gate.
How bright the dull day seemed to grow! Or was it just the voice
And happy ways, that made the change, of jolly Nancy Joyce?
The sky was dull, the snowy fields lay level as a floor;
I ‘d tired of my fairy book, and Dot began to fret;—
“These stupid winter days,” I yawned, “I wish the sun would set!”
Then Nancy Joyce came running in, her cheeks like roses red,
“I ‘ve found the finest coast and slide! You must come out,” she said;
“And Billy ’s skating on the pond, and says he ‘ll pull the sled,
Or that he ‘ll come and help us build a big snow house, instead!”
We hurried into coats and hats, so Nancy need not wait,
And, laughing, hand in hand we flew down to the garden gate.
How bright the dull day seemed to grow! Or was it just the voice
And happy ways, that made the change, of jolly Nancy Joyce?
THE LAND OF MYSTERY
BY CLEVELAND MOFFETT
Author of “Careers of Danger and Daring,” “Through the Wall,” “The Battle,” etc.
CHAPTER XIII
THE TICKING OF A WATCH
Harold stared for a moment as if he thought Jack’s mind was wandering, then, in sudden alarm, he pressed a hand to his right side, then
to his left side, and then tapped carefully around his waist, as if searching for something.“By Jove! you ’re right, Jack!” he cried in blank dismay.
After their misadventure in Cairo, the boys had purchased chamois-skin money belts, and had folded their bank-notes in these, strapping them securely around their bodies. And now the money belts were gone.
“When did you miss your belt?” asked Sandy.
428
