The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard

darkness. A man’s figure outlined by the moonlight from the window moved quickly toward the small door that had been locked the day Mr. Bond was with them, and to which no one had the key. Just as the figure reached the door, the three dived at him, pulling him to the floor.
    â€œAll right, we’ve got you!” Joe cried, as he held onto the man’s coattail. The girls were snatching for his sleeves and kicking him in the shins.
    â€œHey, wait a minute! Let’s get some light in here!” the man said quickly.
    â€œNo!” Joe shouted. “Here, Mandie, take the lamp and light it. I’ll hold onto him!”
    The man quit struggling and Mandie quickly lit the lamp with a match from her pocket. Then, holding the lamp, she stared into the man’s face, her hand shaking violently.
    â€œOh, no!” she cried, unable to move.
    â€œMandie!” the man said, smiling at her.
    â€œYou can’t be my Uncle John!” Mandie shook her head.
    The man reached for her and took her into his arms as he passed the lamp on to Joe.
    â€œBut, I am!” He kissed her hair. “My dear little niece!”
    â€œThen, you really are my Uncle John?” Mandie’s voice trembled with excitement.
    â€œYes, I guess I played a mean trick on you,” he told her. Joe and Polly stood there staring and listening.
    â€œBut, Mandie, how do you know this man is your Uncle John? You said you had never seen him,” Joe insisted.
    â€œYes, it is Mr. Shaw, Joe. My next-door neighbor, remember?” Polly assured him.
    â€œHe’s just like my daddy! Can’t you see that, Joe? You knew my daddy. He looks just like him, except maybe a little older.” She leaned back to gaze into the smiling face—so familiar, yet different.
    â€œGood guess. I’m fifteen years older,” Uncle John said.
    â€œBut why did you make us think you were dead, Mr. Shaw?” Joe asked.
    â€œWell, I guess I just wanted to see what would happen to my property when I do die. When I heard of my brother Jim’s death, it was too late to see him, of course, but, thank the Lord, I had written him a letter before he died,” he said, sitting down at the desk. “You see, there’s been hard feelings between the two of us since before you were born, Amanda. Then when I learned that he—was gone, I knew you were my only living relative, and sinceyou are so young, I had to find out just whom I could trust to look out for you if anything happened to me.”
    â€œThen Bayne Locke and the Snows are no kin to you?” Mandie sat on the floor at his knee, while Joe and Polly hovered nearby fascinated with their discovery.
    â€œAbsolutely none! And I want them out of my house immediately! I had to take my lawyer into my confidence to send the message of my demise and of course he knows they are no kin, but he would have to prove it to stand up in court.”
    â€œBut, Uncle John, where have you been all this time?” Mandie wanted to know. “That is, since I’ve been here.”
    â€œI’ve been living with my people—the Cherokees.” He smiled at the girl. “Remember, we are part Cherokee.”
    â€œYou’ve been living with the Cherokees? Then Uncle Ned must have known all along what was going on!” she reasoned.
    â€œYes, I came home with him when he saw you out in the yard earlier tonight. I could see things were getting out of hand, with no one able to find my will and all. However, I didn’t know you children were occupying rooms on the third floor, and you almost caught me when you got the lamp from Amanda’s room and went to the attic.”
    â€œWell, where is that will?” Polly put in.
    â€œIt’s under the carpet over there by the door,” he said, pointing toward the small door which was still closed.
    â€œUnder the carpet?” All three gasped and then laughed. “What a good place to hide it!” Joe