Halloween at Merryvale | Page 3

come over here, if you're first," called Toad, "and I'll
turn your slip around so you can't see."
"Here's the stem," said Chuck, placing it in Hopie's outstretched hand.
Father Brown now took Hopie by the shoulders and slowly turned him
around again and again.
"I believe you've had enough turns to wonder where you are," he said,
adding, "now see if you can place the stem on the pumpkin."
Hopie started off, both hands held out before him.
"You musn't feel anything with your hands," called Herbie, "it isn't
fair."
"All right," was the answer as he walked straight for the corner where
Fat was sitting, watching the fun.

"Keep perfectly still," whispered Chuck in Fat's ear, as Hopie drew near,
then as he paused before Fat and placed the stem upon his head the
boys broke into shouts of laughter.
"Oh, you pumpkin head," gasped Reddy.
Hopie pulled off his pillow slip and stared in wonder about him, then
he too laughed.
"I was so sure I had it on the pumpkin!" he exclaimed.
"Better be careful, Fat," warned Toad, "If mother takes you for a
pumpkin she'll put you in a pie."
Numbers two, three and four hadn't much better luck for Herbie stuck
the stem on the center table, Chuck on a book stand and Reddy tried
very hard to put it into the pot but Mother Brown held out her hand just
in time to save it from falling in.
Linn's turn came next.
"Watch me," he said. "I'm going to do it."
"Bet you don't," challenged Reddy.
Then Father Brown gave him a few quick turns and away he started.
After taking two or three steps forward he paused, then, stretching out
his hands he walked slowly toward the fireplace. When he had reached
it he turned about and faced the room.
"Now, I know where I am," he thought, "I'll walk right over to the
corner by the door."
"Look," whispered Chuck to Herbie, "he knows where he's going, all
right."
Each boy held his breath as Linn drew closer and closer to the chair
which held the pumpkin. Then as his knees struck against the edge of it
he stopped and placed the stem on the top of the pumpkin.

"Good for you, Linn," cried Toad. "I didn't think you could do it."
"Oh, it was easy," boasted Linn. "The heat of the fire told me where the
fireplace was, then when I turned and faced the other way I knew I only
had to walk to the left to reach this corner."
"Here's the prize," announced Chuck, stepping up to Linn and handing
him a box.
"Hurry up and open it," cried Hopie, "we want to see what's in it." And
as the lid came off the box, Linn exclaimed:
"A baseball, just what I've been wanting," and he tossed it up into the
air.
"That's as lively as a cricket," commented Herbie, as he caught the ball
and bounced it on the floor.
CHAPTER III
THE SWINGING APPLES
Mother Brown now whispered something in Fat's ear and with a broad
grin Fat disappeared through the door leading to the kitchen. In another
moment he reappeared carrying two large, well-greased pans in his
hands. At once the boys all crowded about the fireplace trying to help
and in less time than it takes to tell, the taffy that had been boiling in
the large pot was poured into the pans and set away to cool.
"By jiminy, I hope it tastes as good as it smells," observed Toad.
"I'm sure it will," replied Mother Brown, with a smile.
"Stand in line," ordered Chuck, "while I tie your hands behind your
backs."
"You're not going to spank us, are you?" wailed Fat, making believe to
cry.

"No, silly," laughed Chuck, adding, "Everyone take off his slip, now.
We need our whole faces to play this game."
Toad, with the help of Father Brown, then placed a long pole so that the
ends rested on the top of two bookcases and from it hung many bright
red apples, tied on with strings.
"Now," said Chuck, "the fellow who can take one good bite out of an
apple without using anything to steady it with, gets a prize."
"Me first," cried Herbie.
"All right," was the reply, "go ahead." And Herbie started.
At first it seemed very easy, but whenever he got ready to take a good
bite the apple always slipped away. The boys all laughed as Herbie
made one dive after another.
"Ah, have a bite," cried Reddy. "I picked that one out for you."
Herbie then gave the apple a push and stood with his mouth wide open,
awaiting the return swing, but instead of getting a bite, the apple landed
on his nose.