Mystery of Shadow Hill

“After 2 months of research on the town of Nellysford, Virginia, I finally find something about the map,” thought Matthew O’Neil, a wiry, 30-year old man with thick, wavy red hair and blue eyes. He had been looking for information at the Shadow Hill Library. “Hannah, Maggie, I found something!”

Hannah Pyke was a famous millionaire’s 14 year-old daughter. Here at the library, she could escape from people treating her like she was different. “Sure,” she thought, “It can be nice for awhile, but after that it gets pretty boring.” Hannah was wearing a pink poodle skirt, saddle shoes and bobby socks.Her green eyes always sparkled and her brown pigtails bounced whenever she moved

Margaret O’Neil finished organizing a stack of dusty books. She brushed back a strand of shoulder length chestnut hair. Her eyes, like her brothers’ eyes, were blue. She had always wanted to be a librarian. Now that she was 23, her dream had come true.

Margaret said, “You really did?”

“Sure I did,” he responded, “it says right here that Miss Caroline O’Neil left a map somewhere by a window.”

“Hmmm…” said Hannah. “The window seat!”

“Then let’s go!” said Miss ‘Maggie’ as she began to head towards the door. “Great idea,” said Matthew as she followed.

“You get Joe, dig? He could help us,” he continued. “We won’t do anything without you.”

“Shoot,” thought Hannah as she walked to the mystery section. “Does he have to come?”

“Whatcha going here, Princess? Mary said to ask you and if you want to go to the drive-in tonight. I’ll be there, too.”

Joe as Hannah’s 14 year old cousin. His blond hair was slicked back and his brown eyes were gleaming – like they always did when he teased her. He flashed a smile at Hannah.

“We’ll talk about the drive-in later,” said Hannah.

“Mr. O’Kelly wants you to come down. He found something, dig?” She started towards the door.

“I’ll come down as soon as I put my slide rule away,” laughed Joe. “Joe, get hep,” she replied.

“At last,” said Matthew, “I was wondering where you went.”

“Now,” said Miss Margaret, holding up a pair of scissors, “We begin,” Soon the cushion had was cut open. Matthew reached inside and pulled out two things! One was a map – obviously of the library. The other was an old photo of a woman at a writing desk.

“I wonder who that woman is,” mused Hannah, “If only we knew.”

“But I do,” replied Matthew. “She is Miss Caroline, the founder of this library and a millionaire’s widow. Maggie and I are related to her. Her favorite hobby was collecting old coins. After her death, no one could find her will, or her coins!”

“Weird,” said Joe. “What does the map lead to?”

“Let’s find out. Hannah, you hold the map so that I can navigate.”

Soon, Matthew had led the 4 up to the third level.

“Hmmm…” he mused, “The map says we keep on going straight, but we can’t!” Troubled, Hannah leaned against a bookshelf – and disappeared!

“We’ll never find her,” moaned Joe. “I am in such big trouble.” Then Maggie said, “It’s a revolving bookshelf!” Matthew stared at her in amazement.

“You did it!” he exclaimed.

“C’mon,” said Miss Margaret, “Let’s go.” She pushed on the bookshelf and disappeared. Matthew and Joe followed.

They found themselves in a room filled with neatly shelved books. Matthew led them by the map. He pushed back a bookshelf to reveal a room with only a dusty old desk in it. They searched the desk, but found nothing in it.

“So what was the point of that?” muttered Matthew. He turned and started back. Miss Maggie sighed and began to follow him. On her way, she brushed past the desk and a secret compartment popped open!

“Oh my….” began Maggie, “I believe there’s something after all.” Matthew turned around and Hannah walked over to the desk and pulled out a book.

“Well, after all, she did like books,” whispered Hannah to Maggie. Hannah handed the book to Joe.

“Eureka!” he shouted. “It’s hollow!’

“Let me see,” demanded Matthew. Joe handed the book to him and he opened it to reveal Miss Caroline’s lost coin collection, and a note.It said,

My dear niece and nephew,
Congratulations!
It seems that you have found my coin collection. I ask that you give it to my library.
Sincerely,
Caroline O’Neil

Anna Wunderlich St. Robert Bellarmine 7th Grade