Several days of complete indifference had its effect on Jim. He felt he had to prove his story. He felt a bit guilty about neglecting Jean all summer anyhow; so he planned a grand picnic. Riding to town, he bought some weiners, marshmallows and cookies. The rest of his supplies he secured at home and got permission from his parents for the excursion.
With Jean mounted behind him, he rode to Briggs Woods. He felt that revealing the general area of his hangout was not giving away too much of his secret. Once in the woods, however, he insisted on blindfolding his sister, extracting a solemn promise not to peek. She submitted to having a large red bandanna tied over her eyes, even enjoying the mystery. Jim then made his way to the hide-out, making several unnecessary circles to confuse his companion. When they arrived in the middle of the clearing he whisked off the bandage.
Jean looked around at the little clearing expectantly. There was nothing very exciting.
“Why it’s nothing but a big open space!” she exclaimed.
“But look what nice pasture there is for Ticktock, with water and everything,” explained Jim, a trifle annoyed at the poor impression his headquarters made.
“Well, that’s nice enough,” admitted Jean who wasn’t much interested in such details. She wanted something smaller and much more secret.
“There’s my hut and fireplace,” said Jim pointing.
“I like that,” said his sister finally, feeling she had to say something complimentary since her brother had gone to such trouble to bring her on the picnic.
They played for a time and then gathered dry wood for a fire. After they had roasted the weiners and marshmallows, and stuffed themselves with cookies, Jim stretched out lazily on the grass. This was the life. He began to daydream that he was a cowboy who was hiding his sister from dangerous kidnappers.
Jean, although she had enjoyed the day immensely, felt that there was still something being kept from her. In her mind a hide-out couldn’t be two acres of open pasture, even though it was concealed in the middle of a wood. She suspected there was more to the place than Jim had shown her.