Abe Lincoln at Last!: A Merlin Mission

threw open the door and pulled Jack inside, then closed the door behind them.
    Jack looked around. The room was empty of people. It had a huge wooden bed with purple drapes. Flying birds were carved into the black wood.
    This must be the president’s bedroom!
Jack thought with awe and horror. He whirled around, but Tad gripped the door handle.
    “We can’t stay here, Tad,” Jack whispered furiously. “We’ll get in terrible trouble!”
    “But President Lincoln is there, in his dressing room!” said Tad. He grinned, pointing to a closed door off the bedroom. “I told you I’d take you to him!”
    “You are crazy,” Jack whispered. “Move! I’m leaving! Before we get caught!”
    Suddenly Tad groaned and fell to the floor.
    “Tad?” said Jack. He bent down to check on him. “Tad, are you—”
    Tad grabbed Jack’s arm and pulled him to the floor, just as the dressing room door opened!
    “Hide! Hide!” Tad whispered. He scrambled under the big wooden bed. Jack frantically crawled after him.
    Jack held his breath as they lay on their stomachs under the bed. His heart was beating so hardthat he thought he was going to have a heart attack! Tad covered his mouth and shook with silent laughter.
    Two large feet in black socks stopped beside the bed. Jack felt the bed sink down. A pair of hands put a pair of large leather shoes down on the floor. The feet slipped into the shoes. Then the weight lifted off the bed, and the shoes stepped forward.

    Tad crawled silently out from under the bed. Then he tackled the person wearing the shoes! The man yelled and fell to the floor. Tad sat on top of him and beat him with his small fists.
    From his hiding place, Jack could see a dark-haired man lying on his side, groaning and moaning. Tad was attacking the president of the United States!

CHAPTER FOUR
Willie!
    J ack was horrified. Would the Secret Service arrest him along with Tad? Jack had to stop him!
    Suddenly the president burst out laughing. He wrapped his hands around Tad’s fists. “You little tadpole,” he said. “You didn’t scare me one bit!” Then he started to tickle Tad.
    “Pa, don’t! Don’t, Pa, don’t!” Tad screamed and giggled and kicked.
    Pa? Pa?
Jack thought.
Abraham Lincoln is Tad’s “pa”!
    The president laughed. He stopped tickling Tad and kissed the top of his head. “What are you doing in here, my boy?” he said.
    “Pa, me and Willie found a tree house,” said Tad. “Did you know there was a tree house here? Two kids were in it. Jack and Annie. Jack said it belonged to them. I told him it was mine because it’s in our yard. Isn’t it mine, Pa?”
    Jack wanted to shout,
No, it’s ours!
But he was afraid to be caught under the bed.
    “Wait—what did you say their names were?” the president asked, sounding serious. “Jack and Annie?”
    “Yes,” said Tad. “They came out of nowhere. Don’t you think the tree house is mine, Pa? Mine and Willie’s?”
    “They came out of nowhere?” said the president. “And their names are Jack and Annie? Are you sure?”
    Why doesn’t Tad tell him I’m right here—under the bed?
Jack wondered.
Should I just crawl out?
    “Yes, Pa, Jack and Annie,” said Tad. “But I want to know about the tree house. Do—”
    The door opened. “Mr. President, you must come at once,” a man said briskly. “You are late for your first meeting.”
    “Sorry, Mr. Nicolay,” President Lincoln said. “I’ll be right there.” He stood up.
    “The crowd is growing restless, sir,” Mr. Nicolay said. “Before you know it, they’ll storm your bedroom.”
    “Oh, they wouldn’t dare,” said the president, chuckling. “Not with my bodyguard here.” He ruffled Tad’s hair. “Come along, tadpole. Escort me to my new office down the hall.”
    “But when will you come and see the tree house, Pa?” Tad said as they started out of the door.
    “Perhaps when I take my horseback ride later,” the president said. “I’d like to meet this Jack and Annie.” The door closed. And the room was quiet.
    Tad forgot about me!
Jack thought. He couldn’tbelieve it! Then he realized he’d better get out of the president’s bedroom. He started to crawl out from under the bed, but the door opened again, so he quickly crawled back.
    “Dust first?” Jack heard a girl say.
    “Aye, then shake out the pillows and change the linens,” said another.
    Jack could only see the black stockings and shoes of the two maids as they bustled around the