The Collier house was busy, as the servants were making last minute adjustments to the decorations. The cook scurried about the kitchen, keeping one eye on the cooking pots and the other on the baked goods. Earlier, she had counted the Christmas cookies and found two were missing!
In back of the house, Billy Walker, the stable boy, was making sure everything was clean and in its place. The Head Coachman, Connor, had told him that Mr. Gates would be there. Mr. Gates was now in charge of the house for the government. “If you want to keep your job,” Connor had told him, “you better keep it clean.”
Billy was shrugging into his coat as he walked out of the barn. He had just rinsed off his hands and thought he might sneak another cookie from the kitchen. From the cold, dark December evening ca
