{"id":1588,"date":"2017-08-22T09:00:49","date_gmt":"2017-08-22T13:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lucynolanbooks.com\/wordpress\/?p=1588"},"modified":"2017-08-29T10:01:28","modified_gmt":"2017-08-29T14:01:28","slug":"hidden-panels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/lucynolanbooks.com\/wordpress\/2017\/08\/22\/hidden-panels\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden Panels"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

\u201cSuddenly a panel in the wall slid open\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And that, my friends, is why I spent a lot of time looking for hidden panels in my childhood home. Nancy Drew seemed to find a hidden panel everywhere she looked — so why shouldn\u2019t I? So what if my childhood home was a 1950s suburban ranch house with plaster walls. There was just enough paneling in that house to convince me that I would find a hidden panel — and that it would most likely be behind the piano.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

No, my house wasn\u2019t like Lilac Inn, which had a small private dining room where \u201csoft light from colonial wall fixtures completed the picture as shadows danced on the old paneled walls.\u201d A small private dining room, I might add, in which twenty diamonds are stolen when said lights briefly go out. Nancy, of course, jumps up to do some sleuthing.<\/p>\n

Everyone watched in amazement as the titian-blond girl began to tap the wall, then listen intently.<\/p>\n

Nancy motioned them not to say a word. She continued tapping until she tried one spot which sounded different. It had a hollow ring. Nancy pressed against the wooden wall. Suddenly a panel slid aside noiselessly.<\/p>\n

John and the others gaped in astonishment as the panel in the wall slid open. \u201cNancy, you’re terrific!\u201d John exclaimed, handing her his flashlight. <\/p>\n

Everyone crowded behind Nancy, as she beamed the light into a wood-walled closet. (Mystery at Lilac Inn)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

See! There was reason for me to think that there might be a panel in the back of my closet that would open into the back of my parents\u2019 closet. Even though it would have been awfully hard to push all the coat hangers aside. Or move the chest of drawers. But even Nancy Drew ran into cluttered closets at times.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cIt\u2019s a sliding door, George,\u201d Nancy reported excitedly. \u201cHelp push!\u201d<\/p>\n

Together, the two girls stuck their fingers into the tiny opening and shoved with all their might. The panel began to give, but it squeaked and groaned loudly. <\/p>\n

\u201cSpooky!\u201d George remarked, as the girls squeezed through the narrow opening. Nancy and George found themselves in a large closet filled with dishes. (Hidden Window Mystery)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sliding doors aren\u2019t the only types of secret panels Nancy Drew found. In fact, my favorite panels were the ones in The Sign of the Twisted Candles<\/em>, marked by — you guessed it — twisted candles. They were in desks, above the fireplace, and on bedroom walls. <\/p>\n

She pushed it hard and the panel with the carved candle dropped into her hand. At the rear of the opening was a latch. Quickly she lifted it and a door swung open. <\/p>\n

To her surprise a music box inside began to play. Now she could see that it was a highly ornate — and, she guessed, priceless old piece. (Sign of the Twisted Candles)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My childhood home did have paneling surrounding the fireplace. So, yes, that was another wall that I spent much time tapping and pushing and prodding, looking for a small cubby hole with a priceless treasure inside. <\/p>\n

And then there was the wooden furniture that I thought might have a secret drawer, like the round wooden table in the corner of the living room. Hey, it could happen.<\/p>\n

The other girls helped her pull out the drawers and set them on top of the workbench. Each was examined thoroughly. Nancy noticed that the bottom of one was thicker than that of the others.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe this means something,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Again using the file, she managed to pry up part of the wooden bottom and found that there was another beneath it. Between the two pieces of wood lay a matching salad fork and spoon. (Clue of the Crossword Cipher)\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I had no such luck finding hidden panels. (Or matching salad forks and spoons.) But Nancy and her chums often found more than one hidden panel in the same book, with passageways and tunnels running in between.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cThe little house does have a secret panel,\u201d Nancy entered the conversation. \u201cI found it only a minute ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did?\u201d Mrs. Chatham asked in astonishment. \u201cWhere is it located?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll show you. But first I wish George would point out the hidden door.\u201d<\/p>\n

…George had no difficulty in locating the concealed door which served as a secret entrance and exit to the studio. Nancy pushed against the wall and stepped through the narrow opening.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis passageway must lead along the back wall to a tiny room behind the piano,\u201d she called, her voice muffled. (Quest of the Missing Map)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

See! There ARE secret rooms behind pianos.<\/p>\n

Oh, well. Maybe it\u2019s lucky for me that I never found a hidden panel. As Nancy showed us, over and over, they can be quite dangerous.<\/p>\n

The rear wall was formed of two very wide wooden planks. In the center was a round knob, sunk in the wood.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is strange\u201d Nancy remarked excitedly.<\/p>\n

She pulled on the knob but the wall did not move. Next, she pushed the knob down hard, leaning her full weight against the panel. <\/p>\n

Suddenly the wall pushed inward. Nancy lost her balance and disappeared into a gaping hole below! (The Hidden Staircase)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And just think. If you can go through a panel in one direction, somebody else could always come through from the opposite side. <\/p>\n

Mrs. Wendell sighed. \u201cYou go along inside. The trunk is in the closet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nancy entered the small one-windowed room…A washbasin sat on a flimsy wooden stand under a mirror next to a closet door. She walked across the room and opened the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh!\u201d Nancy gasped. <\/p>\n

A man was just stepping through an opening in the rear of the closet! <\/p>\n

Quick as a flash he stepped back. A panel slid across the space and a lock clicked into place. (The Leaning Chimney)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of course, when it comes to danger, a picture is worth a thousand words. So here are 3,000 words.
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