Anderson Union High School - Aurora Yearbook (Anderson, CA)

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could hear the chains in the kitchen. All was silent for a few minutes, then the noise commenced again going down stairs. Then silence. The two went back to their bed but did not sleep much more that night. Next morning Bobby received a telegram telling of the offer. Hold for investigation, Bobby wired back. He told Al that something was up. No one would offer that much for a haunted house. , That night the two took up the search for the ghost. About midnight a scraping, scratching noise was heard below the stairs. Down the stairs rushed the two men. In the center of the basement, a young girl was struggling with the ghost. The two men Fired their revolvers at the same time. Down went the ghost on the basement fioor. Betsy Carter! gasped Bobby, gazing at the girl. Quick! Albert cut in. That fellow's waking up. Eagerly the boys bent over the man on the Hoor. He rose unsteadily to his feet. They helped him up the stairs to the light kitchen. Who are you? demanded Bobby. Well, being I'm caught I might as well confess. I'm here because Mr. Smith, the man who's been trying to buy this place, sent me to haunt the house so you'd sell it cheap. You see, he found ore here one day and he wanted the place. If it hadn't been for her there, I wouldn't have been caught. :You'll let me go, won't you? I'll never come here again. Kick him out that door, Al, ordered Robert. The man didn't wait to be kicked. Betsy, said Bobby, explain why you are here. Will you, please? I am a reporter on a newspaper and I told the editor I could prove that there was no ghost here. I came up here and was living in the attic. To-night I went down stairs and found that man asleep. He woke up and I was strug- gling with him when you came, she replied. That isn't ore either, but some mixture that resembles it, she went on. Albert slipped out of the room so quietly that they did not see him go. Let's get married to-morrow, Bobby said. I All right, agreed Betsy. The next morning the two were married in a little church at the foot of the mountain. Albert was best man, After the wedding, they went back to the haunted house to get their belongings. As they came in sight, they saw a man standing on the porch. He went forward to meet them. I've come to offer you one hundred fifty thousand dollars for this place, he announced. Bobby gasped, but seeing Albert wink at him, said, All right, I'll sell. Give me your check. After the sale was made, Bobby and the other two went into the house, gathered up their belongings and prepared to leave. The man waited for them to go. As they started down the hill, Albert could not resist shouting, That isn't ore. They went on and left the man standing there gasping. Leola Oliphant, '24, lPage Twenty-fourl

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1 ' The house was one-story with a large attic above and a dark, dark dungeon- like cellar beneath. The outer appearance of the house showed neglect. Wild flogferslflambered up the porch and over the roof. Everything was hushed an sti . The two young men carried their supplies up to the porch and laid them down. Robert took a bunch of keys from his pocket, selected one, and unlocked the door. They entered the neglected house. They went from room to room, finding most of them bare and unfurnished, except the kitchen which had an old stove in it. I l Um, that looks good, I'm as hungry as a bear, declared Al, giving the stove the once over. This old stove isn't much account because it's been here so long, but it'll do. Get me a knife while I find the bacon in this junk of mine, Bobby. I'm going to remember my HK. P. duties. While this was going on, Roberts lawyer had received a visitor. I am Mr. Smith, the man announced. I have come to buy Mr. Trel- lison s house. I want to go there to live. I'll give you one hundred thousand dollars for it. I'll have to wire him about it first, the lawyer replied. I'll let you know in a few days. Sh, what's that noise? whispered Bobby, after supper, as a sharp, creak- ing noise could be heard on the stairs, leading into the attic. Softly they tiptoed to the door in time to see a young girl descend the steps and disappear through the door opposite the dining room. After her, quick! exclaimed Al. The two opened the door that the girl had disappeared through, just as she slipped outside and vanished into the darkness. Bobby and' Al rushed out but could not see anything because of the dark. l..et's go inside, l'm getting the creeps standing out here in this cold, sputtered Albert. Huh, snorted Robert, when they were once more by the kitchen fire, that was no ghost. I wonder who she was. It's a good thing that we lit those three lamps that we brought with us or we would not have seen her, said Albert. Say, whispered Robert, let's go find a bedroom and go to bed. They blew out all the lights but one, picked up their bedding and went to a room opposite the parlor. They made their beds, blew out the light and climbed in bed, but they did not remove any of their clothes except their shoes. Robert was awakened by a loud clanking noise somewhere in the house. Al, he whispered, shaking the sleeper, wake up. They both sat up in bed and listened. The noise was coming up the stairs that led to the cellar. Quickly they climbed out of bed, and without putting on their shoes, rushed to the top of the stairs to see what it was. Imagine their horror at seeing something coming up the steps clothed in a long white gown. The thing had chains dragging after it which were fastened to its arms and legs. The two men felt their hair rising on end as the spectre kept getting closer and closer. They could stand it no longer and turning, as of one accord, they fairly flew into the parlor. Clankety! Clank! Clank! The noise got louder and louder and they IPage Twenty-threel

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The Joys of a Sunday Outing R. SMITH drove his Flivver up in front of the old Smith house and hollered, Say, Maggie,.let's go on a picnic. All right. Say, hurry up, Maggie. When do you think we're going? This time next year, I suppose. just wait a minute pa, I have to call Frankie and Willie. Where you going, ma? exclaimed Willie. Why, Willie, were going on a picnic down to the river. Everything was going on peacefully when Mr. Smith exclaimed, Maggie, did you put them sandwiches in the car? Sure, Henry, under the back seat. That's fine! In among all them oily tools. Well, we ought to have a larger car. How many people do you expect to ride .in one flivver, anyway? Pa, look out for that cow in the road! Who's drivin' this car, Willie, you or me? It ain't no car, pa-its a Lizzie. You shut up. Henry, don't speak to the child that way. Pa, this ain't the road to the beach. Now looky here, sonny- Henry, if you speak to that child again that way- Now listen, it's hard enough to steer this old boiler without a lot of gab from the back seat. I thought this was going to be a pleasure trip. We never had a pleasure trip in this old boat yet. Well, I ain't no millionaire. I'll say you ain't, Mr. Squibbs aint no millionaire either and they've got a French Hardparaf' He made his money selling celluloid cook stoves to the Shipping Board. Well, he made it, didn't he? I Pa, did you put any oil in the car? Lookit, the gauge. Willie, if you don't shut up, nowA What makes it knock so, Henry? I hear knocks all the time. Knocks are the best things I ever hear when you are along. Pa, there's a milk truck going to pass us, Let her pass. Henry, it's too embarrassing. A steam roller could pass this old bus. Why don't you get a new car? If anybody should offer me the Ferry Building for a nickel I couldn't buy one of the door knobs. Pa, let me drive, will yuh? My heavens, Henry, don't let Frankie drive. Your driving is bad enough. There now, look what you went and done. You got me nervous, I pretty near took a spill. This doesn't look like the right road. .i U H .- .4 I. .4 .. i. IPage Twenty-fivef