Central High School - Brecky Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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Glzcuzce 0 cz ghost- Zime CHARLOTTE DAVIS '41 T WAS midnight in a haunted house at the top of a crumbly hill. As the moon slithered past another cloud, a lonely traveler might have been seen wending his way in that direction. He was no ordinary traveler, certainly. Attired in a long robe of ectoplasm tastefully ornamented with the finest of blue lights and solid silver chains, he was no usual ghost. In fact, he was a spectre coming to 'spect the house which, so headquarters had reported, had fallen into the hands of the ghost of a poet, who was a little too inclined to let his hobby interfere with the serious business of haunting. Nasty night, reflected the spectre. Nasty night, and so cold. Such a long way to walk, too! And all for a house! Why, time was, a few hundred years ago, when I 'spected nothing but castles. Castles of princes, at that! But now they are very scarce. I'm lucky to get one as- signment in ten, and then they're usually museums where people think you're a machine. Well, hello! Here I am. At this he gave a second-class, No. 19284, division 5, blood-curdling moan and shook his chains. A few seconds later the door swung open, and he walked, or rather glided, in. The house had been built around 1850 and abandoned in 1905. There had been no murders, violent quarrels, suicides, nor accidents. There was nothing unusual about the house itself, and on the whole it was a pretty tough proposition for any ghost. But a poet! mumbled the spectre. Wasn't there any other place to put him ? The poet was clearly a young ghost and in- experienced, whose low degree and youth were shown by only one blue light of a poor quality. which did not flicker, and a single set of cast-iron chains. He bowed low and led his superior into the parlor. Not being one to mince words, the spectre came straight to the point. Now, see here, young man, he said. I don't like to say this but- well--I have been hearing some, shall we say, un- favorable reports of your ghosting. VVe expect THE Rrzvraw X281 high standards around here. I know this is a tough assignment, but I don't believe you're actually trying. Mortals are beginning to take all this for granted. Now, what's the matter ? Jasper, the poet, hung his head. I don't know, he said at last. Something seems to have gone out of my work. I was all excited when I first came here, the big promotion and all that. But now, here a tear trickled hown his cheek, I haven't heard a ghostly voice for months, and it's just the same old grind day after day, and I'm so lonely ! Well, well, see here, my boy ! replied the spectre, somewhat sharply. A good ghost is never lonely. A good ghost never has time to be lonely, he is always trying out new methods on stray mortals or practicing old ones. I daresay you haven't gone through your repertoire for days. How long has it been since you howled 2, first-

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ACDOUGAL THOMPSON, owner and founder of Highville's greatest perpetrator of noise, smoke, and sugar delicacies, the mighty Thompson's Tasty Tempties, Inc., stood on the top floor of his creation and glared out the window. Far below, gently rocking and knitting and listening to the birds twittering in the gnarled apple tree in her front yard, sat the object of his attention, Grandma Clemens. On all sides of Grandma's rambling, ivy-covered house, Highville traffic roared: and harrassed Highville business men, laborers, and factory hands hurried past her white picket gate. Takes up half a block l Thompson said angrily. It exasperated him, though he grinned inwardly in spite of himself, to see that shack squatting calmly in the middle of its green lawn, while all Highville battered at its gates. Good grief, what makes that woman so stub- born! WVe've offered her twenty time what the property's worth. All the other holders are under our thumb, yet expansion is held up be- cause of-of that old . . . Thompson stopped in irritation. Henry Jones, first vice-president and general Thompson stooge, sat on Thompson's desk and chewed a toothpick. No mortgage! Nothing ! he said gloomily. I tell you, R. T., it's no use. Are you sure she was offered as much as I specified ? Went to see her myself. Henry shifted his toothpick. Even took the liberty of raising it a couple. I'm telling you, she doesn't need money. She's as rich as Croesus. And she won't sell. Don't hand me that. Everything has its price. Well, not old lady Clemens. I had a hard time getting her to even talk about selling. And you should hear her line about the poor children whose fresh air and sunshine are cut off by this factory. Phewl Thompson almost grinned. She's got pluck, though, at that, hasn't she P he said, half to him- self, then aloud, What's she holding on to the S Qihzz if Se!! DONNA HILL '40 place for, anyway? If she's got so much money, why doesn't she use a little of it? Move out to the country, set up a decent place ? Sentiment, Henry told him. Property was her mother's and her grandmother's. Thompson remembered that he was angry. And because of that, Tasties loses an opportunity in a million l Well, it can't be helped. Henry shrugged. Thompson snatched up his hat. Maybe YOU can't help it! Seems to me I'm the only one around here who can DO anything ! He slammed the door. You can't DO anything about this, R. T., Henry said, after him. 1 He stood at the window until Thompson came out of the building, far below. He watched with a slight grin as the boss crossed through the heavy traffic, opened Mrs. Clemens' gate, and walked with angry strides up her stone walk. Ex- pecting momentarily to see Thompson emerge. Henry still stood there: but the moments length- ened into a half hour, and the half hour into another. Still no Thompson appeared. He must be doing better than I thought he would. She didn't ask me to stay that long. Henry settled down with a magazine, to wait. At last the door opened, and Thompson ap- peared behind a wide grin. VVell, R. T., Henry greeted him, how'd you make out ? . Henry, you don't know what you've missed until you've tasted her apple pie! And listen, Thompson said admiringly, I'm not so sure she isn't right about those poor kids, either. She has some ideas as to how to improve their environment that sound good. Why, do you realize what havoc Tempties. . . I Sure, sure, I heard all that when I was there, Henry said. But come on. You must have ac- complished somethingg you were there almost four hours. Did you buy the property P Buy the property l Thompson stared incredul- ously. Good grief, no, man! She bought Tasty Temptiesln THE REVIEW l27l

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class No. 322, division 3 ? Although the little ghost had to admit it had been some time, he added: It isn't worth the while. No, it just isn't worth the while. No one has ever tried to spend the night here. All I have had to spook is a few cows and some tramps. VVhen I was assistant to Archibald at that man- sion, I had respectable people to haunt almost every night. No respectable people ever come here. And when I was at the mansion, I saw Moana every week. Ah, how often I think of her! He smiled shyly and pulled a sheet of paper out of a notebook. I write poetry about her. Would you like to hear some? Although he tried to hide it, the spectre was really quite sentimental, so he said, Go ahead, as carelessly as possible. The little ghost cleared his throat rather self- consciously and began: Never so fair was any ghost As Moana, my own true love, Far brighter twinkled her azure lights Than the pole star up above. Her sighing voice and her ghostly smile Had spoken her heart's desire, Why, a single glance from her shining eyes Would freeze me with icy fire. Here's another-, the little ghost was be- ginning, when the house suddenly shook to a loud rapping on the door. Good heavens! cried the spectre. Here's a traveler, at this time of night, and a very re- spectable one, too! Why, this is your big chance l What? Do let me see! Do you think that, if I did this job well, I might get a better position? Do you thinkin ' Is there nobody here ? shouted the traveler. My car has broken down, and I cawn't spend the night out here, you know. Why, I do believe the door is unlocked. Dear, dear, I hope nobody minds, but I must go in-I say, the house is de- serted! How cozy! Jasper took time to observe the traveler well. He was perhaps thirty, tall and lean, dressed in evening clothes, top hat, and a long, flowing coat, ll he carried a cane. Having made a mental note of all this, Jasper very carefully moaned a No. 15, division 2, that was recommended for a beginning. Without batting an eyelash, the traveler set about making a fire in the fireplace. The spectre frowned. A most unusual person. Try No. 1, division 8. Jasper complied with this most eerie squeak. My, how loud the mosquitoes sing! the traveler remarked, casually. Jasper tweaked the traveler's coat tails. Jasper rattled his chains and knocked the cane onto the floor. Jasper put the fire out. The traveler was lost in dreams. Jasper ran through a hair-raising series of squeaks, moans, howls, and groans, the traveler yawned. Desperate, Jasper gave such a performance as he had never given before g indeed, few ghosts had ever done so well. For two hours the house re- verberated to all the screams, groans, squeaks, rattles, chromatic howls, and sighs that ghostdom had ever known, and indeed a few new ones. Yet, at the end, the traveler was asleep! Don't mind that, my boy, the spectre whis- pered, tears in his eyes. I'll see that you get a castle, at least, for this performance. I know of a splendid opening for a family ghost. Jasper, however, did not hear. He shook the traveler and cried in his ear: Please be fright- ened. Please be scared. Or, at least, tell me what's wrong with me. All my ghost-time I have waited for this opportunity. You mustn't fail me. Now, at last, the traveler took some notice. Sitting up very slowly, he spoke: That was a truly great performance. Yes, inspired. It ought to have turned my hair white-no, colorless- but, --here he seemed to blur into the back- ground- it couldn't very well. He drew him- self up. My dear fellow, do you know that you are addressing a super-'spector, a society ghost and a master of the chillins howl gone slumming? Farewell l The roof split open with a flash of blue light- ning, and the traveler was gone, leaving stunned silence and darkness behind. Tn: Rzvrnw l29l