Hunter College High School - Argus Yearbook (New York, NY)

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THE ARGUS tightly, because when I opened them, I imagine.d that I saw all kinds of weird figures dancing about, so I preferred to keep them closed. 5The wind whistled and howled dismally around the old house, and I lhleard all kinds of queer, unearthly sounds. After what seemed like hours, I suddenly heard a door slam- bang! I jumped, and Marge and Delia stirred uneasily, but did not wake up. My heart was pounding violently, and I tried to calm myself by reasoning that it was probably the wind slamming the kitchen door shut. Most likely, we had left both the window and the door- open. Butewhen- I heard a second door slam, I was perplexed, and decided to wake the girls. Delia, Marge I whispered, as I shook them both, wake up, I've heard two doors slam, listen, I've heard two doors- but by that time, they were wide alwake, and I had no sooner told them about it, when a third door slammed, this one louder than the other two. We were frightened stiff. Delia had the presence of mind to light a lantern that we had brought with us, and the shadows of the flames, Hickerinlgj around the walls, were enough to send chill after chill down our backs. For once, I believe, we were having excitement enough, even to satisfy our adventurous souls. We sat that way, with our arms entwined for hours-it seemed like years,-until finally at about five, some gray streaks of lighft came slowly through the cracks in the window. Things began to look brighter, and we wvekre all in the best of spirits when suddenly-we were turned to stone, terrified--for through the whole house, the report of a. pistol resounded, and then came a loud crash, followed by another. We jumped to our feet, and stood petrified. The crash was very near, it couldn't have been further away than the next room, and sure enough, there, from 'beneath a door which we had not noticed, but which evidently led into one of the rooms, which were locked from 'dhe hall, a stream of blood came trick- ling into our room. We screamed, and then with one accord turned and fled. Not a word was spoken until we were out upon the water, at a safe distance from the shore. Then Delia said gracious! and We all laughed hysterically. The sun was just rising, and a light mist was lifting from the water. Every minute we could see, Stony Creek more dis- tinctly with its church steeple rising majestically above the lined roofs. We neached shore after ten minutes of furious rowing, and 'dhen without much more ado, betook ourselves to 39

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THE ARGUS and went up the old, rickety, creaking stairs, and found our- selves on the second floor hall, with four closed doors staring us in the face. We stood still for a moment, and listened--no sound.-Each one of us simultaneously breathed a sigh of re- lief and then burst out laugihing. But instantly, we stood ter- rified-what was that awful sound? Our grasps tightened and we looked at eadh' other, three frozen statues, but then as the sound died away, we giggled, for it was just the echo of our laugh, ringing through the desolate place. We moved toward the nearest door, and tried to open it, but it was locked, we tried the second and third doors, but they were likewise unmovablwe. Our spirits rose, however, when the fourth door yielding to our efforts moved squeakingly on its hinges. VVe saw no ghost, no chains, no pistols lying about but just an empty room, with four blank +walls. This is where we'll stay said Delia, see, we'll spread our blankets on thze floor-here. We were all tired and excited, and glad of an opportunity' to rest, so we spread out our blankets, opened our baskets and ate a hearty meal. It was rapidly growing dark, and by the time we were through e.ating we could see the other side of the room only indistinctly. We had planned to go upstairs, to explore that floor too, but we gave that idea up, because we were beginning to feel uncomfortable, although none of us would admit it. Wie bolted the door from the inside, and then cuddled close together near the window, where a few rays of light streamed through the cracks in the wood. VVe talked cheerfully, laughing at everything we could, to keep from feel- ing frightened. We decided to divide the night into three watches, one from nine to twelve, the other from twelve to three, and the tlhfird from three to six. Then we drew lots. Delia was to watch Hrst, I next and Marge third. The time dragged along very slowly until nine, 'when We slettled down in our blankets andptried to go to sleep, but although we were tired, it wfas quite useless, and we could see that Delia wanted' us to stay awake. It was about eleven, when I lin-ally dozed off int-0 a light sleep. Promptly at twelve, Delia woke me., and for half an hour or so, we talked in low tones. She had heard nothing, but the Ihowling of the wind and a few soundsa that were probably imagined. Finally, both Delia and Marge. fell asleep. I huddled up close to them, and shut my eyes 38

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THE ARGUS our respective homes and beds, glad to be back safe, under shelter again. Our parents had suspuected this more or less, and we were allowed to sleep undisturbed until early in the afternoon. At about two o'clock, we three met, and considered what was to be done. It seemed foolish then, in broad day-light, to have run away, and we were determined to return and in- vestigate. Our mothers at first Hatly refused to allow us to return, and most likely, if we had not left our blankets theme, probably would not have consented, but as it was, after get- ting tvvo 'men ito go along with us, armed with pistols, we were allowed to go back and see whedher our eyes had deceived us, or not. Everything downstairs looked just as when we had last seen it, and as we opened the door leading into our room as we called it, there was the strleam of blood reaching half way across the room. We started-all of us-it was such a dread- ful sight, and then we advanced to the door opposite, from whence the tell-tale stream issued. We made a perfect picture of intense expectation, as we stood there, 'the two men witfh their pistols all set toward the increasing crack in the door as Delia slowly, slowly, drew it open an inch, and then suddenly flung it wide open! And what do you suppose we saw?--a pantry filled with jars of jam, some of which fermenting had burst open, and the jam had streamed down upon the floor, flowing on under the door into the next room. Elizabeth Zorb, Ag6 Q Rl 5-v-rw I ', x Q xe-1 .4 E- -it - '41 ,fin e uf: N- -LJ ,AVA 40