THE SPEAKING SPOOK

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 7

THE SPEAKING SPOOK

We deserved it—every one of us. You see, the very first appearance of the "Speaking Spook" happened after an altogether forbidden dormitory feast. We had them often; we gave them ia turns. Brenda, Violet, and I were in dorm. six then, and dorm, feasts were a regular feature of the term. Until the spook arrived. , It happened on my night, .j^st as we were emptying the crumbs. "Destroying our traces," we called it. We had hardly scuttled into bed again and we were only beginning to turn over, when ! ■ • ■ "Anything more?" said a voice from outside. As for me, I couldn't believ« it. There are one or two things one believes, such as the fact that one has passed an exam., or got a class prize. But, on the other hand, there are things beyond belief; This was one. I sat bolt upright in bed. Suddenly it came again. "Anything more?" At that instant there came a scream from Jinny. She then broke into a torrent of yells. Hearing the noise, Matron came in, giving us lemon drinks all round, saying we'd had- a nightmare. If ever you want to feel a worm, try being comforted when you don't deserve it. "Did it happen?" we were all asking ourselves, for by that time we were not quite so sure. But it did, for the next night we had proof. "Anything more, eh?" said the voice. Then on the window-pane came a most unearthly tapping sound. Someone was tapping! A most unnatural tapping. It wasn't a human touch at all. A burglar's jemmy' would have been music beside it. We then heard tha curtains flapping. The ghost was corhitrg ml , ','Oh!, Oh!" we all screamed. Thera was a shriek from Vi., then silence. "We go straight' away," gibbered Brenda, "and confess of our feast." ' I sifppbse headmistresses have nerves of iron as a. rule. But I must say Miss Brett looked amazed at the sight of us all as we flew'in. She literally jumped in her chair. Then she listened to every word that, 'we'd got to say with a' perfectly composed air. "I see," said Miss Brett coldly," and—did you close the dormitory door?" "Yes, Miss Brett," we stuttered. "Never again will we " "I.,am glad you closed.the door behind -you—because I do not wa.nt to have to search the passages. If you will come back now— —" Come back!! We held to. Miss Brett'3 table. Miss Brett's calm voice spoke out, "If you will come back, you will feel ashamed of your silly fears. Mrs. Brown, the rector's wife, lost her speaking cockatoo last week. If, on account of your "feasts" ; as you call them, the bird has grown used to knowing where crumbs may be found -:" She ceased. At the door the bird flew to meet us. "Anything more?" it croaked. -■ Dormitory feasts? Never let anyone in dorm, six hear the words againl, "DELICIOUS" (14). City.