For The Young Folks

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19367, 25 July 1925, Page 13

For The Young Folks

THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY ROOM. (A School Story for Girls—and Boys). The girls of the pink dormitory called themselves the Pioneers of Progress. There were seven of them. Six tall maidens with shingled hair brushed back from intellectual foreheads, and one little slip of a thing who refused to cut oft her red-gold plaits even in the cause of progress. But in spite of her long hair, Dorothea could hold her own—even with Joan, the leader of the little band which considered itself the most important in the school. i One morning as the girls were making their beds, Dorothea burst out: “You call yourselves the Pioneers of Progress; yet you all curl up with fright directly anything out of the ordinary happens. Oh yes, you can play hockey, and talk about the inhabitants of Mars, and point out all the politicians’ faults, but a noise in the next room makes you shrivel up like six distracted Arachnes! ”

“How would you like breathings and groans within an inch of your head?” asked Diana crossly. “That room is supposed to be empty, and I shall tell Miss Thornton about it this morning.”

“Hs! ha!” scoffed Dorothea. “The Pioneers of Progress are obliged to seek help from a poor maths, mistress! They can’t even investigate the affair themselves. I shall send in my resignation to the society directly I Lave time to write it.”

“Then I shan’t accept it.” said Joan calmly. “But I shall strike you off the list if you are so rude. Please tell us exactly what happened, Diana.” “In the middle of the night.” said Diana, “I awoke suddenly and heard a queer noise in the next room. As mv bed is pushed up against the wall I heard quite plainly. It was something between a groan and deep breathing.

“If we tell ATiss Thornton, and it turns out to be the wind in the chimney, the Pioneers will Jose dignity,” said Maud. “Two of us ought, to look into the room and sec if there, is anything flapping about.” Eileen and Dorothea volunteered, and creeping out of the dormitory, they opened the door of the empty room, and peeped cautiously in. An old trunk stood near the winder*, chairs were piled neatly in rows, and in the middle of the room was a tall, commanding dress-stand . “I expect the dress-stand comes to life at midnight,” giggled Dorothea, “and tries to attract the attention of

the strong-minded Pioneers.” Now Joan did not like being laughed at, so, as leader, she drew lots to decide who should go into the empty room that night if Diana were disturbed again. The lots fell on Dorothea and Aland. • • • • It was a particularly dark night; the rain lashed against the windows, ami the wind howled. If the truth must be told, the six pioneers devoutly wished that Diana would fall into a trance and not wake till morning; but Diana herself was feeling delightfully important, and it was not till two hours later that sleep reigned supreme in the pink dormitory. It was one o’clock in the morning when Diana awoke. She listened intently, and her short hair began to rise at the back of her nock. “Joan,” she whispered, “it’s there! ” It was no good pretending they could not hear it—the whole dormitory trembled. “For the honour of the Pioneers,” whispered Joan, as Dorothea and Maud groped for matches in the dark. “D’you think it’s necessary to go in?” whispered Alyud, when they reached the empty room. “We’ll never hear the last of it if wc don’t,” answered Dorothea. “Walk to the dress-stand and back.” But before they got back the key was turned gently in the Jock. “The door’s locked on the outside!”

breathed Maud, and Dorothea clutched her arm. There was no sound whatever in the room, but the dress-stand loomed out against the dim light of the window, like a horrible, headless phantom. ( 'Ono of the other girls has locked it,” whispered Dorothea. “How awful. Go over to the wall where Diana’s bed is and tap gently. I should think she’ll have sense enough to guess what’s happened. Maud tip-toed along; but as who reached the dress-stand a queer sound, like a person breathing with difficulty, filled the room. With a bound, Dorothea was beside her companion, and in her agitation she dropped the box of matches. Something groaned, and Dorothea tried to think of Joan of Are. “Who’s there?” asked Maud in a small voice. There was no reply, so the two girls darted across to the wall and tapped gently. (Diana told them afterwards <hat the pink dormitory wondered if it were spirits, and with one accord heads were hidden under bed clothes). “Pioneers indeed,” murmured Dorothea, “they ought to know wo are ' locked in. Let’s look for the matches.” They went down on their knees and began feeling all over the dusty floor with their cold hands. Suddenly a dark shadow moved swiftly in front of them, and something brushed Dorothea’s face. With a shriek she sprang to hor feet, sending the dress-stand flying on top of Maud. The next moment the door was flung open, and the two girls ' rushed, into the corridor. | Then Miss Thornton appeared, and the mere sight of her determined face peering over the top of a grey dressing gown, and the shining poker, she I held in her hand, was sufficient to restore order. Crowds of girls were in the corridor by now, and all eyes were fixed on the two shivering Pioneers leaning against the wall near the empty room. “What is all this about?” asked Miss Thornton severely. Diana was obliged to explain; then Dorothea and Maud declared that there

really was something in the empty room. Tall and stiff, gripping the poker firmly, Miss Thornton advanced Inwards the door, and forty excited maidens tripped after her. The Pioneers quivered. Here Was their chance of showing the school what they stood

With a flrm hand Miss Thornton switched on the light. A blood-curdling cry, which certainly came from no human throat, echoed round the room, and Miss Thornton fell over the prostrate dress-stand with several of her pupils on top of her. There was a terrible hissing sound. . . When they looked up, they saw on the |runk by the window a huge, disreputable looking old black cat. Pompey, the gardener’s pet. was renowned for fighting, and after a severe battle he had sought refuge in the empty room till his wounds were healed. The Pioneers retreated swiftly and silent.lv to the pink dormitory. The End. OUR CROSS WORD PUZZLES. Down.—l, bird; 2, preposition, 4. preposition; 5, token of assent; 7, lives in the hut; 8, sheep’s cry; 10, almost flear; .12, a little house; 14, marsh; 16 Italian for “yes”; 17, “thank you.” Across. — 1, Head covering; 3, weight; 6, French for “and”; 8, negative; 9, to sloop on; 11, wife of a Rajah; .13, girl’s name; 15, we; 17, note (tonic sol-fa); IS, metal; 19, a colour. That’s a good one, isn’t it? I’m sure you’ll be able to puzzle it out though. Love from Tink. i