Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-10-31

e UNSHINE RAUBURN and Jim
- Knapp were two intelligent young
humans lying ON a sun-drenched
beach at smart Sound summer re-
sort They had swum and played
ab0uI together nj the same place for
two Seasons Jim Knapp knew he
loved Sunshine; but Sunshine. not
having inns advantage of Masters
university degree IN psychology, re-
fused TO believe symptoms such as a
tiuttei OF the heart when he spoke,
and the tremor that occurred within
her when their hands touched by acci-
dent. Thuswise the conversation pro-
ceeded:
YOU'RE silly, Sunny, not to say
you'll marry me. | know you love
me lots better than any of the chaps
you've run with these two years.
You'll come to It In the end. II even.
tunIly-why not now?"
Think you're smart, don't you?"
Sunny snuggled more cozily into her
hollow of warm sand and smiled at
Jim Knapp who lay, hands clasped
behind head. gazing at gaunt, dark
structure that rose from tiny island
about quarter of q mile out. blotting
the shining surface of the Sound
Sunny. did you know that bleak
looking pile out on the island is a
haunted house? Jim spoke idly.
"Nol Who said so?" Sunny jumped
instantly to the lead.
"Well-yOu know, when | can't see
you spend most Of my time chin
ming with old Pop Jackson-you know
the unshaven chap that runs the fish
ing launch. He's told me lot of the
history of this sea coast roundabout
Tell you'll Seems that house was all
q. X. and inhabited by some family
till about twenty years ago. Then
one night the family living there NIL
went ashore When they returned
about midnight and lighted lamp In
the old-fashioned living room--there,
stretched full-length before the fire
place, was the body of man with
his throat cut.
There was no knife about, no clew.
no anything. The family, of course,
had perfect alibi and, to make
long story short, the whole affair re
manned an utter mystery. Soon after.
wards they left the place and also left
tales behind them-tales of a strange,
tortured voice moaning In agony. of
phantom footsteps In the night and
the sound of q body falling. -.
Now what do you think of thatT
Its interesting, all right" Sunny
responded, but it's very silly-just
wild, fantastic fancy"
"AJl the same, just for the fun Of
It, let's swim out this evening after
shutdown. and go through the old
shack. I've always wanted to. Are
you gamr?"
Course l ami Haunted houses
mean nothing at all In my young life,
Iim."
That afternoon Jim Knapp took
himself to the little float where Pop
Jackson and his fishing launch we're
lying IN walt for patronage. They had
thelr usual chat sprinkled throughout
with many smile.
Right after the sun had set. Sunny
and jim met on the beach END evan
to the island OF the haunted house
Now m ghostsr Sunny grinned
as hand In hand. like two children.
they headed for dingy. half-open
window Of the old mansion.
In the deep half-llght OF dusk the
great living room they entered seemed
vnguely peopled with spectral shnd
nws
Look, Sunny, there's the big fire.
place where they found the chap with
his throat slit-see?'
"Jirnl You certainly don't believe
that fsherman's yarn. do your"
AS II properly to place the question
mark nfteT Sunny's query. from the
erie upper regions Of the house some
where came first faint thud, then
long ,drawn- out agonized moan.
"Jim ~
"Steady. old girl-we'll have to look
into this" And Jim leapt toward the
staircase so far away from Sunny
That his figure dissolved In the dark.
ness Of the hall.
AS IN echo to Jim's remark Oc.
cured the sound of soft footballs
above. which seemed to grow a trihe
more distinct with every tread Sun
nys blood froze. pause-as though
the phnntOm traveller were cropping
for the mahogany balustrade Of the
staircase leading down Then. each
step growing louder. h appeared TO
he coming down.
"Jimi" Sunny's tense whisper
was hardly audible as she stood alone,
ice-cod. in a cloak of darkness,
But Jim had somehow vanished IN
the shadows and the gh0stly footsteps
were coming nearer every second
...a very small gasp foot.
steps again throttled gasp
then:
-Jlmi Jim KnuppP Tones that
resembipd shrek. "Come here,
jim! Where ARE your Oh. Jlm--rll
marry YOU tomorrow. tonight, any,
thing. II you only get me Out Of here
cant
"RIghto, honey This way out. and
let's 20 quick"
A pnIr Of firm, friendly hands
grlppeh her shoulders and guided her
to the open window and the beckOning
Sound TIL hold you to that--tomor.
row. sunny" came n whisper In her
ear us she was gently deposited out.
side In the moonlight