The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-06-28
Chapter Ten
Ghosts From A Book
A RE you ill?" inquired Mrs,
"A Marbury.

Ghosts From A Book
A RE you ill?" inquired Mrs,
!. "A Marbury.
Mrs. Jackson looked embar-
raised. mo ma'ama" she said. q
was just surprised"
"Surprised?" echoed Julie. q
should think you would be used
to wind like this If you've been
living here for years"
"Yes ma'am," said Mrs. Jackson
adding little sullenly, sit wasr,'t
the wind" She said no more, as
Jackson returned with the mop
and went to work On the spilled
soup.
well, certainly something must
have made you scream" said
Brett, almost smiling now. did
you see a ghost2"
Mrs. jackson, stung to quick
retort, said sharply,
"That's just what ] did, at least
what / thought for minute. But
now I see 1t was just the two
young ladies'"
Mr.. Howe now glanced at Gina
and Eve. who had taken their
places at the table.
''If these girls reminded you of
something in the past history Of
this house, there must be an in
teresting story in il, he observed
dryly.
There is a story" admitted
Mrs. jackson. ''You wouldn't
want to hear II, though, not if
Mrs. Marbury's thinking of buy
ing the house. It's not pretty
story. Many's the time I've been
sorry / ever read it, nights when
the wind was blowing hard"
"Read it?" put in Ham. Where
did you read it?"
"Well," said Mrs. Jackson,
"there's an old book on those
shelves near the fireplace, written
by one of the people who used to
own this place"
"A ghost storyl" shrieked Gina,
jumping up and starting for the
door. "Oh, that's lovely! I'll get
it."
You'll do nothing Of the kind"
said Mrs. Marbury, until we've
had our dinner. We've been watt
ing long enough. Sit down, Gina.
Mrs. Jackson, you may omit the
soup course"
1--WE Want Ghosts"
"uOW are we going to find the
II famous story?" Gina. Lead
ing the way to the library, threw
over her shoulder at the process
sion following her. With one ac-
cord as they left the dining room,
everybody had started in the
same direction. Neil, last in line,
heard Gina's remark and called
out:
why not ask Mrs. Jackson to
get it for us? She PROBABLY knows
where it is. Don't you, Mrs. Jack
SOM" He raised his voice, retrac-
ing the few steps back to the din
ing room and calling through the
door.
Don't ! what7" inquired the
caretaker very busy over her
clearing away.
Know just where to find that
ghost story"
Come on in and show us,
Julie called from the library.
We've got to have something to
do in this godforsaken place"
Mrs. Jackson wiped her hands
on one Of the napkins she had Just
gathered up.
II wouldn't like TO be the cause
of upsetting anybody" she said
doubtfully. But Eve Joined jules
plea.
"Oh, come on" she urged Il
can hardly wait TO hear the story
OF the ghosts we resemble so
strongly. It's the most romantic
thing that ever happened to met
II don't really believe that"
said Brett. his dark eyes glinting
as he looked down at her. why
must you exaggerated"
Honest to goodness" Eve as
sured him as Mrs. Jackson moved
TO the edge Of the fireplace. Neil
Bowron mad climbed up on the
sliding stepladder and was pro-
polling himself rapidly along the
rows OF crowded bookshelveg. His
blond head, so close TO the ceiling.
cleaned against the dark back
ground
''Gibbons' Decline and Fall OF
Rome" he read. pausing an In.
slant TO peer at the faded titles
before moving on another two
feet.
Twelfth Night" by Shake
speare; Midsummer Nights
Dream" by Shakespeare; Julius
Caesar by Shakespeare
''HeyI" shouted Brett. I'VE
know what Shakespeare wrotel
You're looking for 4 ghost story.
not widening our education
TITS not up there" said Mrs
Jackson 4 think It's right here al
the left OF the fireplace
She scanned the shelves intent.
~. walking slowly along for a few
feet on either side of the hearth,
My memory must have failed
me. or PLAYED q trick on me" she
said finally. "lt's a long time
though. since saw i"
"What kind of book was its+
Mr.. Howe came forward helpful
IL.
~An old brown book with !
ragged binding. On. that's itsF
Mrs Jackson darted forward With
surprising agility for heavs
woman and drew took from !
corner ~ one og the shelves
The others crowded around her
laughlRg. al trytag 20 see the
words on the first page as shs
opeaed the book.
On pages yellowed with ace
meticusans .fashianed hard