The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-12
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Polly and ouiia Board.
by N LEWIS RAyaol.n,7

BY ~ LEWIS RAYsoLp
II HE position Of flagmat, al saund :
ers Crossing, which the railroad
ne injured his foot while acttnp as
tglahkeman ON one of their trains, had
Us oellgnts and its torments. 1t was
frequently the sight OF Polly Carr.
who lived in the little red house AZ
the top OF the hill.
3 a. Not that Polly was dsagreeable to
seok upon. Quite the, contrary. ANY
glris pleasant to see whose eyes spark
z le with the JOY Of living, whose curying
mouth turns upward at the corners
ana IN whose checks shines the glow
OF health and youth. But when John
hurt his foot he gave up the thought
OF Polly. Ask a girl to marry cripple,
with nothing better than "a job OF
Tagging trains? Well, he should say
not. And Polly, who had been all on
tlp-toe for the question to which she
could 50 truthfully say yes was left
70 wonder If she had been mistaken in
thinking he cared.
Now Polly. otherwise eminently SEN
I siple, was the most superstitous little
body imaginable. She tapped on wood
! she backed out OF the house in order
10 get the first proper view of the
moon, she shiyored with apprehension
when her neighbor's black Tommy
crossed her path, and II the village
store had only carried love ph.lters in
stock, Polly could have bought one
long ago. As 1t was, she was aware
OF no means OF inspiring love in a
man who didn't feel any or causing
him 1t declare TO It IL he did.
Then one bright May morning the
northbound train slowed down and
stopped at the crossing. Out stepped
Pony's up country aunt with umbrella
and travelling bag.
Poliyswas glad to see her aunt, part
~ because she was fond of her, and
a very great deal because now IL
wonld be quite all right to invite John
Peters to supper. II she had known
that Aunt Susan carried in her bag
something which would prove
any love phflter, she would have fallen
on her aunt's neck and blessed her.
That something was ouija board.
invitation to supper he had half a
mind to refuse. 1t was going to be diff
ficult for him to be with her for sever
his own hard luck. Yet some wistful-
ness OF tone OF glance made him yield
and accept.
III initiate you intoSthe mysteries
of the ouiia board" she promised.
nm Z IL
ing. And every single thing 1t says
is truei" she added solemn1y.
Ordinarily John had three hours at
Buppertime when neither north nor
southbound train was due at the cross
ing On the very night of Polly's in
vitation, however, he was notified by
the dispatcher at the Junction to throw
the swit Itch for a freight which would
As he limped up the hill to the red
house at the top he. repeated over and
over TO himself, switch the freight
switch the freight"
Throughout the meal, delicious evi
dence Of Polly's ability to cook, he
kept his brain working at the words,
even as he praised with masculine ap-
precation the featherweight biscuits,
steak done exactly right, and flaky
pie. After supper Aunt Susan gave
Polly little push. 'tI'm going to
wash up, child. You run along in the
parlor and entertain Mr.. Peters" And
Polly, after one dutiful, but weak pro
test obeyed.
Lets get out the oujia board" shr
suggested. you ask It the first ques-
ton and what happens!"
TSsltY1 I,nw hour 70
Polyss pink cheeks were, washed to
know IL it would rain in the morn
ing. Heads close together, fingers
resting lightly on the triangular bit OF
wood, the waited for the ouija spirit
to start working. Polly pouted when
John didn't seem impressed at the
vaguely indefinite reply of Maybe"
Question followed question, turn and
turn about, with more-or 1ess-mar-
Vicious response. Then Polly, her color
deepening a bit, inquired II she would
ever marry.
Some day" came the answer.
'sWho?n dared Polly.
John. his fingers trembling in spite
of himself, awaited the answer with
trepidation. What was Polly-or the
oujia board-up to?
Slowly the letters spelled out into
word:
"a s-w-i-t-c-h-m-"
John sprang up as IL shot. Down
ciattered the board and planchette.
Selling his cane, the man leaped to
the front door, opened 1t, and was gone
Polly, thunderstruck, stood where
she had risen, her checks drained OF
their rosiness. What was it? 1t could-
not .be-how silly of her even to think
of Il. John wouldn't leave like that
because he thought he was being prot
posed to. But there was something
Quickly she went out to the little
porch. Ear. far, down the hill sounded
the tap-tap OF Johns cane and his
swift FOOTBALLS. There was another
sound-slow, monotonous, rumblng-
then whistle for the Crossing. But
S there was no train due now. Sudden
" through Polly,s mind flashed the
4 reason for Johns hasty exit He had
been told to switch the train! And the
words on the ouija board had been his
reminder.
She must find out If he got there in
= time. rHatless, coatless, she ran down