Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-08-04
Ralph's Foolish
Fad
BY r. RAY BAKER
"a Is2l, BIZ MeClure Newspaper srndiosts.1


&C. 1891. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)
The psychology of the trouble be-
tween Grace Gardner and Ralph Por-
ter was psychology. To be more def
mite, 1t was spooks.
When he was In Chicago on bust
ness trip Ralph attended lecture by
Sir Oliver Lodge. When he returned
to Dodson he was convinced, and en-
Enthusiastically he set out to convince
every one else. With some he may
have succeeded, but with the majority
he failed. Included In the majority
was Grace.
"All nonsenselr Grace told him. IF
you believe that stuff you've reverted
to the belief u our uncivilized ances-
tors. II everybody believed 1t the
world would have taken a big step
backward"
ION the contrary" Ralph persisted,
sit would mean the world had taken a
step forward. It's only the stubborn
materfalist who closes his ears and re-
fuses TO De convinced. You wait and
you'll s<e.s
The 'E0re serious Ralph became, the
more heartily Grace laughed at him.
Soon, however. she ceased to laugh
and became vexed.
You'll land In the insane asylum
II you keep this up" she warned.
you'd better drop the foolish stuff
before it's too late"
But Ralph refused to drop 1t. he
bought books on the subject, and every
time he called on Grace he effused
psychic phenomena. Before long they
found themselves engaged In. verbal
combats that were rather bitter.
The climax came one Friday evening.
Like all respectable small cities,
Dodson boosted haunted house. II
was In reality a ruin OF a veritable
castle that had been erected In the
woods by a wealthy family several
generations ago. The window glasses
hid all been shattered, due to the ex-
cellent aim Of youthful stone throw
.ers, and weeds had grown In profusion
about the dilapidated structure. The
Interior was barren except for few
pieces Of antique furniture which the
last tenant had left. Three violent
deaths at the place gave 1t its
reputation, and this reputation had
betn handed down from generation to
generation among the citizens.
On this Friday night Ralph ap-
peared at Cruces home with bullying
eyes. A path that ran through the
woods, passing close by the haunted
house. was short cut between his
home and hers, and usually he made
use Of IL.
There's disembodied entity In the
old haunted house." he informed Grace
earnestly. II heard 1t prowling around
when I passed. Let us investigate
If We see naturalization 1t surely
ought to convince you Of the soundness
Of the survival theory"
"Not l." Grace objected. 81 dom
believe In your newly acquired ideas
hut just the same, have no desire tt
visit that old ruin In the woods, es
pecially at night. Personally, / think
you've dwelt too much on your foolish
notions, and you're beginning to see
things"
Ralph was in no mood for criticism
Of this kind. He took himself Sc
riously with his new hobby, or what
ever 1t might be called, and while he
had not hitherto very earnestly resent
ed Graces censuring. he did not relish
being told that he was seeing things
or hearing things, which would have
been a better way of phrasing 1t. He
believed there was spirit roaming In
the haunted house, and when he Of
fered Grace an opportunity to become
convinced he wanted her to consider
the proposition In more agreeable
manner.
The consequence was that regular
battle OF words ensued, and terminated
In breach In relations. Ralph left In
the grip of anger and started home
along the path. However, he changed
his mind and decided to skirt the
woods. 1t was rather lonely In the
woods at night OF course, he was
not afraid. but-well the inyestiga.
ton could wait.
The breach put Grace In far from
enviable frame Of mind. She loved
Ralph, for all of his foolish fad" as
she called II, and was morose all
the next day.
Early Sunday evening Beth Stark
came to see her. and they went for a
walk. wandering into the woods.
Suddenly Grace appeared to have
an inspiration.
Lets visit the haunted house." she
suggested. Maybe Wen get look at
spook. l don't take any stock In
such things. but we can have some
fun prowling over the ruin. It's just
growing dusk. and II. isn't as bad as
II 1t were real dark"
Beth agreed. She was a sensible
girl and Drawer than many of her sex,
and she was ready for diversion. So
the two girls made their way to the
haunted house.