The St. Mary banner., 1921-08-06
Ralph's Foolish
Fad
BY r. RAY BAKER

ASSSSS<SS<<<S s|<<<$<sC
| "a 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)
The psychology of the trouble be-
tween Grace Gardner and Ralph for-
ter was psychology. To be more den-
ute, 1t was spoOks.
When he was In Chicago on Dusi-
| ness trip Ralph attended lecture Dy
| 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 nonsense" Grace told him. If
you believe that stuff you've reverted
to the belief of our uncivilized ances-
tors. If everybody believed 1t the
world would have taken big step
| backward"
"On the contrary" Ralph persisted,
at would mean the world had taken
step forward. It's only the stubborn
materialist who closes his ears and re-
fuses to be convinced. You wait and
you'll see"
The more 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
if you keep this up she warned.
you'd better drop the foolish stun
before it's too late"
But Ralph refused to drop it. 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 boasted haunted house. 1t
was In reality ruin Of a veritable
castle that had been erected in the
woods by wealthy family several
generations ago. The window glasses
had all been shattered, due to the ex-
celent 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
been handed down from generation to
generation among the citizens.
On this Friday night Ralph ap-
peared at Grace's home with bulging
eyes. A path that ran through the
woods, passing close by the haunted
house, was a short cut between his
home and hers, and usually he made
use Of 1t.
'There's a disembodied entity in the
old haunted house." he Informed Grace
earnestly. 81 heard 1t prowling around
when I passed. Let us investigate.
/ If we see a naturalization it surely
ought to convince you of the soundness
Of the survival theory"
"Not l." Grace objected. II don't
believe In your newly acquired ideas,
but just the same, have no desire to
visit that old ruin In the woods, es-
pecially at night. Personally, / think
|
eotions, 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 it might be called, and while he
ed Grace's 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 a more agreeable
manner
The consequence was that a 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 investfga
| ton could wait.
The breach put Grace in a far from
enyiabfe frame of mind. She loved
Ralph, for all of his foolish fad" as
she called 1t, and was morose al
the next day.
Early Sunday evening Beth Stars
came to see her, and they went for q
| {p% DC
Suddenly Grace appeared to have