Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-01-28
Polly and the
Ouija Board
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD
(Copyrjght.)

Crossing, which the railroad compan,
gave John Peters when he injured hi
foot While acting as brakeman on on
OF their trains, had its delights an.
us torments. 1t was an easy job will
considerable leisure time attached, blu
1t afforded him too frequently tn
sight Of Polly Carr. who lived il
the little red house at the top of the hill
Not that Polly was disagreeable K
look upon. Quite the contrary. An,
girl is pleasant to see whose eye!
sparkle with the Joy Of living, whose
c"rvlng mouth turns upward at thu
corners and in whose cheeks shines
the glow Of health and youth. Blu,
When John hurt his foot he gave W
the thought OF Polly. Ask girl t(
marry cripple, with nothing better
than the job Of Tagging trains? Well
he should say not. And Polly, who
had been OH tip-toe for the question
to which she could so truthfully say
eyes," was left to wonder if she had
been mistaken in thinking he cared.
Now Polly, otherwise em:nent!y sen,
sible, was the most superstitious little
body imaginable.
Then one bright May morning the
n0rth-bOund train slowed down and
stopped at the crossing. Out stepped
Polly's up-country aunt with umbrella
and travelling bag.
Polly was glad to see her aunt, part
~ because she was fond of her, and
very great deal because now, it
would be quite all right to invite John
Peters to supper. If she had known
that Aunt Susan carried in her bag
something which would prove more
efficacious in Johns case than any
love philter, she would have fallen on
her aunt's neck and blessed her. That
something was. an ouiia hoard.
When John received from Polly the
invitation to supper ne had half a
mind TO refuse,
I'll initiate YOU into the mysteries
Of the ouiia beard she promised.
Aunt and I work at il every eve
ming. And every single thing it says
is true!" she added solcmnly.
Ordinarily John had three hours at
supper time Whti, neither north nor
south~bound train was due at the
crossing. On the very night Of Pol-
ly's Invitation. however. he was no.
tiled by the dispatcher at. the junction
to throw the switch for a freight. !
Throughout the meal, delicious evil
dence of Polly's ability to cook, he
kept his brain working at the words,
even as he praised with masculine ap-
probation the featherweight biscuits,
steak done exactly right and flaky
pie. After supper Aunt Susan gave
Polly little push. I'm going to wash
up, child. You run along in the parlor
and entertain Mr.. Peters, And Polly,
after one dutiful but weak protest,
Obeyed.
Lets get out the ouija board" she
suggested. You ask it the first ques-
ton and see what happens!
So John, thinking how pretty Polly's
pink cheeks were, wanted to know if it
would rain in the morning. Heads
close together, fingers resting lightly
on the triangular bit of wood, they
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 less-marvelOus re-
Spouse. Then Polly. her color deep.
ening a bit, inquired if she would
ever marry.
"Some day" came the answer.
"Who?' dared Polly. -
John, his fingers trembling in spite
of himself, awaited the answer with
trepidation. What was Po]ly-or the
Ouija board-up to?
Slowly the letters spelled out into
word:
"A s-W-i-t-c-h-m-f
John sprang up as if shot. Down
clattered the board and planchette.
Selling his cane, the man leaped to
the front door, opened it and was gone.
Polly, thunderstruck, stood where she
had risen. her cheeks drained Of their
rOsineSs. What was it? It couldn't
be- how silly Of her even to think of
it. John wouldn't leave like that
just because he thought he was be-
ing proposed to. But there was some
thing wrong.
Quickly she went out to the little
porch. Far down the hill sounded
the tap-tap of Johns cane and his
swift footballs. There was another
monotonous, rumbling-
then a whistle for the Crossing.
She must find out If he'got there in
time Hatless, coatless, she ran down
the hill, only to meet John, breathing
heavily, on the way back.
"Were you in timer she cried.
THANK heaven, yes!' he answered.
Then, "Polly," he demanded quickly,
what was that answer going to beY'
Polly gulped down little sob. &C.
can't you guess?' she asked. r..
"A switchman?" he said slowly.
Me?'' And as Polly was silent he con-
tinued, wonderingly: "Would you
marry. a cripple?' -
II wouldn't call any man a cripple
that could get down the hill like
that!" flashed Polly.
: With happy sigh John yielded to.
II have wanted you so.
Polly, DEAR" he whispered. )
isn't the ouija board wonderfulT''
said Polly a minute later from the
depth of Johns shoulder. : &c..
John patted her head lovingly.
We'll, 1t couldn't do much more for