The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-01-25
Polly and the
Ouija Board
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD

| Crossing, which the railroad company
gave John Peters when he injured his
foot while acting as brakeman on one
! of their trains, had Its delights and
| its torments. It was an easy job with
| considerable leisure time attached, but
| It afforded him too frequently the
sight Of Polly Carr, who lived In
the little red house at the top Of the hill,
Not that Polly was disagreeable to
| look upon. Quite the contrary. Any
| girl is pleasant to see whose eyes
sparkle with the joy of living, whose
curving mouth turns upward at the
corners and in whose cheeks shines
| the glow of health and youth. But
when John hurt his foot he gave up
the thought of Polly. Ask girl to
marry cripple, with nothing better
than the job of tagging trains? Well.
he should say not. And Polly, who
had been on 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 eminently SEN
sible, was the most superstitious little
body imaginable.
Then one bright May morning the
north-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
ly because she was fond of her, and
a very great deal because now 1t
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 ouija board.
When John received from Polly the
invitation to supper he had half
mind to refuse.
"I'll initiate you into the mysteries
of the ouija board" she promised.
Aunt and l work at it every eve
ming. And every single thing it says
is true!'' she added solemnly.
Ordinarily John had three hours at
supper time when neither north nor
south bound train was due at the
crossing. On the very night of Pol
Iys invitation, however, he was no.
tilted by the dispatcher at the junction
to throw the switch for 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 fiaky
pie After supper Aunt Susan gave
Folly little push. Pm 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 1t the first ques-
tion 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
iidn't seem impressed at the vaguely
Indefinite reply of Maybe" Question
followed question, turn and turn about,
with more-or ess-marvelous re-
sponse. Then Polly, her color deep
ening a bit, inquired if she would
ever marry.
"Some day." came the answer.
"Who?v dared Polly.
John, his fingers trembling in spite
Of himself, awaited the answer with
trepidation. What was Polly--or the
ouija board-up to?
Slowly the letters spelled out into
a word:
"a s-w-i-t-c-h-m1v
John sprang up as if shot. Down
rlattered 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? 1t 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
sound-slow, 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.
seThank heaven, yes I" 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.
"A switchman?" he said slowly.
Me?" And as Polly was silent he con-
tinued, wonderingly: would You
marry a cripple?"