Daily picayune., 1921-02-08
Polly and the
 Ouija Board By H. LOUIS RAYBOLD
Copy right.)

 of their trains, had its delights and its torments. It was an easy job with considerable leisure time attached, but 1t 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 al the corners and in whose cheeks shines the glow of health and youth. But the thought of Polly. Ask girl to marry a cripple, with nothing better than the job of Tagging trainsi We'll, he should say not And Polly, who had been on tip-toe for the question to which she could so truthfully say "yes," 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. Our stepped Polly's u2-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 efficacfous 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 a mind to refuse.
 "I'll initiate you into the mysteries of the ouija board" she promised. Aunt and I work at it every eve ming. And every single thing it says Is true" she added soIemnly. Ordinarily John had three hours at supper time when neither north nor l south-hound train was due at the crossing On the very night of Pol l tified ny the dispatcher at the Junction 10 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- hnr iub hfsotfts steak done exactly right and iaky pie. After supper Aunt Susan gave | Polly little push. I'm going to wash up. child You run along in the parlor | and entertain Mir. Peters" And Polly. after one dutiful but weak protest | oheyed.
 Lets get out the ouija board" she | suggested. You ask it the first Ques- tion and see what happens :"
 So John. thinking how rretty Polly's | pink cheeks were. wanted to know if 1t would rain in the morning. Heads close together, fingers resting lightly l or 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- | sponse Then Polly, her color deep ening bit, inquired if she would l ever marry.
 "Some day" came the answer.
 "Whof" dared Polly.
 John, his fingers trembling In spite l of himself awaited the answer with trepidation WhatAwas Polly-or the ouija board-up to?
 Slowly the letters spelled out into word:
 l "A s-w-i-t-cIh-m-'
 John sprang up as if shot. Down | clattered the board and planchette. Seizing his cane, the man leaped to l the front door, opened 1t and was gone. l Polly. thunderstruck. stood where she 1 had risen. her cheeks drained of their rosiness. What was il? It couldn't be--how silly of her even to think of it. John wouldn't leave like that inst because he thought he was be ing proposed to. But there was some thing wrong.
 l Quickly she went out 10 the little l porch Far down the hill sounded the tap-tap of Johns cane and his | swift footballs. There was another sound-slow. monotonous, rumbling- l then whistle for the Crossing.
 She must find out if he got there in time. Hatless. coatless, she ran down the hlll. only to meet John, breathing heavily, on the way back.
 "Were you in time?" she cried.
 Thank heaven, yes' he answered. Then. Polly" he demanded quickly, "what was that answer going to beY'
 Polly gulped down little sob. e. can't you guess?" she asked.
 "A switchman?" he said slowly. MeT' And as Polly was silent he con tinued, wonderingly: Would you