The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-15
EDening Story
Spooks.
BY R. r. BAKER.


mite, it was spooks.
When he was in Chicago on a bust
ness trip Ralph attended a 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.
"AlI nonsense!" Grace told him. "If
you believe that stuff you've reverted
F, to the belief of our uncivilized ances-
/ tors. If everybody believed 1t, the
world would have taken a big step
backward"
| "On the contrary" Ralph persisted,
lit would mean the world had taken
! a 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 stuff 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 eff
fused psychic phenomena. Before long
they found themselves engaged in YER
bal combats that were rather bitter.
The climax came one Friday even
ing.
Like all respectable small cities,
Dodson boosted a haunted house. 1t
was in reality a ruin of a veritable
castle that had been erected in the
woods by wealthy family several
generations ago. The window glasses
| had ali been shattered, due to the ex-
cellent aim of youthful stone throw
ers, and weeds had grown in profu-
/ sion about the dilapidated structure.
The interior was barren except for
few pieces of. antique furniture which
the last tenant had left Three vio-
lent deaths among the family that
once had occupied the place. gave it
its reputation, and this reputation had
been handed down from generation to
generation among the citizens
On this Friday night Ralph ap-
| peared at Graces home with bullying
eyes. A path that ran thru the
woods, passing close by the haunted
house, was short cut between his
home and hers, and usually he made
use of it. !
"There's a disembodied entity in the
earnestly. IT heard it proving around
when I passed. Let US investigate.
If we see a naturalization it surely
ought to convince you of the sound
Not l." Grace objected. ST don't
believe in your newly acquired ideas,
but just the same, have no desire to
visit that old ruin in the woods, es-
specially 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 seri-
ously with his new hobby. or what
fer1af y Ill -
had not hitherto very earnestly resent
ed Grace's censuring, he did not relish
being told that he was seeing things
or hearing things. which would have
been better way of phrasing it. He
believed there was a 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 a breach of 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 It was rather lonely in the
woods at night. OF course, he was
not afraid, but-well, the tnvestiga
ton could wait.
The breach put Grace in a far from
enviable frame of mind. She loved
Ralph, for all of his foolish fad" as
she called it, and she 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 we'll get look at
a spook. I don't take any stock in
such things, but we can have some
fun prowling over the ruin. It's just
growing dusk, and 1t isn't as bad as
, If it were real dark
Beth agreed. She was sensible
girl and Drawer than many of her sex,
and she was ready for a. diversion. So
} the two girls made their way 70 the
Grace hesitated when they sto ID
before the ancient structure. Every
: thing looked so gloomy and silent
| and foreboding. But she could not
: was manifesting anxiety to begin the
exploration.
So into the haunted house they
went gaining access thru window,
, because the doors were boarded up.
Inside it was quite dark, for foliage
, covered most of the windows. Grace
J. felt herself trembling.
The girls went thru several rooms,
feeling their way along dungeon-like
, passages. In one of these Railways
. iBeJh SIuInDleQ upon a DOdTu leduAnS
against a wall, and it fell with a clat-
,, ter. At the same instant, it seemed.
they heard a step resound on the floor
: fabove.
4 whats that quavered Grace,
. Beth's shoulder and felt the latter
trembling, too.
y Don't ask me-" whispered Beth,
q Maybe it's the spook.'
They stood still, listening, and the
noise above was repeated.
: .'Let's-lets CO." suggested Grace
= I'm willing" her chum agreed.
They retraced their steps toward the
room they had just left. 1t was the
|, room in which staircase mounted to
f the upper story. AS they moved along
:. the passage, the girls heard a step on
! the stairs-a perfectly distinct step
n They stopped again, wondering what