The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-15
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
'Spooks
on 4. nay BARKER

NO Sc more definite II was spooks.
when he was IN Chicago on a
husiness trip Ralph attended a lee
ehySstr Oliver Lodge. When he
et1rrsn 10 Dodson he was conylnc-
al and enthusiastically he set out
To conTtnee every one else, but the
majority he failed with. Included
ne majority was Grace.
Al nonsense" race told him.
Il stp believe that stuff you've re.
yertsd 10 the belief of our uncivil-
ized ~ahcestors. II everybody be,
iieredin the world would have TAX
en- 4 Big step backward"
ION the contrary, Ralph persisted
kpt WOULD mean the world had TAX.
Ell a. step forward! Its only the
stubborn materialist who closes his
cars and refuses 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 yexed.
yoall land in the insane asylum
II you keep this up" she warned.
"Y%ou,dsbetter drop the foolish stuff
beforaiit,s TOO late"
But Ralph refused to drop It. He
bought books on the subject and
eFery time he called on Grace he
jeftussd psychic phenomena. Before
long they found themselves engaged
in gefbal eombats that were rath-
cir bitter.
The climax came one Friday eve
ming
Like ali respectable small cities
Dodson boosted a haunted house.
IT was in reality q ruin Of a veri-
table castle that had been erected
IN The woods by a wealthy family
several generations ago. The win.
dow glassesi had all been shattered
duesto the excellent aim of youth
full stone throwers and weeds had
grown In p%fohislon about the dilap-
idatsd structure. The interior was
barren except for a few pieces Of
antique furniture which the last
/ tennant had left. Three violent
tdeaths among the tamil ythat once
lhad occupied the place gave 1t its
Reputation. and this reputation had
been handed down from generation
10 Generation among the citizens.
On this Friday night Ralph ap-
peared az Grace's home with bulg.
INF eyes, A path that ran through
the woods, passing close by the
haunted house was a short cut be-
tween his home and hers and usu'
ally he made use OF It.
There's a disembodied entity In
the old haunted house." he inform
cd Grace earnestly. l heard It
pfcwiing around when ! passed. Let
As Investigate, II we see a mater.
iaiization II surely ought to con-
vince you OF the soundness of the
survival theory"
Not Grace objected. II don't
beiieye In your newly acquired
ideas but Just the same have no
desife 20 visit that old ruin in the
wood, especially at night. Person
ally i think you've dwelt too much
ON your foolish notions and you're
beginning to see things"
Ralph was in no mood for criti-
cisrno of this kind. He took himself
ssaously with his new hobby or
whatsyers It might be called and
, while,heh had not hitherto very earn
estiysressnted Graces c%ensuring he
did not relish being told that he
was seeing things, or hearing things
which would have been a better wa
of phrsstnF It. Tie believed there
was afspirit roaming in the haunt.
ed house and when he offered Grace
san opportunity to become conVinc-
ed lie wanted her to consider the
Arwposition In a more agreeable
hanner!
The consequence was that a reg.
ular battle OF words ensued and
terminated In a breach OF relations.
Ralph left inithe grip of anger and.
started home along the path. How
ever he changed his mind and de-
cided to skirt the woods. 1t was
rather lonely in the woods at night.
OF course he was not afraid but
wen the Investigation could wait.
The breach put Grace in a far
from enYtable frame Of mind. She
! loved Ralph for all OF his ":foolish
lad, as she called It and she was
Anorpse all the next day.
Eary Sunday evening Beth Stark
came to see her and they went for
Il walk wandering into the woods.
SUDDENLY Grace appeared TO have
an Inspiration.
Let's visit the haunted house."
fshe suggested. Maybe we'll get a
look az spook. I don't take any
stock In such things but We can
nave some fun prowling over the
ruiz It's Just growing dusk and 1t
ISN'T as bad as II itwere real dark"
Beth agreed. She was a sensi.
lie girl and drawer than many OF
ler sex and she was ready for a di
strsion. 80 the two girls made
xeir way to the haunted house.
Grace hesitated when they stood
betcfe the ancient structure. Every
Thing looked so gloomy and silent
and forebodlng. But she could not
draw back now, especially when
ABeth was manifesting anxiety to
Nbegin the exploration.
So into the haunted house they
went. gaining acess through a win.
dow. because the doors we're board
I'D up. Instde 1t was quite dark for
foliage covered most OF the window