Daily picayune., 1921-01-17
Polly and the
 Ouija Board By Fl. LOUIS RAYBOLD

The pOSlLlDU DI udeLHdH dt oduHutls Crossing. which the railroad company gave John Peters when he injured his foot while acting as brakeman on one of their trains, had it's delights and It's torments It was an easy job with considerable leisure time attached, but t 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 a cripple, with nothing better than the job of Tagging trains7 Well, he should say not. And Polly. who had been on tp-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 nGrth-bound train slowed down and stopped at the crossing. Out stepped Polly's u2-country aunt with umbrella and trayeting bag.
 Polly was glad 10 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 efficacous Tn Johns case tran any love philter. she would have fallen on her auuts neck and blessed her That something was an ouiia board.
 When John received from Polly the invitation to supper he had half mind 10 refuse
 "T'I initiate you into the mysteries of the ouija board she promised. Aunt and I work at it every eve ming And every single thing 1t 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 tvs invitation, however, he was no- tified by the dispatcher at the junction to throw the switch for freight.
 Throughout the meal. delicious evi- dence of Polly's ability to cook, he kept his brain working at the words, even as he praised with masculine ap- prccation the featherweight biscuits steak done exactly right and flaky pic. After supper Aunt Susan gave | Polly q little push. "Im going to wash mp. child. Yon run along in the parlor and entertain Mir Peters. And Polly. after one dutiful but weak protest, obeyed
 Lets get out tEe ouija board she suggested You ask 1t the first ques- ton and see what happens ,a
 So John, thinking how rretty Pollys pink cheeks were, wanted 10 know if 1t would rain in the morning. Heads i close together. fingers resting lightly on the triangular bit of wood, they wnited for tbc oulia spirit to start working. Polly poutod when John l didn't seem impressed at the vaguely indefinite reply of Maybe" Question followed question turn and turn about with more -or -marYelous re- sponse Then Polly her color decp- pufng bt, inquired if she would oyer marry.
 "Seme day" came the answer
 "Who?" dared Polly.
 John. his fingers trembling In spite of himself awaited the answer with treplaatfon. What was polly--or the ouiia board-up to?
 Slowly the letters spelled out into word
 "A s.w-i-t-c h-m-f
 l John sprang up as If shot Down clattered the hoard and planehette. SeziHg his cane, the man leaped to She front door. opened if and was gone. l Polly, thunderstruck, stood where she had risen. her checks drained of their | rosiness. What was it? It couldn't bc-how silly of her even 10 think of fl. John wouldn't leave like that inst because he thought he was be- .ng proposed to. But there was some l thing wrong
 Quickly she went out to the little 1 porch Far down the hill sounded fhe tap-tap of Johns cane and his swift footfalls. There was another sound-slow. monotonous rnmhling- fhen a whistle for the Crossing.
 She must find out if he got there In time. flatleS> coauess she ran down the hill, only to meet John. breathing heavily, on the way haek
 Were you in time2' she cried
 "ThauA henNen ycse' he answered. Then. Polly" he aemauded quickly, what was that answer going 10 he?"
 Polly gulped donna little sob "C- 1 .aust ,-,u .st,p.zl 9" lha ..1-,.I