0 THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1946 THE EAGLE, VERNONIA, ORE. hard to prove there are none. If they didn’t believe in ghosts— and fear them—they wouldn’t be interested enough to attempt a denial of ghostly existence. Now I believe in ghosts. I expect to become one some of these days and I have a long list of folks out of whom I hope to scare the liv ing daylights just; as soon as I learn the correct technique of haunting. When that time comes I’ll probably be the only ghost in this neck of th<| woods. No ghost with any sense would stay here in this rain if he had a nice hot dry place where he could have full right of entry. Of course our ranch house isn’t old enough to have a ghost; it is only old enough to give me a pain in the neck (and how I would love to make a ghost of the man who designed it and threw it together) but I remem ber a delightfully haunted old house where a restless shade walked the upper halls and de scended the stairs. I was al ways going to spend a night there, but as evening approached by courage retreated and I was never able to remain long enough to hear the eery footfalls. That house, where no one dared to live, has been burned and cattle now graze over the haunted spot, so my opportunity to meet that vis itant is gone forever. Nevertheless, even if we can’t rake up a ghost at the Rocking W, we did manage a touch of the eery a few nights ago. Shep- pie, our collie, called the Big Boss from the ranch house. The B.B., investigate a strange light that was dancing in the darkness of a narrow ravine across the road fro mthe ranch house. The B.B., being a practical man, deduced a hunter with a flashlight and went to investigate. He and Sheppie could find no one. Knowing my insatiable curiosity about any thing unusual, he routed me from pleasant dreams and dragged me out into the darkness. From the somber woods of the hill came the sound of rain-drip, a little wind rustled through the shrub bery behind me, and as I watched where he pointed I saw a sudden flashing ball of light. It swayed slowly upward, paused a moment, then complete blackness only re mained. Again the light came, and again and yet again, and now tiny cold fingers began playing a dance tune up and down my Ghost Hunt RONA MORRIS WORKMAN ROCKING W RANCH Alexander Wolcott retells in “Long, Long Ago” on oft-told ghost story about two men meet ing in the half-dusk of an old English picture gallery. One of them shivered. “Rather spookv, isn't it-?” “Oh,” said the other, “so you believe in ghosts.” The first speaker laughed. “I do not," he said, “do you?” The second answered, “Yes"—and vanished. Everybody believes in ghosts, even the “wise guys” who try so Licensed Contractors REFRIGERATION RADIO SERVICE Appliance Repairing STRONG’S RADIO AND ELECTRIC 969 Bridge St. Ph. 576 Be a CHAMP! LIKE “the champ”, never expose yourself to a crip pling blow — always be prepared for the unex pected. If you don’t carry complete Automobile In surance, you are wide op en to a serious financial losswhich may be a knockout. NOW, before you drive, insure with— * VERNONIA INSURANCE EXCHANGE 905 Bridge Street Phone 231 Vernonia Modern, Luxurious Davenos vertebrae, even though I told my self and the B.B. that it must be someone trying to escape the meat shortage. “There is no one there,” he insisted stubbornly, “so it must be lightning bugs,” I hooted. I used to catch lightning bugs in my early days and no bug ever made a light like that. Someone must be prowling around over there and if it wasn’t a hunter for deer, it was probably some modern Diognese trying to find an honest man, and there fore he was crazy as a loon, so somebody had to go over and chase him out. So the Big Boss, craving com pany, awakened the ex-marine and the two bravely advanced to take the enemy by assault. I, like all wise generals, remained to direct the attack from the home front. I could hear them scrambling through the brush toward where the light waited. Then, suddenly against the dark hillside, ap peared two balls of white light about three feet apart, moving slowly upward toward the crest of the hill which my brave men were climbing. I let out a startled yelp. “Now there are two and they are coming closer to you.” I think—though I will not swear to it as fact—that the ranks hesitated for a moment, but rallied and moved on. The B.B.’s light and the Unknown moved closer together. I broadcast this fact to the surrounding territory. Shivering in the damp darkness I watched the beam from our flash sweep among the dripping trees, explore the ravine, pass over the strange balls of white file without pausing and search the farther hillside. “Nothing up here,” ’boomed the Big Boss. The ghost lights moved closer to him. “They are almost on you right now,” I squeaked shrilly. “They’re not fifty feet from where you are standing.” Now I wouldn’t want to go on record as saying that my two men hurried down from that hill and back to the house, but I will say that never before have they made such good time from up there, not even when I call them in for food, and yet they swore there was nothing up there. Oh, well— The next morning the big dic tionary and I held a long con ference. Webster insisted stoutly that it must have been an ignis fatus, those dancing lights caused by methane gas, and frequently called “fox fire.” He is prob ably right, but it isn’t nearly as much fun to think about. I’d love to have a ghost living in that ravine. It would give such a nice spooky feeling when dark ness walks through the valley. Perhaps, though, I’d better keep to Webster. If even an ignis Property Improvement fatus could make me dive for In Riverview Noted; the house and slam the door be Clams Are Magnet hind me, what would a real ghost RIVERVIEW—A surprise was do? Of coqrse, once 1 know the in store for Mr. and Mrs. Walter ghost of a little red dog—but that, as Kipling says, is another Moore and his mother, Mrs. C. T. story. Sometime, perhaps, I’ll Moore who is their house guest at .present when Mr. and Mrs. Law tell it to you. rence Shoemaker and daughter, Darlene, of Seattle, drove in Sat Visits of Past Few urday for a three-day visit. Mrs. Shoemaker is a sister of Mr. Days Mentioned; First Moore. Grandchild Born Goingson that indicate improve RIVERVIEW — A birth an ment here this week are: Bulldoz nouncement received by Mr. and ing activity on the Art Owens Mrs. Frank Mills this week reads acreage where a clearing of sev like this—Name Ronnie Bert, date eral acres is being made and the June 27, 1946, weight 7 lb. 14 oz. follow up work of blasting, piling Place, Oregon City hospital. Par roots and plowing; Merle Cline has ents, Mr. and Mrs. Cleone Wood a double garage well under con ruff of Portland. This is the struction; the George Bell prop first grandchild of Mr. and Mrs. erty has a new picket fence en Mills. closing three sides; and A. F. Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Kennedy and Schalock and his handy man, Roy son, Robert Hall, and his daugh Oakes, are improving our water ter, Bobby Ellen, of Seattle were system by placing new pipes dur week end visitors at the George ing their spare hours. Carl home. Clams acted as a magnet to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Callister draw a goodly number of our and son Ronnie, spent Friday people to the Oregon beaches Sat and Saturday at Rockaway at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Struchen who had been luncheon guests at the Callister home on Tuesday. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wasser of Goble spent Sunday of last week at the home of Mrs. Wasser's sis ter, Mrs. Albert Nelson. Raymond Kono of the State Forestry who is stationed at Wil- ark, spent the week end with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis MACHINE Kono. or Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Martingale MACHINELESS of Portland were week end guests at the Guy Herd home. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dial and infant daughter, Roberta, of Other na'-ionally adver Moses Lake, Washington, spent tised psrmanents from Tuesday until Friday with Robert’s sister, Mrs. Earl King. COLD WAVES Having arrived on this mundane sphere prematurely with only four pounds of avoirdupois to her credit, Roberta, after several PHONE 7712 weeks sojourn in an oxygen tent, Marinello graduate can now be rated as an active, healthy babe. • urday and Sunday. We have the following names—Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Fowler, Mr. and Mrs. C- R. Fowler, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Lindsley, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Lindsley ar.d Claribell and Ken neth Lindsley who tried their luck at Gearhart and Johnson Sozoff and son Jimmie who got their limit of clams both Saturday and Sunday at Seaside. F ARTISTRY The art of keeping house cor rectly requires as much skill as painting a picture. But manag ing a home smoothly can be learned. The woman who keeps herself and her home spotlessly clean without overwork, has learned this artistry through experience with the Vernonia Cleaners. Vernonia Cleaners PHONE 1211 MADE TO MEASURE SUITS BEAUTIFUL, PERMANENTS KELENE CURTIS' PARK AVENUE RIVERVIEW BEAUTY SHOP At The Mile Bridge 8 years experience with wide, upholstered arms TRY OUR SERVICE We Feature— CAR WASHING and POLISHING • TIRE REPAIRING Designed For Comfort In Your Home Can be converted Into a bed at night LUBRICATION Long-wearing beautiful coverings and sturdy construction assure you complete satisfaction. • • • Guaranteed all new materials Perfect Posture Support Expert Workmanship by Craftsmen BUSH FURNITURE Corner Second and Bridge Streets “Everything for the Home” • 76 GASOLINE JAKE’S SERVICE Open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Corner Bridge & Weed Pints ICE CREAM Quarts Gallons THIS EXCITING TREAT IS YOURS FOR THE ASKING WHEN YOU VISIT THE MILL MARKET Slices Dixie Cups Popcycles Mill Market and Lockers PHONE 776 » TRITON MOTOR OIL Fire Freren (ion f Bents Fire Fighting Everyone can serve in the war against forest fires . . . and the duration is from now on! Any one of us, by a thoughtless oct of carelessness, can cause a disastrous forest fire. The most effective way to fight forest fires is never to start one. Always remember that one bad fire can wipe out hundreds of good jobs. DON'T BE THE CAUSE OF A FOREST FIRE This forest care message is sponsored as a public service bg these firms: Miller’s Department Store Hoffman Hardware Co. Vernonia Service Station Girod’s Food Store Lew’s Place Bush Furniture, Funeral Home Kullander’s Jewelry Store Cozy Confectionery Vernonia Bakery TIMBER tS A CROP - KEEP IT GROWING