The story is about a writer named John Hallock who is asked by his boss to write another ghost story. While thinking of ideas, a ghost named Helen appears and tells John that ghosts are on strike from inspiring writers due to overuse of Ouija boards. John's wife Lavinia then hosts a Ouija board party, where the board spells out "traitor" in reference to John, causing misunderstanding. In the end, Lavinia sees Helen and realizes she is a ghost, resolving the misunderstanding.

2. Introduction story. It does
‘A Shady Plot’ by Elsie brown is a comic ghost
not depict the element of horror like other ghost stories.
Rather it is an amusing story about an author John Hallock.
His supernatural stories about ghosts are quite popular
with the public. He is asked to write another such story for
a magazine. When he is thinking hard about the plot of the
story, a ghost Helen appeared. She told him that the
ghosts were on strike because too many people use Ouija
Boards. John’s wife Lavinia buys an Ouija board and
arranges an Ouija board party with her friends. There is
created misunderstanding when on the Ouija board
‘traitor’ for John is written by the Helen. In the end Lavinia
sees Helen, who is a ghost. Her misunderstanding is
removed.

3. About the Author
Elsie Brown was born on
January 2, 1870. She died in
Oklahoma on November 11,
1965. She is buried at Fort
Coffee Cemetery in Spiro,
Oklahoma.

4. Characters
The characters of The Shady Plot are :-
(1) John Hallock (Narrator)
(2) Lavinia Hallock (John's wife)
(3) Jenkins (John’s Boss)
(4) Helen (Lady Ghost),
(5) Laura Hinkle (Lavinia's Friend) &
(6) Gladolia (Maid)

5. Summary of the chapter
It is a story of an ordinary man who is an accountant.
The writer is urged by his Boss to write a new ghost story
for his magazine. When he begins to write, a ghost,
Helen, appeared and tells him that she was also an
author in her life and she and her fellow ghosts was the
one who gave ideas to writers. Helen says she would
help him in providing ideas if he should make his friends
and relatives stop using the Ouija board. Then John's
wife (lavinia) enters the room and announces that she
has brought a Ouija board party. John was very shocked
to see this, and one day when he was coming from office
he found that his wife was conducting Ouija board party.
Everyone was in pair. Only one girl was left alone. So
John was asked to accompany her.

6. John hesitates but he continues, but as the play begins the
word refers john as ‘traitor’, everyone assumes the John had
a secret relationship with a ghost (Helen). And next day,
when john gets up he couldn’t find his wife, she had left a
note that she is going to her grandmother 's house and rest
of the things will be discussed by lawyer. After sometime
the ghost reappears and tells john that his wife must get rid
of the Ouija board. As he is trying to argue with the ghost,
that she was responsible of all that happened. Then john’s
wife comes in, john thought his wife would faint if she sees
the ghost, But nothing so happened in fact she had a wide
smile on seeing her. Lavinia understand everything by ghost.
Then ghost departed, Lavinia promises to get rid of the Ouija
and decides not to leave home. And hence john is provided
by the idea of writing a story hence the condition is also
satisfied and everyone is happy.

7. Theme of the Chapter
The story is about a man who starts getting
cocky about his ability to bring forth ghost
stories at his will and how he copes with the
situation when he realises that he gets (the
unwilling) help from a real ghost. the ghost
demands a favour from him which he is unable
to fulfill. The ghost then plays havoc with his
married life leading to various comic
situations.this leads to abig dispute with his
wife.

8. QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT
1. Why did Jenkins insist Hallock to write ghost stories?
Jenkins was a the owner of a magazine and he published
ghost stories written by John, especially because he
believed that John’s ghosts are more real and gave the
real terror to the reader.
2. Why was the Writer’s Inspiration Bureau organized? How
does this bureau function?
Writer’s Inspiration Bureau was an organization formed by
some of the ghosts in the other world to provide
inspiration for the struggling writers. As a rule, the bureau
members scouted writers who went without ideas to
write and send one of their members to help the writer to
write a story.

9. 3. Does the narrator like writing ghost stories ? Support your
answer with evidence from the story.
Ans: The narrator does not especially like or dislike writing ghost
stories . It is more a necessity for him to come up with good
stories whenever Jenkins demands them . He says that the
stories seemed to specialize in him . He had been able to produce
good ghost stories under pressure in the past and was cocky and
overconfident regarding his ability.

10. 5. How does the narrator describe Helen ?
ANS : Helen seemed to materialize out of thin air . She was long and
angular in structure . She was wearing a big bone rimmed spectacle
and had fishy eyes . Her hair was tied in a tight wad at the back of
her head . She had an angry expression on her face . She was
wearing a stiff white shirt waist and a plaid skirt.
6.