Elsie Brown was born on January 2, 1870 in Oklahoma and died on November 11, 1965. She is buried in Fort Coffee Cemetery in Spiro, Oklahoma. The main characters of the story are John Hallock, a ghost story writer, his wife Lavinia, his boss Jenkins, the ghost Helen, and Lavinia's friend Laura Hinkle. John is in debt to his publisher Jenkins and agrees to write another supernatural story. However, he is unable to think of a new plot. Helen, a ghost, then visits John and tells him the ghosts have been helping writers but have now gone on strike until people like John stop using Ouija boards. When Lavinia brings home a Ouija

2. 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.

3. The characters of The Shady Plot are :-
 John Hallock (Narrator)
 Lavinia Hallock (John's wife)
 Jenkins (John's Boss)
 Helen (Lady Ghost)
 Laura Hinkle (Lavinia's Friend) &
 Gladolia (Maid)

4. OVERVIEW
John Hallock was a ghost
fiction writer. Though his
stories were not published
in all magazines, there
was at least Jenkins'
magazine to publish his
stories. For this, Hallock
was in debt to his
publisher and so it was
hard to think of refusing
another ghost story for
Jenkins whenever he
wanted one.
Precisely!
Hallock, Give us
another on the
supernatural this
time. Something
to give them the
horrors!

5. Having agreed to write another story for Jenkins, John
Hallock sat at his table, waiting for a new plot. He
waited and waited for such a long time but no idea for
a plot dawned in his mind but mind wandered off to
things like his wife’s habit of buying every new fad in
the market. Then for the first time he was visited by a
real ghost!
How am I going to cure her of
her alarming tendency to take
up every new fad?
This writing
business is
delightful, isn’t
it?
Yes… I should
say it is!

6. The she-ghost, Helen, descends and says that all the ghosts
are going on leave and that they be not disturbed by people
like him. She explains that it is actually the ghosts who have
been helping all the writers to get new plots to write on.
They have formed the writers inspirational bureau which
helps the new writers. They are now on strike. If he wants
them to help him then he has to stop all his relatives from
using Ouija Board.

7. At noon, while he is still trying to work on a story, his wife
Lavina brings a Ouija Board home and announces her party
with the women from her Book Club. The writer, drowned
in consternation by her declaration, tries to convince
Lavina, his wife, to drop the idea.
It… it
isn’t…
You Know I
bought the
loveliest thing
this afternoon.
You’d never guess
in the world. It’s
the duckiest,
darlingest Ouija
Board, and so
cheap! I got it at a
bargain sale.

8. When he came back from work his wife made him a
partner of Laura Hinkle, one of the women from the
Book Club who is quiet fond of Mr. Hallock (the
author), to work on one of the Ouija boards. Though he
tried to resist, his wife paid no heed. John! John, dear, I know you
will help us out. Poor Laura
Hinkle is without a partner.
Laura can’t work a Ouija by
herself, and she’ll have a
bad time unless you…
Me! Me! I
won’t……

9. When the spirit descended, Laura asked it to tell something

10. Questionnaire
 Why was John reluctant to join Laurain the party?
Ans. He was reluctant to join the party as the ghost
had asked him to stop his relatives and himself
from using Ouija Board.
 Why was Helen calling John a traitor?
Ans. She was calling him a traitor as he had to stop
people using Ouija Board but he himself was using
it.
 How did John’s affliction worsen the situation?
Ans. The series of events made his wife suspicious of
him.

11. As soon as Lavinia came back from behind the books
Mrs. Laura Hinkle coyly explained the series of events
that had just happened.
What is?
Someone giving
the name of Helen
has just been
calling for your
husband here.
Why, isn't
that
curious!

12. Questionnaire Break
 How did John’s affliction worsen the situation?
Ans. The series of events made his wife suspicious
of him.
 Why did Mrs. Laura Hinkle simpered?
Ans. All the women were gossiping in nature and
they without thinking of the consequences started
making unnecessary talks out of it.

13. I am leaving! My
lawyer will contact
you!

14. Back in his room when john is in a mournful state and
Helen re-appears and asks him of when his wife
would get rid of the Ouija Board. However, Lavina
entered to bid him bye. She felt the queerness about
him and demanded like a boss what was he trying to
conceal behind him and thrusted him aside only to see
the ghost lady Helen. She was flabbergasted, and then
she realized that she had speculated all wrongs that
her husband was possibly flirting with Helen of troy
over the Ouija Board. Finally the ghost departed and
Lavina apologized to her husband. After that the
narrator suddenly felt the desire to write as the ghosts
had given up their strike and were now ready to help
him.

15. PRESENTED BY : AKSHAY KUMAR
CLASS : X - A
ROLL NO. : 10114