Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-04-11

was our host, who quietly resumed his
seat and his book, with his old expires
sion of patient martyrdom. 1t would
have been easy for me to have drawn
him out, but | felt that did not want
to corroborate anybody else's expert
ence; only to record my own And /
thought it much better to keep the
boys from any predisposing terrors.
eve ate our supper, and then sat,
patiently and expectant. around the
fire.
An hour slipped away, but no disturb
ance; another hour passed as monoton-
ously. Our host read his book; only
the dash of hail against the roof broke
the silence. But"
The doctor stopped. Since the last
interruption, [ noticed he had changed
the easy slangy style of his story to a
more perfect, artistic, and studied man.
ner He dropped now suddenly into
his old colloquial speech, and quietly
said. If you don't quit stumbling
over those riGtas, I'll hobble you"
Come here, then lie down, will you"
We all turned fiercely on the cause
Of this second dangerous interruption,
but sight of the poor fellows pale and
! frightened face Withheld our vindictive
! tongues. And the doctor, happily, of
! his own accord, went on:
! But / had forgotten that it was no
easy matter to keep these high-spirited
boys, bent on row, in decent subjec-
ton, and after the third hour passed
without a supernatural exhibition, OBJ
served, from certain winks and whispers,
that they were determined to get up
indications Of their own. In few
moments violent rappings were heard
from all parts of the cabin; large stones
! (adroitly thrown up the chimney fell
with heavy thud on the roof. Strange
groans and ominous yells seemed to
stices between the logs were wide
enough Yet, through ali this uproar,
our host sat still and patient, with no
sign of indignation or reproach upon
his good-humored but haggard features.
Before long it became evident that this
exhibition was exclusively for has bene-
fit. Under the thin disguise of asking
him to assist them in discovering the
disturbers outside the cabin, those in
side took advantage of his absence to
turn the cabin topsy turvey.
"' You see what the spirits have
done, old man. said the arch leader Of
this mischief. They've upset that
there flour barrel while we wasn't look
ing, and then kicked over the water
jug and spilled all the waterp
1.-The patient man lifted his head and
looked at the four-strewn walls. Then
he glanced down at the floor, but drew
back with q slight tremor.
e. 1t amt waterP he said quietly.
What Is it, then?
It's blood! Look
"The nearest man gave sudden
start and sank back white as a sheet.
For there, gentlemen, on the floor,
just before the door, where the old man
had seen the dog hesitate and lift his
feet there! there gentlemen upon
my honor, slowly widening and broad
ening dark red pool Of human blood
Stop him! Quick Stop him, | say p
There was binding flash that lit
up the dark woods and a sharp report
When we reached the doctors side
he was holding the smoking pistol, just
discharged, in one hand, with the other
he was pointing to the rapidly disap-
pearing figure of Juan, our Mexican
vaquero
missed him by-r' said the doc
tor. But did you hear him Did
you see his lurid face as he rose up at
the name of blood? Did you see his
guilty conscience in his face. Eli? Why
don't you speak? What are you staring
at ?"
"Was it the murdered mans ghost,
DOCTOR" we all painted in one quick
breath.
"Ghost be! No But i'll that
Mexican vaquero-that cursed Juan
Ramirez II saw and shot at his muir
derer i"-Brd Hd1te.