The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-04-18
whole on the dog. That's where they

the 0eAxeSt cave A0u Oh udIA nl8nt9, De- |
ing in hollow, was as lonely as If it had
been on the top Of Shasta. If you ever
saw the spot when there was just moon
enough to bring out the little surround
Ing clumps OF chaparral until they looked
like connecting figures, and make the
bits Of broken quartz glisten like skulls,
you begin to understand how big con-
tract that man and that yellow dog I'm
dertook.
They went into possession that after
noon, and old Hard Times set out to
cook his supper. When it was over he
sat down by the embers aud lit his pipe,
the yellow dog lying at his feet. Sud
denly Rap! rap! comes from the door.
Come in says the man gruffly. rap!
again. Come in and be Id to you,'
says the man, who has no idea of getting
up to open the door. But no one respond
ed, and the next moment smash goes the
only sound pane in the only window.
Seeing this old Hard Times gets up, with
the devil in his eye and a revolver in his
hand. followed by the yellow dog with
everv tooth showing, and swings open the
dou. No one is there! But rs the man
opened the door that yellow dog, which
had been so clipper before, suddenly be-
gins to crouch and step backward, step
by step, trembling and shivering, and at
last crouches down in the chimney, with.
out even 50 much as looking at his master.
The man slams the door shut again, but
there comes another smash. This time
it comes FROM inside the cabin, and it
isn't until the man looks around and sees
everything quiet that he gets up without
speaking and makes dash for the door,
and tear around outside the cabin like
mad, but finds nothing but silence
and darkness. Then he comes back
swearing and calls the dog. But that
great yellow dog that the boys would
have staked all their money on, is crouch
ng under the bunk ,and has to be dragged
out like coon from hollow tree, and
lies there, his eyes starting from their
sockets; every limb anu muscle qulver-
ing with fear, and his very hair drawn up
in bristling ridges. The man calls him
to the door. He drags himself few
steps, shifts, and refuses to go further.
The man calls him again with an oath
and threat. Then, what does that yellow
dog do? He crawls edgcwise toward the
door, crouching himself against the bunk
till he's tlattcr than knife blade; then,
half way, he stops. Then that ID
yellow dog begins to walk gingeriy--
lifting each foot in the air, one after the
other, still trembling in every limb
Then he stops again. Then he crouches.
Then he gives one little shuddeiing leap
--not.straisht forward, but up--clearins
the floor about six inceS as if:
"Over something" interrupted the
Judge, hastily, lifting himself on his
elbow.
The Doctor stopped instantly. Juan,"
he said cooliy, to one OF the Mexican
packers, ''1uit foolln' with that RATA.
You'll have that stake out and that mule
loose in another minute. Come over this
way:'
The Mexican turned a scared, white
face to the Doctor, muttcring something.
and let 90 the deer-skin hide. We all up.
raised our voices with one accord, the
Judge most pcnitently and apologctically,
| and implored the Doctor to 60 on. 'I'll
shoot the first man who interrupts you
again" added Thornton. persuasi7cly.
But the doctor, with his hands languid'
ly under his head, had lost his interest
"Well, the dog ran off to the hills. and
neither the threats nor cajoleries Of his
master could ever make him enter the
cabin again. The next day the man left
the camp. What time ia it? Getting on
to shutdown, amt it? Keep off my leg
will you? you d. Il Grcascr. and stop
tumbling round there! Lie down!'
But We knew that the doctor had moi
completely finished his story: and We
waited patiently for the conclusion. Mean
while, the old, gray silence Of the woods
again asserted itsclf-but shadows were
now beginning to gather in the heavy
beams in the roof above, and the dim aislcs
seemed to be narrowing and closing il,
around us. Presently the Doctor recon-.
menced laziiy, as if no interruption had
occurred.
"As said before, L never put much faith
in that story, and shouldn't have told it,
but for rather curious experience Of my
own. It was IN the spring OF '62, and I
was one Of a party Of four, coming up
from O'Neill's, where we had been snow
ed up. It was awful weather; the snow
had changed to slcet and rain after we
crossed the divide, and the water was out
everywhere; every ditch was creek, or
river. We had lost two horses on the
Truth Fork, We were dead beat off the
trail and sloshing round. with night com.
ing on, and the level hail like shot in our
faces. Things were looking bleak and
scary when riding little ahead of the
party, saw alight twinkling in hollow
beyond. My horse was still fresh, and
calling out for the boys to follow me and
bear for the light, I struck out for it.
In another moment was before a little
cabin that was half buried in the black
chaparral. I dismounted and raped at
the door. There was no response. then
tried to force the door, bat it was fasten-
cd securely from within. was all the
more surprised when one Of the boys, who
had overtaken me, told me thai he had
just seen through window man read
ing by the fire. Indignant at this inhos
pitality we both made resolute onset
against the door, at the same time raising
our angry voices to a yell. Suddenly
there was quick responce, the hurried
| Withdrawing Of bolt and the door
! opened.
"The occupant was a short, thick-set
man, with pale, care-worn face, whose
prevailing expression was one Of gentle
good humor and patient suffering. When
we entered. he asked us hastily why We
had not sung ont before.
g. But we Knocked I said, impatiently
and almost drove your door in
"7hats nothing he said, patiently
| I'm used to that
~ looked at the mans patient, fateful
face, and then around the cabin. In an
instant, the whole situation flashed be.
fore me. Are we not near Cave City?
| I asked.
Yes he replied, 'it's just below
You must have passed it in the Storm
"' l see.' 1agaln looked around the
cabin. Isn't this what they call the
haunted house?'
He looked at me curiously. 1T is,