River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-04-18

saw the spot when there was just moon
enough to bring out the little surround
| ing ciumps OF chaparral until they looked
, like connecting figures, and make the
i 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
neon, and old Hard Times set out to
cook his supper. When it was over he
sst down by the embers and lit his pipe,
| the yellow dog lying at his feet. Sud
| denly Rap rapp comes from the door.
! Come in says the man gruffiy. 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
el, and the next moment smash goes the
oaly sound pane in the only window.
Seeing this old Hard Times gets up, with
the devil in his eye and revolver in his
hand, followed by the yellow dog with
eyerv tooth showing, and swings open the
dooI No one is herel But as the man
opened the door that yellow dog, which
had been so clipper before, suddenly be-
gins 10 crouch and step backward, step
f., tsy step, trembling and shiyering, and at
| last croucnes down in the chimney, with
out even So much as looking at his master.
| The man slams the door shut again, but
| there comes another smash. This time
| is 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 a dash tor the door,
aud 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
Lave staked all their money on, is crouch
ng urder the bunk and has to be dragged
out like a coon from hollow tree, and
lies there, his eyes starting from their
sockets; every limb ana 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 nlan calls him again with an oath
aud threat. Then, what does that yellow
dog do. He crawls edgewise toward the
door, crouching himself against the bunk
till he's flatter than knife blade then,
half way, he stops. Then that id
yellow dog begins to walk gingerly-
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 shuddering leap
NOT straight forward, but up--clearing
the floor about six inces, as if"
Over something" interrupted the
,Iudge, hastily, lifting himself on his
elbow.
The Doctor stopped instantly. "Juan,"
~ 4 Ill - no
packers, ''quit foolln' with that RATA.
You have that stake out and that mule
loose in another minute. Come over this
way"
Tie Mexican turned scared, white
iace 10 the Doctor, muttering something,
and let go the deer-skin hide. We all up
raised our voices with one accord, the
Judge most penitently and alphabetically,
and implored the Doctor to go on. '1'll
shoot the first man who interrupts you
again" added Thornton, persuasively.
Bat the doctor, with his hands languid
lv under his head, had lost his interest.
We'll, 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 Is it2 Getting on
to snndown, amt it? Keep off my leg,
will you9 you d. d Greaser, ana stop
tumbling round there Lie down.
But we knew that the doctor had not
completely finished his story. and we
waited patiently for the conclusion. Mean
while, the old, gray silence of the woods
again asserted itself-but shadows were
now beginning TO gather in the heavy
beams IN the roof above, and the dim aisles
seeraed to be narrowing and closing in
around us Presently the Doctor recon-
menced lazily, as if no interruption had
occurred.
"As said before, never put much faith
in at story, and shouldn't have told it,
! but for rather a curious experience of my
own. 1t was IN the spring of '62, and
was one of party of four, coming up
from O'Neill's, where we had been snow
ed up. 1t was awful weather; the snow
had changed to sleet 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
Trutll 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 u light twinkling in hollow
beyond. Ny horse was still fresh, and
calling out for the boys to follow me and
, bear for the light, l struck out for it.
In another moment | WAS before little
cal,in that was half buried in the black
chaparral. dismounted and raped at
the door There was no response. then
tried to force the door, bxt it was fasten
ed securely from within. ] was all the
mere surprised when one of the boys, who
| had overtaken me, told me thai he had
| Just seen through a window a man read
ing by the fire. Indignant at this inhos
pitality we both made a resolute onset
| against the door, at the same time raising
our angry voices to yell. Suddenly
/ there was a quick responce, the hurried
Withdrawing of a bolt and the door
+, o. 1ed.
The occupant was short, tbick-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 out before.
"'But we knocked, said, irnpatiently,
and almost drove your door in.
"'7Rat's nothing be said, patiently
: Ina used to that
. / looked at the mans patient, Hateful
face, and then around the cabin. In an
| instant, the whole situation flashed be-
fore me. Are we not near Cave CityH
| asked
Yes he replied. it's just below.
You must have passed it in the storm.
- see.' again looked around the
cabin. Isn't this what they call the
haunted house'
: He looked at me curiously. 1T is
he said simply.
"You can lmsgin my delight Here
was an opportunity to test the whole story