Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-14

the door. There was no response. i then
tried to force the door, bgt it was fasten-
ed 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 a 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 yell. Suddenly
there was quick responce, the hurried
Withdrawing OF bolt and the door
opened.
"The occupant was 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 out before.
I" But we knocked, said, i1npatiently,
and almost drove your door in
"'77sat's nothing he said, patiently
I'm used to that
81 looked at the mans patient, f;ateful
face, and then around the cabin. In an
instant, the whole situation flashed be-
fore me. Are we not near Cave City?'
asked.
Yes,' he replied, it's just below.
You must have passed it in the storm
"s 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 lmagin my delight: Here
was an opportunity to test the whole story
TO work down to the bed rock, and see
how it would pan out! Wewere too many
and too we'll armed to fear tricks or dangers
from outsiders. las one theory had
been held-concealed marauders or road
agents, whose purpose was to preserve
their haunts from intrusion, we were quite
able to pay them in kind for any assault.
l need not say that the boys were delight
ed with this prospect when the fact was
revealed to them. The only one doubt
full or apathetic spirit there was our host,
who quietly resumed his seat and his
book. with his old expression of patient
martyrdom. 1t would have been easy
for me to have Drawn him out, but felt
that did not want to corroborate any,
BODY else's experience; only to record
my own. And I thought it better to keep
the boys from any predisposing terrors.
!" We at our supper, and then sat
patiently and expectant, around the fire.
An hour slipped away, but no disturb
ance; another hour past as monotonous.
ly. Our host read his book; only the
dash of hail against the roof broke the
silince. 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 even studied
manner, He dropped now suddenly in
to his old collouqial speech, and quietly
said: If you don't quit stumbling over
those q'iatas, Juan, I'll hopple 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
tongue. 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 Oh a row, in decent subsection,
and after the third hour passed without
supernatural exhibition, l observed, from
certain winks and whispers, that they
were determined to get up indicatiEs of
their own. In a few moments violent
rappings where heard from all parts of
the cabin; large stones <adroit!y thrown
up the chimney fell with heavy thud
On the roof. Strange groans and ominous
yells seemed to come from the outside
(where the interstices between the logs
were wide enough. Yet. through all
this uproar, our host sat still and patient
with no sign of Indignation or reproach
upon his good humored but haggard fea-
lures. Before long it became evident
that his exhibition was exclusively for
his benefit.
Under the thin disguise of asking him
to assist them in discovering the disturb
ers outside the cabin, those inside took
advantage OF his absence to turn the
cabin topsey turvey.
s''You see what the spirsts have done,
old man, said the arch leader of this
mischief. They've upset that there flour
barrel while we wasn't looking, and then
kicked over the water jug and spilled all
the water!'
"The patient man lifted his head and
looked at the hour-strewn walls. Then
ne glanced down at the flour, but drew
back with /. slight tremor.
est amt water!' he said quietly.
" It's bZoodm Look!'
''The nearest man gave a sudden start
and sank back white as 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! Observation-Disclosures my
honor, slowly widened and broadencd a
dark red pool Of human blood! Stop him
Quick! Stop him, say!''
There was binding flash that lit up
the dark woods and sharp report!
When we reached the Doctors side he
was holding the smoking pistol, just dis
charged, in ona hand, while with the
other he was pointing to the rapidly dis
appearing figure of Juan, our Mexican
va4uero!
missed him!by G dp' said the
Doctor. "But did you see him? Did you
see bis lurid face as he rose up at the
name of blood? Did you see his guilty
conscience in his face, Ell? Why don't
you speak2 What are you staring ,.t?''
WAS it the murdered mans ghost,
DOctOr?n we all nanted in ono nnick