Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-05-21

the camp, looking Tor place To I'VE ant
a chance to prospect. After the boys had
taken his measure, they concluded that
he'd already tackled so much in the way
of di difficulties that ghost more OF less
wouldn't be of much account. ~ They
set him to the haunted cabin. IL had 4
big yellow dog with him, about as ugly
and as savage as he himself, and the BOY
sort o. congratulated themselves from a
practical rie Nv point that while they were
giving the old ruflian shelter, they
were helping on the cause OF Christianity
against ghost and goblins. They had
little faith in the old man, but they went
their whole pile on the dog. That's where
they were mistaken.
The house stood almost three hun dred
feet from the nearest cave, and on dark
nights, being in hollow, was as lonely
as if it had been on the top OF Shasta. II
you ever saw the spot when there was
Juot uloou Suuush " oiluE b"s NHS "NN'N
surrounding clumps OF chappsrel until
they looked like human figures, and
make The bits OF quartz glisten Ike skulls,
you'd begin to understand how big con-
tract that man aud that yellow dog under
took.
They went into possession that alter
noon, aud old Haid Times set ont to cook
his supper. When II was over he sat
down by the embers and lii his pip', The
yellow dog lying At DIS feet. Suddenly
'Rapl rap = comes from the door Come
In says the man gtdilly. Rap . again.
Come in and be id to you. who has
no idea OF getting up to open the door.
But no oae responded, aud the next mo
ment smash goes the only sound pane In
the only window. Seeing this, old Hard
Times gets up, with the devil in his eye
and revolver in his hanl, followed by
the yellow dog with every tooth showing,
and swings open the door. No one there
But as the man opened the door, the yell
low dog, that had been so clipper before,
suddenly begins to crouch and step back
ward. step by step, trembling and shig-
ering. and at last crouches down in the
chimney, without even so much as look
ing al his master. The man slams the
door shut again, but there comes another
smash. This time il seems 70 come from
inside the cabin, and it isn I until the man
looks around and sees everything quiet
that he gets up. withou. speaking, and
makes q dash for the door, and tears
around the outside OF the cabin like mad.
but finds nothing but silence and dark
ness. Then be comes back swearing and
call. the dog. But that great yellow dog
that the boys would have staked all their
mo ney on, is crouching under the bunk,
aud has TO be dragged out like q coon
from hollow tree and lies there. his
eyes starting from their sockets every
limb aud muscle quiyering with fear, and
his very hair drawn up in bristling ridges.
The man calls him 10 the door. He drag-
himself a few steps, stops. shifts and re-
fuses TO go further. The man calls him
again with an oath and a threat. Then.
what does that yellow dog do3 He crawls
edgewise toward tho door, crouching
himself against the bunk ill he's flster
than knife blade; then. half way, he
stops. Then that yellow dog begins TO
walk gingerly-lilting each foot up in the
air, one after the other, still trembling in
every limb. Then he stops again. Then
be gives one little shuddering leap-noi
Straightforward, but up-clearing the
door about six inches. as il
over something interrupted the
Judge hastily, lifting himself on his
elbow.
The doctor stopped instantly. Juan, y
he said cooly TO one OF the Mexican
packers, quit iooiiu' with that rata -
You'll have that stake ou. and that mule
loose in another minute. Como over this
way ~
The Mexican turned scared. white
face to the doctor, muttoring something
and let 90 the deer skin hide. We all up
raised cur voices with one accord. 10 the
Judge most peniteutly and apologetically
aud implored the doctor to go on. "rll
shoot the first mau who interrupts yor
again." added Thornton persuasively.
But the doctor, with his hands anguid
ly under his head. had lost his interest
"Well, the dog ran of 10 the hills, and
neither the threats nor cajoleries OF his
master could ever make him enter the
cabinJagain. The next day the man LETT
the camp. Wha, time is II? Getting on
to sundown amt il? Keep off my leg
will you. you id Greaser and stop
tumbling round there! Lie down."
But we knew thai the doctor had no
completely finished his story, and we
waited patiently for the conclusion. -
Meanwhile the old gray silence of the
woods again asserted itself-bnt shadows
were now beginning to gather in th'
heavy beams OF the roof above, and lh'
dim aisles seemed TO be narrowing ans
closing 10 around US Presently the doe
tor recommended lazily, as il no inter
ruption had occurred.