Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-04-10

Soou HulIl"4 dIlu pHtpH. "IoAi!
When we entered, he asked us hastily
why we had not sung out before.
"' But we Knocked laid, Impatient
ly, and almost drove your door in
That's nothing hs said, patiently.
Pm used to that
Il looked again at,he mans patient,
faithful face, and the1 around the cabin.
In an instant the Whole situation flashed
before me. Are Ne near Cave City? |
asked.
eyes, he replied, it's just below,
You must havepassed it in the storm
al see.' Jagain looked around the
cabin 'Ispt this what they call the
haunted house?
"He looked at me curiously. "It is,
he said, simply.
You can imagine my delight? Here
was an opportunity to test the whole
story-to work down to bed rock and
see how it would pan out! We were
too many and too we'll armed to fear
tricks or danger from outsiders. If
as one theory had been held-the dis
turbance was kept up by a band OF
concealed marauders or road agents,
whose purpose was to preserve their
haunts from intrusion, we were quite
able to pay them back in kind for any
ASSAULT. l need not say that the boys
We're delighted with this prospect when
the fact was revealed to them. The
only one doubtful apathetic spirit there,
was our host, who quietly resumed his
seat and his book, with his old express
sion Of patient martyrdom. 1t would
have been easy for me to have drawn
him out, but l felt that did not want
to corroborate anybody else's expert
ence; only to record my own. And l
thought it much better to keep the
boys from any predisposing terrors.
We 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. off you don't quit stumbling
over those riatas, I'll hobble qou.
Come here, then lie down, will ycu?"
We all turned tiercely on the cause
of this second dangerous interruption,
but a 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 a row, in decent subiec-
ton, and after the third hour passed
without a supernatural exhibition, I OBJ
served, from certain winks and whispers,
that they were determined to get up
indications of their own. In a 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
come from the outside (Where the inter.
stices between the logs were wide
enough.) Yet, through ali this uproar
our host sat still and patient, with nc
sign of Indignation or reproach upon
his good-humored but haggard features
Before long it became evident that this
exhibition was exclusively for his 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 tc
turn the cabin topsy turvey.
IL,
done, old man, said the arch leader OIL
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 water
"The patient man lifted his head and
looked at the four-strewn walls. Then
he glanced down at the floor, but drew
back with a slight tremor.
& It amt waterP he said quietly.
What Is it, then?'
" It's blood! Look =
"The nearest man gave a sudden
start and sank back white as a sheet.
g 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 a binding flash that lit
up the dark woods and 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-n' 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 in that
Mexican vaquero-that cursed Juan
Ramirez II saw and shot at his MUIR
derer "-Bret Haate.
Ill