The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-10-04

clean mad. searched for him in a sort of frantic hurry, and shouted his name, but heard only the echoes answer me.
 Il tried to get further into the cave at the mouth of which I'd been lying bu, l soon found the way closed by big chunk of rock There was 10 other out let to the cave, and there was nothing to explain the mystery. There was no sign of Vermudyn or his horse; that, no doubt, had strayed during t-e night. Bat where was he: And where, above all. had we two spent the nights I was fairly stunned. l felt for my knife, my revolver. These, with my belt. were safe enough. l had lost nothing, was simply cold, hungry, and quite alone, save for my nag; and how glad was of that companion l can't tell you |. He would be the means of getting me away from that awful place faster than my legs could carry me
 found a hunch of bread and some meat in my wallet bu, l was too excited and wretched over vermudyn's disap- pearance to light a fire and boil some tea. As soon as I'd swallowed down my breakfast. l mounted my horse, and rode backward and forward for a good i've hours. searching for the body. for was clear in my own mind tha, my poor old mate was deac.
 Dead or alive, 1 hated 10 think of riding away and leaving him there in the Devils Panniken. Bu, 1t was no good. l hunted every hole and corner within a mile Of the place-as near as could Judge--where he had spent the night. At las. l gave up the hopeless search no signs of Nermudyn anywhere and before noon had turned my horses head away from the wretched place. and for the first mile or SO rode so hard ana fast that began to blame my own folly in running awayin broad daylight. From what, too!
 "Ay, there was the rub What was I riding away from? and how had es- capped while Vermudyn was lost: 1 vas ! almost mad when l went over the pa t twenty-four hours. couldn't believe my senses. All I'd seen and heard, too and the only other witness was gone, vanished as completely IS if he had been a spectre or par: of some nightmare dream.
 Il felt my brain reel as passed mile | after mile along the lonely road. til at last began 10 wonder if .he Vermudyn thought knew was ever living man or ii he made part of a long hideous dream. which l thought l should never forget or get over.
 But couldn't chea. myself so the man had written his name inside my poeket-book, C. Nermudyn,' and had given me Q ring he told me he once boughtin an eastern bazaar I've worn the ring ever since in memory of him and that awful Halloween night,
 Sure enough ermudyn was no dream !; bu, from that day to this his name has never crossed my lips :: ard nothing would induce me ever again to ride through the Devils panniken either by day or night.
 In my own mind, hoys, i,'s as clear as daylight tha, the body found in that cave Gentleman lack was telling you of while since was neither more nor less than the skeleton 0! ny poor old mate Vermudyn. l never though, to hear of his bones being found after all these years, poor old chap; or of telling you i tonight what happened to us tha. Hal 1 loween in the Devils panniken. only | hope he wasn't alive in that awful place alive, and shouting for help, shut up there | alone, and hopeless in the dark, while l was riding away in sunshine and clear | air .-Pshaw" mu.,ered the old man | it's no good to think of that now and | .alkings dry work. Another go of whisky, Pat '"
 The murmur of admiration, assonish- ment, and feeble doubt over this won- drous story of Old Crizzly's was arrested almost ere they began, and each man stopped short, as a low, long laugh sounded through the room, and they then perceived what, being absorbed in the tale of mystery" they had been too pre- occupied 10 notice before-namely, that stranger had entered the room some time during the progress of the narrative. and It was he who dared to laugh. All eyes were turned significantly and inquir- ingly upon this presumptuous stranger and one gentleman had gone so far as to deliver himself of the original remark, that he calculated to call that mighty cool. when the newcomer advanced into the light of the fiaring kerosene lamp, and Old Grizzly sprang to his feet, speechless and aghast.
 Weu' oio ooy, oont you know me now" asked the stranger. Am l SO little like the Vermudyn you chummed with in Cherokee's Dicks claim !''
 It's Halloween again." muttered the other hoarsely, still delaying to take the proffered hand.
 And an unlucky night for me to turn up, after the scurvy trick played you,r laughed the stranger. " But look here, mate-if you kept my ring, I've kept yours; and Pm flesh and blood safe spirit or demon, as you seem to fancy" Old Grizzly grasped both his hands, looking long and earnestly in his face Though how they found your bones wonder in the Devils Panni- ken, and yet you're alive and hearty here tonight, IS more than Pa, Murphy or any 2, other lrishman could explain .r
 "i had better say at once that there's