Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-01-28
racks n under dedore. tell 'er mammy

80 she GIT de chOp-ax, slip up sei
whar de ole waller cat wuz stickin' er one
nv IL feet under de dore. n wham down
on it.
@Den 'er nanny know de ole yalle1
cat wuz er witch ; fer dare lay two fingers
offen er white 'omans han, n one Nv
dem had er COLE ring on it.
so she rap de fingers up n put
dem In 'er chist, n mex mornin' she she
dem to 'er mistis, n er mistis say she
node dem fingers n dot rings
Den she went down ter FER ole white
'oman's house. n find 'er all rapt up in
er bed. She axt De ole. oman ter lei
'er see 'er ham,"
But just here, Uncle Nose inter.
rupted the story by jumping up and
saying: Troops freed" Off about q
half mile the dog could be heard. bay.
ing what we supposed to be 'possum.
Uncle Nose seized torch and away
we went, and were soon at the tree.
He's up dot blaggtm; bin up dar Ell
s'tin' Nv dem blaggum berries. Wen
er 'possum ,clim's or blaggum he's she
ter be er big um.. But jest let me shine
de ole rascals eyes! Oh, yes; now
sees yo' up dare in dot fork, yo' ole
eyes err lookin' like two coles er fire.
Yo' set up dare jest like desc woods
long ter yo'. But I'll bet yer won't be
so bigety wen I gitssyer fixed up wild
sweet taters fer dinner ter morrow.
"Jake yo' 60 up dat tree n cotch de
ole rascal by de back Nv de neck, n
tickle i'm in de short ribs SOS tn make
EN- sui, dat e won't be er bitin' n Ell
growlin' al de time yo' er bringin' i'm
down"
Jake, had not climbed more than half
the distance from the ground to the
glowing orbs, when right at our feet fell
large yellow cat, that quickly darted
away in the darkness.
The cat seemed to revive Jake's witch
story in Uncle Noses mind, for he would
not allow the dog to trail him, but sug-
gested that we go home; as he said a
dog would not hunt after he had freed
a cat.
We were about ready to 60, when the
wind was heard to give few long signs
among the pines, and low rumbling
thunder was heard away off in the
southwest.
Then dark clouds went scurrying
across the pale'face of the moon. The
signs of the wind became continued
moan and then frightful roaring. The
thunder grew louder, vivid lightning
flashed across the inky sky, and we
knew that terrible storm was upon
us.
We were about mile and half from
home, and the nearest place where we
could gct shelter, was little log cabin
off about quarter of a mile on the
ridge.
No one was living to tell the story of
the lonely little cabin; superstition
alone could relate it's history.
It said that the little mound at the
rear of the house, and at the edge of
the little clearing, was the grave of a
man who, many years before, had
sought this secluded place in the deep
forest to build this cabin, where he
lived till he was mysteriously murdered.
In connection with this the old slavery
time darkies related many mysterious
stories.
"No, sur! Can't 60 to dat 'ouse; des
ez soon be blode er way by de win ez
ter hab dem jack-mer-lan-tons git hol'
er me. Amt I seed 'em on er rainy,
drizzly mite, des er caperin' erroun'
dat 'ouse? An didn't I on er moon
shiny mite hear sumpin er 'nockin' al
erbout in de 'ouse; an didn't I see
sumpin STAN in de dore erbout er mint
n den go ter-boek-e-ty, ter-book-e-ty,
-book-e-ty down fru de woods? Uh!
wasn't dat er big clap er thunder, n
des lis'en how de win am er BLOWN n
BLOWN n de trees am er fallin'."
"Come, Jake, we must leave here or
be killed by the falling timbers let
Uncle Nose remain as long as he
wishes"
We started off in run and were soon
at the cabin, with Uncle Nose close be-
hind us. We were none too soon, for
the heavy timbers were falling thick
and fast before the ranging wind.
AS we entered the house q number
of bats and screech owl futtered about
our heads.
After all were on the inside Uncle Nose
closed the door against the ghosts,
whom he feard more than the fury of
the storm.
Then match was struck to get a
view of the surroundings, which
burned just long enough for all to see
the same yellow cat that the dog had
reed short time ago, sitting content
edly on one of the low joists.
In the impenetrable darkness our
excited imaginations pictured hosts of
nollow-eyed and grinning demons
passing in fantastic dances before us,
heir unearthly laughs hooking the
storm without.
Tap, tap, was heard at the door against
which Uncle Nose was crouching.
Then more violent taps were heard
Ill around the house.
Another match was struck; and there
n full view of all, at one of the cracks,
we're two shining eyes.
Darkness again, and the taps at the
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