The Republican., 1888-10-06

location of the station. L remember
Mrs. Morris showing it to me once"
"Oh! oh !" shrieked Barbara, II
couldn't go there! The fiagman was
killed on the track. There's a g-g-
ghost there !"
"Would you rather stay here and
be drenched through with rain ?"
severely demanded Mary.
"Or struck with lightning ?" added
Dorcas.
And the upshot of it was that the
three fugitives took refuge in a mis-
erable old shanty close alongside of
the railroad track, where weeds were
growing up through the cracks of the
floor, and plentiful portion of rain
came pattering through the leaks in
the roof, while the old stone CHM
ney, all settling to one side, looked
as if no stroke of lightning could
harm it very much.
but it's some shelter" said Mary,
cheerfully. well stay here until
the shower is over, and then make
the best of our way home."
The shower, however, showed no
indication of abating in its vigor.
The rain still poured down in sheets
the thunder still beloved through
the rocky gorge where the cabin had
been built ; the lightning still lit up
everything With sudden spurts of
blue flame, like pantomime effects.
"Oh, dear oh, dear !" said Barbara
wringing her hands sit must be
midnight! !"
at can't be but nine O'Clock yet"
said Mary.
"And Pm so hungry! Oh, how l
wish | hadn't eaten the last of those
sandwiches Oh, oh what is that 2"
t1uttered Barbara,
An unusually vivid electric flash
had revealed something white and
spectral at the window. All three
girls jumped at once.
"The ghost ! shrieked Barbara,
stopping her ears and shutting her
eyes as tight as was practicable.
"a stray white cow" suggested
Mary.
"a Young man in flannel tennis
Sui,," said Dorcas, the closest OBJ
server of all.
Don't let him come in," said Bar
bara. "We shall be robbed and mur-
dered !"
Mot while we are three to one.''
said composed Dorcas.
And at the same moment a voice
sounded hurriedly the door:
"Please, may l come in. [ know
ii seems intrusion, but it's raining a
deIuge, and Pm wet through"
Come in by all MEANS" said
Mary.
And the ghost entered. dripping
like fountain.
"All in the dark ?" said he cropping
his way.
"There are no gas jets here" said
Dorcas, ironically.
"But we might have little blaze
of sticks" hazards the new arrival,
shaking himself like a Newfound-
land dog. II saw by that last flash
of lightning that there was heap in
the corner, and I've got my match
box intact"
"Oh, that would be splendid ~
cried Dorcas, who was wet and shiv-
ering.
And I've got some fish on string
outside. and we could have some
SUPPER" suggested the ghost, cheer.
fully.
Pm 5000 hungry !" walled
Barbara.
The stranger was evidently used tC
mountain camping, He had a fire
kindled in no time, and the fish
cleaned by aid of his pocket knife
and washed in one of the pools out
side, were presently broiling over the
Goals, emitting a NJ ost savory smell
"You must be a good genius ~
cried Mary.
Pm only a tramp" said the
ghost. "And Pm eyer so much
obliged to you young ladies for let
ting me in ~
"We couldn't have kept you ou
if we had tried, ,"said Dorcas, frankly
"YOu don't think 1 would have
thrusted myself in here against your
wishes Even tramp wouldn't
do that" said the young man.
The sticks blazed cheerfully up
the ghost economised them to keel
the flames alive as long as possible
He told thrilling tales of his exper
ience in these woods he made him
self most agreeable companion.
"Are you from the Valley House
asked DOrcas.
mo l am camping just where Il
happens"