The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-12
THE LAUGHING OWL.

The Little Nonsense Sometimes He1xe
Proceeding from This Wisest Bird.
Over twenty years ago, travelling on
foot through a rough section in the
eastern part of Missouri found my
self toward sunset in solid German
settlement. They almost withou. ex-
ception keep cross dogs-usually bull
dogs of savage ferocity, often danger
GUS for their owners ifapproached after
being loosened from their chains at
nightfall. For this reason it was haz-
ardous to travel after sunset, SO be-
gan an hour before shutdown to find a
lodging place for the night, but the
Germans either could not or would not
understand me. The shades of night
were gathering when l saw with pleas
ure the light of a campfire shining on
two white-covered emigrant wagons in
the woods down below the road was
travelling. They proved to be Ameri-
cans. and when 1 told them how 1 was
situated they gave me friendly well
come, and we passed a pleasant even
ing by that campfire.
After we retired to rest, and perfect
quiet reigned in the camp, there arose
on the still night air the most hideous
diabolical laughter that ever greeted
the ears of mortal man. The boy lying
beside me made fair imitation of the
sound. ''What is it?" asked. ''That,"
said the father, sis laughing owl; the
boy is hooking it in his Sleep"
Some time after, still prospecting in
Missouri, I reached after dark a ferry
house and which was also tavern, on
the Usage river, in a thinly populated
district. The house was filed with
mulattoes and negroes Of all shades
from that of new saddle to a pot
black. The ferryman was preparing
for spring work on his farm, SO there
was no room for me- Two negroes
rowed me across the river, and going
up the bank / soon found by the star
light road which l followed but =
short distance. when my way
was barred by fence. As
hoped to strike the road again at an
other point, turned off into an appar
emily new road in the woods. but soon
in the darkness lost my landmark, the
fence, and my way, too.
To stay in the woods on very cool
April night was not desirable, so /
listened earnestly for some sound
of a human habitation. as the
growing of cock of barking of
dog. that would lead me TO house
Standing there in that impressive ST.
lence OF the woods at night. there came
at length welcome sound, low
laugh as from distance. from some
negro hut. perhaps. but better to sit up
at night, even in negro shanty, than
to stumble around in the darkness in
the strange depths of the Usage woods
! started in the direction. travelled
some distance and listened again for
repetition of the sound. when suddenly,
right overhead, arose that unearthly,
blood-curdiing. fendish laughter.
/ have stood face to face with fu-
rious maniac and looked on his elsring.
bioodshot eyes, lips fiecled with foam
face OF a cadaverous hue. and heard his
forced. soulless laughter until it seemed
as If more in contact with some hideous
demon than 4 man; yet to nae that night
that boTrid laughter OF the laughing
owl was a greater strain on the nerves
than the demoniac laughter OF the ma
MAC.
However. the laughing owl had done
ne good turn in bringing ne back TO
the road again. for his voice was the
low laughter an the distance ! FIRST
heard. / climbed over the fence fol-
lowed the road about u.,-. reused mp
the inmates OF a farmhouse and was
comfortably lodged.
! have examined works "a natural
history. but can Dot find any description
or pictare IF the laughing evil. As
never sax him he exists in memoir and
nsy isnaginati ton only as some imp Il
darkness -fa r-ess CIV Times