The Portland daily press., 1893-09-22
A WILD NIGHT.

An engineers party of one Of the big
mines in Sonora. Mexico, We're going into
Nogales, A. T., to spend few days and
rest from the hard labor thsy had put in
during several weeks. They rode north
all day and scarcely exchanged word
between one another. but as they got
toward their destination it began to
grow dark, and then an argument arose.
Some wanted to push on and get into the
United States, which was still about Is
miles away, and others wanted to go
into camp just where they were and
move on again early in the morning.
Both plans met opposition from few,
and then one member of the party said
he knew where there was a house at
which they could stop. He had never
stopped there, but he had seen the place
from distance and had been told that
it was sort of tavern. The plan seemed
a good one, and all were willing to gooff
the road and find comfort for the night.
Then the man who knew of the place
began to describe the location exactly.
All listened at5entively, and when he
had finished one member Of the party,
Fred Brewster by name, said: 'sBoys, I
amt in it. You fellows go to your hotel,
but I'll ride all the way to Nogales by
myself befors go there
'sWhy, what's the matter?' all asked
at once.
"Well, can't tell you in few words.
but have been there once, and I will
never go there again unless am car
RED"
All became excited at once and want
ed to know all about it, and at the same
time they made up their minds to go to
the place. But they did not like toleave
Fred on the road and urged him to come
along. They said there was no danger
with such crowd, and they We're all
well armed and good fighters.
'sBut you can't fight with what you
find there" said Fred.
This remark made the others only
more curious, but they told Fred to
hurry up and give his reasons, as they
would have to be moving along in min
ute.
.sWell, fellows, I'll tell you," said Fred
hesiIatingly, ''but the fact is, the place is
haunted, and won't go there; SO good
by"
A change came over the crowd in an
instant, and all called loudly to Fred,
who had started off on his horse, to come
back.
Il guess we won't go to that place to-
night" said one member of the party,
and all came to the same conclusion in
a moment. Fred came back, and it was
then agreed to camp where they were.
But a strange silence had fallen over
the party at the mention of a ghost.
The idea of confronting the supernatur
will AXE the nerves Of the Oldest plai
man.
AS the fire was being built and the
work of fixing for the night proceeded
with, all who came near to Fred told
him how glad they were that he had
mentioned the fact about the haunted
house. Not that they were afraid of
ghosts. Oh, no! But place of that
kind could not be comfortable after it
had such name.
After supper had been disposed of and
clouds of tobacco smoke we're mingling
with the glare from the campfire, the
crowd revived little and asked Fred
to tell the story of his experience in the
haunted building, but all the time every
man was looking over his shoulder at
frequent intervals. Still the story had
to come, and as Fred had aroused the
curiosity of the crowd he knew there
was no use to try to get out of it, SO he
proceeded at once when he had found a
comfortable spot on his blanket, where
he could look into the fire and see the
wreaths of smoke curl upward until they
mingled with the stars.
'.It's only q couple of months ago."
commenced Fred, ''since I was at that
place, and why ana here now is more
than I understand. I didn't say any
thing about it at the time, because You
know fellow don't like to speak of such
things.
'sBut I was caught out one evening
over there on the desert and was about
to n,akn my bed on the horse blanket
when / saw the house from a distance
ard thought might be able to get some
sort of lodging there, so went in that
direction. Before got to the place I
struck good, well marked road and
wondered why had never heard there
was road over that way. But I didn't
bother very much, as I was too glad to
get TO the place, which, as l neared, I
saw to be quite large building. When
1 got up to il I found that it was hotel
and seemed to be in prosperous condi-
ton.
.'The landlord came out and took my
horse, telling me to go into the front
door, where I was met by his wife, who
proved to be kind, good natured lady
and seemed anxious to do everything she
could for me. Seeley got me very good
supper, and we sat in the corridor talk
ing about different things until it grew
quite late.
Both were SO good natured and pleas
ant that hated to leave them, but when
I said wished to retire they led me
across largo clean court with foun-
tain playing in the center and trees and