The morning call., 1893-07-02

slant, and all called loudly to Fred. who
had started off on his horse. to come back
II guess We won't go to that place to-
light" said one member of the party. and
Eli came TO the same conclusion in mo-
!lent Fred came back, and it was then
agreed TO camp where they were. But a
strange silence had fallen over the party
ct the mention of a ghost But the idea
Of confronting the supernatural will sha he
the nerves of the oldest plainsman.
As the fire was being built and the work
CT fixing for the night proceeded with all
who came near to Fred told him how glad
they were that he had mentioned the fact
we're afraid Of ghosts. Oh. no. But a
olace Of that kind could not be comforta-
Die after ii had such name.
After supper had been disposed of and
clouds of tobacco smoke were mingling
with the glare from the campfire the crowd
revived a little and asked Fred 10 tell the
story of his experience in the haunted
building. but all the time every man was
looking over his shoulder at frequent in
tervals. Still the story had to come, and
as Fred had aroused the curiosity Of the
crowd he knew there was no use to try and
get out of it. go he proceeded at once when
he had found comfortable spot On his
blanket. where he could look into the fire
and see the wreaths of smoke curl up
Its only compile of months ago." CON-
menced Fred. 'since l was at that place.
and why am here now is more than l I'M
derstaad. didn't say anything about it
at the time because you know fellow
don't like to speak of such things.
But | was caught out one evening over
there on the desert and was about to make
my bed on the horse blanket when | saw
the house from distance and thought
might be able to get some sort of lOd lying
there, so went in that direction. Before
got to the place / struck good we'll
! marked road and wondered why had
never heard there was a road over that
way. But l didn't bother about 1t very
much, as L was too glad to get 10 the place
which, as neared, l saw 60 be quite a
large building. When | got up TO it
found that 1t was hotel and seemed to be
N prosperous condition.
Inc landlord came out ana took my
horse, telling me to go into the front door,
where was met by his wife, who proved
TO be a kind. good naturrd lady, and
seemed anxious to do every hing she could
ior me. They got me very good supper
ana We sat In the corridor talking about
Inherent things until it grew quite late.
Both were so good-natured and pleas
ant that hated to leave them, but when
J. SAID l wished to retire they led me
cross large clean court with fouD tain
glaylng In the center and trees and flow
ers:DloomiDg everywhere
my rooms were large and furnished in
substantial manner. but somehow they
sooKed very old-faShioned, and the white
:: Eaeh on tne walls was smooth, but sort
~ gray 10 color. as if from age. There
we're no pictures of any kind on the walls
and the only relief to the large blank
spaces was the shining brass crncifx Tt
seemed to be looking at me while was
looking about the rooms and stirring the
nfe, Whlch was necessary because the
place is high and the nights are cold
ut must have been abont midniobt
when blew out the candle and got in IN
. bed. On, how cold the sheets were r.
made me feel as if / was getting into ~
a coffin. But it did not make much
difference and / was soon doing off. bnt
was too tired to 60 to sleep at once.
:''As / lay there it seemed to me / saw a
pink fame come from the candle and rise
up toward the ceiling, where it disap-
peaTed. Then another came. and they
Kept coming; but thought | must be very
fatlgued and worn out, and that they were
: the result of my Imagination. Then some
animal seemed to rush across the fire.
place, but when looked all ! saw was a
pile CT red embers and the corners of the
room hlled with dark, impen etrabe
shadows. L listened, but as no sound
struck my ear thought I had better give
myself rest, and, turned my face 10 the
wall and went to sleep in an instant.
II may have slept several hours, and il
may have been only a few minutes. but
suddenly came to my senses and found the
room filled with peculiar red glare that
seemed TO come from everywhere at once.
Then | heard strange sounds, as if there
were people in the room. But conIdn,t
see any. and / might as well say that /
began to feel very queer and REACHED for
my rev0lvers. but found that had left
them in my saddle. But had my knife.
which took hold of any tespt ready for
any emergency.
1.-The silence was unbroken for a long
time. and then l heard one of the most
unearthly selfs that ever struck nv ears
1t seemed just outside of my door, so 1