The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-08-31


about thntty feet over yam hit jest
drapped plumb ou,'n sight: an tho he
war a-lookin' an a-lookin' fur hit ter
come ter sight ag'in hit he'd gone fur
sure
''IIi' air plumb Gurus wher hit went"
reflected bud.
'Ha'nfs air made If air. reckon"
Coon brongh, forward his theory with
considerable confidence. AN ef they
air made out'n air they can't hurt hr-
man. | low
There was such n peculiar note in his
voice that Bud turned around with a
long. searching look at him.
Air We Amin ter hunt fur the crit
ter" he whispered almos, trembling
TO think Of the profanity Of such "a
thing a. disturbing a liant
"Ef hit air handy ter do 80 aim
ter
Coon spoke with his usual quiet
draw. but with such deliberate en-
phasis that the assertion carried con
viction IN buds wondering ears
Fur sure. Coon?- Bind was ~ed at
such daring
YES. EFF
-Yes-ss.''
The boys were on their feet in an in
slant. faced. with dilated eyes toward
that yawning assure.
Back there, in the darkness. swayed
. ghostly. grayish figure
.-Yes-ss. yes-ss. yes-ss.- mocked the
ha'nt. Then its horrible. unearthly
voice died away in a low muster. a.
the darkness closed upon the fading
figure
Bud felt his hair rising with terror.
and his tongue chung TO the roof of his
mouth He could not speak Too
terrified 10 stir he gazed. fascinated.
at the spot where the angered ha mt
had disappeared
Coon's face was still a trifle pale.
and his eyes were darker than usual:
but he tried 10 steady his voice a. ne
spoke: Hit war the ha'nt. fur sure.
Bud
An hit war a-mocking' Of ye- Coon
low hit war powerful mad at We. fur
Amin ter hunt it. Buds voice ;rem-
bled. but he was trying 10 appear in
different a. 10 whether the ghost was
angry enough 10 attempt to injure
them
I'm amin ter hunt hit Coon per
sisted His hair seemed rising still
and his knees felt unsteady. but his
resolution did not faltcr-
Alarmed at such audacity. his com
rade tried in vain 10 turn him from his
purpose Coon doggedly resisted. Bud
K finally de>isted in sheer despair. and
the boys were silent for awhile
Les smudge him ont. Bud." Coon
said. at last. in low whisper
Bud turned around in horror at such
daring irreverence-
.->mudge out a ha'n;.- he gasped-
-D'ye dast. Coon? whatll hit do ter
ye. dye reckon"
Il low we uns mought jest 'speeri-
mint on hit. anyways" Coon returned.
deliberatingly- ''Ye see. nobody knows
lest what = ha'nt mought take hit
inter his head ter do But we uns
could Experiment. an mebbe hi'
mought do some good"
Hit mought blast the craps
well. hi. mought. but ag'in hit
moughtn't- We-uns would know fur
sure ef hit war hathaway then
Hit mought kill US dead Bud ven.
tured. dismally.
I'D like mighty well ter Jest know
fur cersing what ha'nt would do.
persisted Coon 'Granny's allers
a-teilin' about er seeing on EN-. an
nary a word about EN- a-doin' nothing
80 Al.
mighty nigh ter death An l aims
ske-ry.~ snggestivcly. --ef hit air any
thing else"
Nav. an i amt. neither Well. we
uns kin do hit. meb;,e-
Bud sighed. but heroically deter
mined 10 follow where his friend mig hI
lead
An hit would be mighty satixfy in
ter know Jest what ha'nt war made
Of. an jest what he war obligated tel
do Coon again asserted.
In spite IF his deliberate manner h.
was plucky little fellow. utterly fear
les where ma nts were not concerned
and Of too inquiring turn OF mind Il
take the world on Others hcar~ay.
.-Ef we-uns war kilt. nit would hap
pen some time. anyways" Coon de
cided. philosophically: and bud. too
was ready for the experiment
The gray light was giving way I.
the warmer tints of day and far dowr
in the valley were now the sights an,
sounds Of everyday life. The boys
courage revived under these infiu
ence>-
Coon unfolded his plan. The hun
on the mountain was given up at once
!, more important work was now oI
hand The only exit from the cav,
was on this ledge. and Coon was q
guard it while Bud crept around tn
rock TO narrower part In forme
, hunting excursions the boys had offer
.smudged." or moked out. the coon
that had Ia ken refuge in the hole
. Bud was 10 attend To the smudging
, while Coon stood ready with his gun a
? the entrance 10 meet the ha'nt IL i
| should flee from the smoke.
There amt critter nor yet hu
. man 81 kin cndyure the smoke" Cool
argued .-Mebbc a ha'nt kin. but we
! uns kin find out fur sure this away"
IL was some time before bud coul'