Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-02-10

tHtin Win nay "a winch autft was y
quantity In one Of the rnowsi and then
lighting my pipe. that incompatible
solace Of the solitary, began ~ take
stock Of my surroundings.
The storm showing no sign OF abate-
mont. the thunder crashes following
each other In quick succession, and the
lightning playing wildly through the
chinks and broken shingles, | began
with as much stoicism as could assume
making preparations for my present
comfort.
Selecting dry spot in this haymow.
removed some of my wet outer gar
ments, and with the aid of horse blan-
kets succeeded In improvising tolerable
bed; but not, assure you, with the re-
hottest idea Of sleep.
Nevertheless, In an hour or SO. the
thunder and lightning having almost
died away, although the rain still camo
down In torrents; worn out with fatigue
and soothed by the odor of the hay. |
fell into deep and quiet slumber.
How long slept ! know not. but |
was suddenly Weakened by the snorting
and stamping Of the horses, and starting
up, became Immediately conscious Of a
faint blush light floating in the air d.
rectly over the seat had so lately occu-
pied.
II resembled no other light had ever
seen, but seemed TO be simply ball OF
blush or amethyst colored fire, which
circled about through the air with a
queer undulating movement II i'm
parted to me al looked at 1t strange
feeling of dizziness and nausea.
While sat staring. fascinated by the
mysterious light, was Mortified to hear
long, low groan. coming seemingly
from the body Of the wagon, followed
almost instantly by the sound of my own
name. repeated as distinctly as | had
ever heard II in my life--"Joei Joe.'.
With the cold perspiration beginning
to break from every pore sprang to my
feet, and as ] did 80 the light fioated
slowly up to the rafters and disappeared,
while a low, rafting laugh echoed
through the darkness.
All doubts as to the truth of the stories
had heard about the haunted barn were
now pretty fully dismissed. felt that
was fairly In for it.
By the feeble glare OF my matches,
which only seemed to intensity the dark
ness, strove to penetrate the wall OF
blackness about me, but not thing
could see
My heart was chilled, my blood frozen
In my veins, and was only prevented
from dashing open the doors and eseap.
ing into the more friendly darkness
without by the simple fact that terror
shall say itS-had rendered me i'm.
capable of motion.
Do not think it was imagination,
There could be no imagination about a
sound so distinct. The low, wailing
groan, like that of man in his death
agony. rose slowly ON the stiffness again,
followed as before by the harsh, devil
ish. cackiing laugh and the words,
"Joer' "Joe!" repeated. us | imagined
in my horror, by my own fathers voice.
This time the light did not appear, but
new terror had been added to the
scene. l fancied | heard creaking
sound, and straining my car till my
brain seemed to crack made ont, as !
imagined, quite distinctly the sound OF
footsteps creeping toward me across the
bare planking Of the floor.
am honest enough to confess that in
striking another match my hands shook
like those OF a man with the palsy.
Again everything was quiet. Nothing
visible except the horses, with heads
thrown back, covering against each
other.
was relieved by the reflection that
no material danger Mt least threatened
me, but new trouble now overlook me-
spilled my matches on the wet hay.
sat down now In despair. and ms !
leaned my face upon my hand ! could
feel the arteries in my temples throb-
bling like trip hammers. | felt that
could never live through the remainder
OF that awful night and preserve my
reason
As pressed my hands upon my throb-
bling temples and vainly strove to miti-
gate with reason the blind violence OF
my terror, suddenly uttered wild cry Of
horror as long, wet, elammy arm, or
what took for one In the darkness, was
thrown tightly around my neck with a
cold clasp that nearly strangled me.
As | struggled desperately, with a
sickening sense OF horror. TO release my
self from the Shiny coils OF what
thought must be some gigantic reptile,
that same low, mocking, devilish laugh
came cackling through the darkness
again.
The plunging Of the horses. the fiend-
th laughter. groans and calling OF joel
Joer grew louder and more demoniac,
till. maddened with horror, by super
human effort flung the internal thing.
whatever II was, from uIe, heard il
strike with the proverbial duh thud
against tie side Of the barn, and forget
ting horses. storm. darkness. distance
and everything else. | rushed from the
internal place, and with hair erect and
the clamor still ringing in my ears. fed,
nor paused to breathe till had covered
the entire distance between there and
home. where arrived, haggard and be-
spattered. as the first streaks OF the
gray dawn. the white winged angels of
q glad deliyerance. came to meet me
from the east.
Quickly | told my story, with every
detail Of touch and coloring possible,
you may be sure. and having succeeded
by the earnestness of my manner In suit
ably impressing the minds of the entire
family. q circumstance. In view Of the
character the place already bore, not at
all difficult. hitched mp another horse,
and In company with my father and
Younger brother. returned 10 the SCENE