The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-03-20

tale. where bandits
aud robbers are wont 70 eonsregate' !
The wlndows IN the old house arc
broken. the doors are Oh their hihs.a'
and weeds and bfiars grow TO inc
threshold. The building is reputea 10
be the Oldest In that section oil eouh-
try, having been erected early IN inc
present century by one Ross, ana oe-
cupled by him and his descendants LOT
many years. Some years previous 70
/ the Civil Wa the house was occupied
by a family named Holder. Ihehe
people bore a bad reputation. ana II
was conceded by all that there was DO |
crime too mean for them 10 commit |
In addition to being known MS thieves
and robbers. Il was limited that they |
were counterfelters as well. One day
In the summer OF 1859. a stranger
mounted on a splendid horse stopped at
little station now known as Brod-
head. and made inquiries as TO the
route TO Cumberland Gap. According
10 a bystander the traveller gave his
name as James Travers from Ohio.
and stated that he was on his way TO
the mountains. where, he alleged. he
and a brother were the joint owners
OF a mining interest. lie was evidently
man OF wealth. and seemed 10 have
! plenty OF money In his possession.
d What direction the eountryman gave
; the stranger Is not known. but Few
months afterwards Travcrs' brother APP
Z pearod In Rockoastle and Get on foot
! inquiries concerning James Travers.
q whom he had traced that far Care
, ful investigation disclosed the fact
y that the missing man had taken the
wrong route % the mountains and had
, stopped for dinner at the house Of the
4 Holders. Here an trace Of him was
d. lost. Mr. Trayors was convinced that
his brother had met with foul play
= and that the Holders knew more about
the missing man than they would tell
q, 20 he left Immediately for Cincinnati
!, o.. 10 enlist the services OF an expe
rlenced detective 10 assist him In fas
tenlng the crime upon the Holders
However. when he returned with as
sistance the Holders had disappears
as completely az n the earth had swal
loxed them. No information could b
- elected regarding them. They ha
gone and that was al that could
learned. Travers could not be founs
- The old house remained unoecupio
~ Tor a number OF years, and then Jane
= Ross. a grandson OF the original owl
I er OF the place. moved with his famil
~ into the house Previous 20 this. how
- ever. strange tales had been circulate
regarding the lonely farm. II vi
&C. haunted. the people Of the nelghbo
.r- hood said. Strange sights had be,
ng seen and strange sounds had be,
ne heard IN and around the old hous
ng and be was considered a brave ma
ng indeed. who would pass there alol
I'd after dark. Despite all this. Ross. vi
ed was a coarse-natured man Of the ru
q. Gan type. took up bis abode there. AZ
IN deaed the "hants." a. he termed theu
nd but after a time his manner chang
big and he openly Acknowledged that q
"a place was haunted. In addition
hearing unearthly noises through q
his night. Ross solomnly avowed that sin
lie he had been an occupant OF the houi
Of promptly al noon Of each day a stran
an. voice. seeming TO come from the
e. rrctlon OF the gate opening on {
md road. would shout "Hallo," three tim
very distinctly. on going 20 inves
Tou cato nobody could be found. Ross
lrst thought u was some Of his ncig
Ing bors trying 20 play a trick" on HI
TEL and he would rcvllc the thing" as
called Il. In the most terrible mann
the This had no effect IN bringing fol
the the possessor Of the mysterious vol
and all would be quiet until the M
In day Al noon. when there would b,
repetition OF the cries OF Hall,
from no apparent source. One Of Re
nd. more skeptical neighbors. hearing
Il this. went over to satisfy himself q
/. / the stories were or were not fal
cen cations lie related afterwards that
was satisfied that the tales told Of
one ghost were based on solid foundati
I've lie distinctly heard the voice AZ no
limo shout "Hallol" and In addit
Il 20 this. when Ross poured forth
volley OF oaths at the mysterious '
the tor and challenged Il 10 come forw
,lnr and show itself. a large and feroci
AZ watch dog that belonged TO Ross,