Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-08
CASTLE DANGEROUS.

tatnS winch form one wall OF Lne Dig
Willis valley, there is a narrow pass
which Eears the name of Davenport's
gap. The detiIe is very forbidding,
with the rockslrising STEEP and gray on
either side, and stunted trees overhang
and darken it, but at the outlet of the
gap it IS truly southern bit of country
which meets the travellers eye. A
little to the right is large stone struc-
ture which is almost startling in its re-
semblance to an old English castle. 1t
has narrow arched windows, heavily
barred, and strong oaken doors with
iron clasps. Here and there, jut out
towers and battlemented turrets, and
on the walls seems written the story of
come EnglishmRn who has been forced |
to build his baronial hall in America. |
Should weird spectral figures glide sud
denly out around the balconies it would |
not cause culver of surprise, for the |
grim old castle is an uncanny thing |
among the sunny green fields and
sparkling brooks and grand old noun
tains.
Perhaps this vefyEmysteriousness was
partly the cause of the old CASTLES bad
reputation-for bad it certainly was.
The mountaineers living round about
told marvellous tales of flashing lights,
white figures and horrible sounds which
might be heard there at night, and the
negroes, superstitious creatures, de-
clared solemnly "De place shoh am
ha'anted, an anybody who go dere
nebber come back no moh." And In
fact at several different times strange
men had been seen entering the pass
and shortly after their horses had re-
turned riderless, covered with foam and
quiyering with fright. Many and varied
were the theories concerning the old
castle, land it was gradually coming to
be the opinion of the law abiding citi-
zeps that, haunted or not, the place
should be investigated.
In the height of the excitement, a
stranger appeared in Fort Ackers. He
registered at the one hotel as q. Car
robson, Montgomery, and took room
which he said he should keep for an
indefinite time.
The only thing the stranger could be
induced to talk about was the old
castle, and he would question the
mcuutaineers for hours about that;
while they. delighted with such an eager
listener, poured the most fabulous tales
into his ears.
Finally, one night when there was
the usual assembly of men in the cor
ridor, all earnestly discussing castle
Dangerous" as it had come to be
called, Mr.. Cairollson electrified every
one by saying quietly:
1t would be right interesting to dis
cover the foundation for all these
stories, wouldn't it? reckon I'll take
little ride out there tomorrow night
and see what can find"
When everyone had recovered from
the shock there was chorus of ex-
clamation: 'You must notr' Its
risking your life.'' Its an insane
plan,'' and an old doctor whose pana-
cea for all ills was mountain dew, "
drew him to one side, saying in his
trembling voice.
''Ma young friend hits sho' death to
a stranguh to 60 neah that thar gap
yo'd be shot down like dawg afo' yo'd
gone fo'ty feet
Mr.. Carrolison smiled at the old
mans fears and replied: "No thanl,
you, doctor, your company would be
right pleasant, of course, but would
rather go alone and without theil
knowing anything about it"
The next afternoon, Just as the sur
was sinking behind Red Ridge, Mr.
Carrollson mounted his horse, a fine
Kentucky thoroughbred, and accom-
panied by the final instructions of his
advisers, started down the valley at {
rapid lope, carrying with him only {
Colts revolver.
1t is o'clock in the evening ant
already the shadows have begun tc fall
In one room of the old castle it is yer,
dark, for the thick stone walls shu
out even the gray twilight. This room
at best is very barren place, and nov
it is unusually wild and uninvitihg
Its walls of bare stone, entirely with
out decoration, are damp and moldy
and the floor of rough brick /
blackened and dirty as though will
the dust of ages. The only furniture i
six wooden stools placed in semicircl
in front of a fireplace. -Four men ar
sitting there dressed in homespu
clothes, with red handkerchiefs knotte
about their necks and big cowboy hat
on their heads. They look like hrigand
with the deep red glow of the fireligh
falling upon them.
As they sit before the fire they tai
at intervals in low tones, but fnall
their conversation becomes audible an
the toughest CT the group says:
boys, | hyud ter day It ther
Yanks ovuh yonduh in Fo't Ackuh
air a-gittin' mighty riled ovuh this yt
place an air a-gwine ter take a loo
ovuh hyar. If that thar's SO veal ;
bettuh be a-lookin' t. our stock
shoctin'-i'ons; reckon we want tt
give they-all warm welcome, he,
BillY DON'T want ter be unhospi
tabul."
Huh! They-all can't do we-uns I
harm, TO- two men hid up thar in I'll
gap d pick off fifty men easy as the
come round the big rock"
II reckon" said another, "they "a
ID be mighty s'prised if they'd
know mo- about this yer place ar
who-alls in hit. / low that ne
sheruff yonduh ID give heap t
know It I'm hyuh."
just at that moment rifle shot
heard down by the pass and the m,
start to their feet listening intentl
For moment there is deep silenc
then the sharp crack of revolver
heard, followed by the sound of rap
hoof-beats up the stony road. One
the men laughed grimly and said:
5 "Wboevuh that thar is, Sam miss
'im-some blund'rin idjit prob'ly, o
a-huntin' TO- somethin' newt reck
he's done found hit alright"
just then the hoof beats stopp
directly in front of the castle, a
there was furious knocking outsic
At first the men made no sign, til
one, taking candle, went to the dc
and called out -harshly:
"Wha' d'yo WANT"
five lost my way and there's sol
one irwin to shoot ma Lief me