The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-07-17
THE PHANTOM PINTO.
An Adventure with the Ghosty Guardian Enchanted Canon
BY BOURBON WILSON.

we nedTeu tne scene OF tne nldSSuCIe
of the Morris party, creepy sensation
went up my spine, and | shivered in
spite of myself at sight of the rough
stones, each bearing in rudely CHS
eled lines the tell-tale crossed arrows,
49, ''''"'-ed the graves Of the muir
dered men.
-.-.- 30 tn place. pardner," Lew
said in an awed whisper. "Th' red
devils was up in tn rocks there. on
both sides, an tn pore boys didn't
have no more show fer their lives'n
er rabbit. Ughl but amt things here
ghosty-lookin?
Ghostly looking they were, without
a doubt; | no longer wondered that
even a harmless spotted pony had
given such a place the reputation Of
being haunted. 1T can't be anything
but a pony" | thought, 'and IL the
gold is still in the canon, he has my
thanks for soaring others away from
it,"
We camped where the valley mar
rowed into the canon. and | am not
ashamed to admit that, amid such
surroundings my sleep that night was
not entirely unbroken. Sunrise the
next morning found us busily cooking
our breakfast, and that eaten. we at
once packed up and started into the
canon. We went perhaps half a mile
when Helen. our pack mule cHelen
Damnation" Lew had christened him
Immediately after receiving a kick
fYnn hA hapf1p1
objection to going farther; stopping
short and whistling as though in fear,
he planted his forefeet in the ground
and would not bulge another inch.
Maybe it's er hunch, pardner." Lew
said, wrathfully surveying the stub
born animal; "at any rate we'd jest as
well try fer gold here as anywhere
else"
We unpacked Helen and Lew took a
pan and went to the edge of pool.
remnant of the torrents that poured
through the canon in the rainy season,
where he filled II with sand and be-
gan washing, while | picketed Helen
in grassy place where he could Craze.
Presently a cry from Lew carried
ing into the pan, and looking there |
saw perhaps a spoonful of gold dust
| cleaning dull yellow.
We've struck 'er rich. pardner!"
Lew cried. trembling with excitement.
IF that ghost of er pinto'll jest keep
away, We'll get our pile right here
"Nonsense There's no such thing
| oh I M
here, at any rate"
Lew stared at me as though he
thought had lost my senses. "Not?
he cried; 'yuh amt seen that, then.
And he raised his arm to point to the
opposite side of the canon.
Where we stood the canon was about
300 yards vide, and the mountains on
both sides rose almost perpendicularly
something like a thousand feet above
us. Looking where Lew was pointing
| was startled to see a village of half
ruined cliff-dwellings nesting in q
great niche high up the side of the
opposite mountain. Silent as the grave
and without sign of human occupan.
cy, it was a strange, weird sight that
although it was in broad daylight, sent
another creepy sensation writhing VI
my back.
"There's ghosts a-plenty round tha
place, pardner," Lew said, earnestly
| amt never seen one O them dead
an-gone lnjun towns yet, but wha
was haunted; I'll bet twas right rounC
here somewhere t pore old Domin
guez saw tn pinto pony"
Il saw that Lew was intensely II
earnest, that his belief in ghostly man
ifestations was too deep-rooted in ig
norance to be overcome by anything
| could say. We'll, there may b.
ghosts here, as you say" l answered
but If had a nice little girl waiting
for me, all the ghosts in Arizoni
shouldn't stampede me from rich dir
like this; they're not going to do il
as it is"
did not misjudge my man. "Pr
with yuh there, pardner!" Lew said
with determination. These here gun
O. mine was made fer biz"
was still gazing at the village, IN
suddenly saw something that cause
me to raise my hand to the brim G
I my hat so that / might see better.
Lew instantly hushed and locke
where | was looking. whats I!
matter? What'd yuh see?" he pre-
emily asked, swallowing hard.
"Oh. nothing; just a shadow.
guess" | answered, carelessly. At tn
moment | had thought IL human fac
, peoring above a crumbling wall, bl
! so great was the distance, and S
! quickly did the object disappear,
: was far from sure what / had seel
! and | deemed It best not to arou'
Lewis superstitious fears to high'
4 pitch; did not relish the idea of beir
e left alone in the canon, aud was d
e termined to stay there and get Il
e gold.
Lew said nothing more, but | cou
g see that he was not entirely satisfied
L he hitched his revolvers around
: where they would be convenient to h
hands. and set to work again. All
t that day we worked hard, and at l