Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-07-05

IT
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 if 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, snj that eaten. we at
once packed up and started into the
canon. We went perhaps half a mile
when Helen. our pack mule C'Helen
Damnation" Lew had christened him
Immediately after receiving a kick
from the animal. showed a decided
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
elsa"
We unpacked Helen and Lew took a
pan and went to the edge Of a pool.
remnant of the torrents that poured
through the canon in the rainy season.
where he filled il with sand and be
gan washing, while picketed Helen
in a grassy place where he could Craze
Presently a cry from Lew carried
me running to his side; he was point
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 pintoll jest keep
away well get our pile right here"
Nonsense! There's no such thing
as a ghost. Lew" returned; not
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
800 yards wide, and the mountains on
both sides rose almost psrpsndicularly,
something like thousand feet above
us. Looking where Lew was pointing,
was startled to see village of half
ruined cliff-dwellings nesting in a
great niche high up the side of the
opposite mountain. Silent as the sraye
and without sign of human occupan-
cy it was strange. weird sight that
although it was in broad daylight sent
another creepy sensation writing up
my back.
There's ghosts aplenty ros1i that
place pardner," Lew SAID earne. tly.
amt never seen one o them dead
an gone Injun towns yet, but what
was haunted; I'll bet twas right round
here somewhere I pore old Domin-
guez saw tn pinto pony"
Il saw that Lew was intensely in
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 be
ghosts here, as you say" | answered,
but if had a nice little girl waiting
for me, all the ghosts in Arizona
shouldn't stampede me from rich dirt
like this; they're not going to do it,
as it is
I did not misiudge my man. I'm
with yuh there, pardner." Lew said,
with determination. These here guns
o. mine was made fer biz"
was still gazing at the village. and
suddenly saw something that caused
me to raise my hand to, the brim Of
my hat so that might see better
Lew instantly hushed and looked
where | was looking Whats tn
matter? Whatd yuh see?" ne pres
entity asked, swallowing hard
"Oh, nothing. just rha1ow.
guess" | answered. carelessly. At the
moment had thought it human face
peering above a crumbling wall but
so great was the distance, and so
quickly did the object disappear. |
was far from sure that | had seen.
and deemed it best not to arouse
Lewis superstitious fears to a higher
pitch, did not relish the idea Of being
left alone in the canon. and was de-
termined to stay there and get the
gold.
Lew said nothing more, but could
see that he was not entirely satisfied;
he hitched his revolvers around to
where they would be convenient to his
hands, and set to work again. All of
that day we worked hard and at its
close had something like a pound of
gold dust to show for our labor. Nat
urally was jubilant and excitably
talkative, but Lew answered me only
in monosyllables. When he finished
eating his supper, he carefully exam
ined his reyolyers. and. making his
bed under an overhanging rock close
by, crept into his blankets.
made my bed On bit Of smooth
ground on the opposite side Of our
fire-that nearest the ruins-and
stretched out on it to smoke another
pipe; | was not. the least bit sleepy.
As | lay there gazing with wide-open
eyes at the stars above me, suddenly.
from not far away, cama the gibber-
ing howl of a coyote; instantly the
mountain walls took it up. tossing it
back and forth until the canon rang as
though all the fiends in hades had
broken loose. Scarcely realizing what
| did, with my every nerve tingling
and twitching. | sprang wildly to my
feet and fired a shot in the direction
| thought the NANCY little beast to be.
and the canon roared with the echo.
Slowly the uproar died away. and
then | collapsed as a chuekle came
from LEWIS direction, and he re-
marked, Reckon yuh wouldn't have
much show with er ghost, pardner, il
er pore little cuss Of er kyote en- start
yph ter shootin' wild like that"
| made no answer, was indignant
with myself for losing my nerve so
easily | lay down again. but not to
sleep; | was quivering with nervous
ress The coyote did not howl again
my shot had scared him away-but
the wind rose presently. and began
wailing in most nerve-distracting