The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-28
THE spOoE TOWN IN MEADE COUNTY


TIE rourviup had been the most
successful in the history Of the famous
Crooked l. ranch. which nestles be-
tween The brakes OF tho lower eud Of
the valley Of the Crooked creek in
Mcase county. SarAas
Major c. p. Fpuiagton stood dick
ing the dust from his Ions top boots
and gazing renectively at the great
nerd. q reckon ttis IS about tho last
Zig drive we shall have Tony" he
said to his ranch manager.
Il hape not. sir replied Tony IT
! could't have ct least l6 sections
FROM which to get fresh air ! thing
I'd choke. sir"
Me, too. Tony. but the Rock Island
road has made survey through here
within FIVE siles of the ranch, and the
fe,ler they call the diversified farmer
is breaking up the sod Of the short
grass country and raisin' crops. It's
the cattlemen TO the tall timber. and
the farmer to the front, Tony"
Soon after their conversation the
rude breakfast was over. camp was
broken and the long drlve to the rail
road was resumed whistling aud sing
ing and shouting 10 the cattle. the
cowboys rode with the herd. glad tina:
the green plains still stretched scarce
ly broken as far as the eye could
reach. Suddenly straight ahead oi
the herd there apepared a village. ap
rarently Ave or six miles distant One
would have sworn that it was a city
luilt in the clear atmosphere above a
beautiful lake II was an etereal
hooking habitation. which stood boldly
outlined against the cloudless sky,
and swayed ceaslessly in the br.sht
sunlight.
To Nose. the colored cook. who had
recently come to Major Fullipgton
from his fathers southern plantation,
Il seemed to be section of fairyland.
Nose gazed at the apparition for some
time, and the cowboys. noting his evil
aenl uneasiness. began to talk in low
tones and cast mysterious glances in
the direction Of the mess wagon driv-
en- by the negro Finally Nose could
siand it no longer, and driving close
as he could get to Major Fullington's
wagon, he asked. 'Massa Fullington.
what am dat town we all are comm
tor"
THAT town, Mos,,? Why. that's a
81 cob town, that's all"
"A spook town. Massa Fullington?
You all don mean to tell me dat dat
am not a real town. sure nough town?
That's just what mean, Nose, :
replied the Major unconcernedly.
Nose rode along for time in silence
looking occasionally at the mirage out
of the corner af his eyes Finally he
asked. "Hcv cum dat am spook
town, Massa Fullington?"
"why. you see it was this way,
Nose. Ages and ages ago all this
country was inhabited by a strangc
and unknown nce of people. All over
western Kansas they built beautiful
cities and they were very rich and
prosperous. Hundreds Of years ago
no man knows when, there came del
use. It rained for days and earth
quake followed earthquake and lorna
dc chased tornado When II was all
over there was not living thing il
all this great country The people thus
destroyed loved their country 50 wei
that ever since their death then spirits
returned and rebuilt their towns anC
cities in the air and hold high iink'
until driven back to the spirit land
Good Lord" exclaimed Nose An
dat what dey am doing right now IL
Cat sgook town."
you're on. Nose"
! what am 1t DAT drives dem away
Mt ssa Fullingto1?"
They cause their cities and towni
SO suddenly disappear as soon as hu
nan folks come near them"
"Massa Fulington. YOU am iolliH
me Dat certainly am real town"
"Now look here. Nose. That rowi
Is an yonder Hill. is It not? Well yol
know berry wen that we can't see owe
the Lii anc therefore the town mus
he on top Of e. Now We are goine q
drive the cattle right over that hil
(, and you keep your eyes on thai spool
, town and see Il It don't fade away be
!. fore we get there"
Several Of the cowboys had entere'
into the spirit @ the fun and begai
telling Nose Of the wonderful spook
/ there we're on the plains country
"Whul we get within sixty miles O
town" declared one Of them. we vii
show you a spook railroad train CON
ing after YOU in the ai- Nose shiye'
el. but said nothing His eyes war
rivetod on the spook town. whic
. seemed TO him TO have already begu
!, to fade,
DO you see, Nose, asked Maio
Tulngton. THE spooks are cloaniu
bott-.-