St. Tammany farmer., 1905-08-19


II hope not, SIR replied Tony. If
/ couldn't have at least 16 sections
from which to get my fresh air l
think I'd choke, sir"
ME, too, Tony, but the railroad mas
made a survey through here within
five miles of the ranch, and the feller
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 drive to the rail
read was resumed. Whistling and
singing and shouting to the cattle,
the cowboys rode with the herd, glad
that the. green plains still stretched
sacrcely broken as far as the eye
could reach. Suddenly straight ahead
Of the herd there appeared a village,
apparently five or six miles distant.
One would have sworngthat it was a
city built in the clear atmosphere
above a beautiful lake. It was an
ethereal looking habitation, which
stood boldly outlined against the
cloudless sky, while the water be-
meath it glistened and swayed cease.
lessly in the bright sunlight.
10 Nose, the co1ored cook, who had
recently come to Maj. Fullington from
his fathers southern plantation, It
seemed to be a section OF fairyland.
Mcse gazed at the apparition for some
time, and the cowboys, noting his evi.
dent uneasiness, began to talk in low
tones and cast mysterious glances in
the direction OF the mess wagon driven
BY the negro. Finally Nose could
stand it no longer, and, driving close
an he could get to Maj. Fullington's
wagon. he asked: "Massa Fullington
what am dat town we all are comm
TOT"
"That town, Nose? Why that is q
spook town, that's all"
"A spook town, Massa Fullington
You all dom mean to tell me dat dat
am not real, sure 'nough town?'
"That's just what mean, Nose" re.
plied the major, unconcernedly. Nose
rode along for a time in silence, look
ing occasionally at the mirage out OF
the corners Of his eyes. Finally he
asked: .How cum dat am spooh
town, Massa Fullington?"
why, you see, it was this way, Nose
Ages and ages ago all this country
was Inhabited by strange and un'
known race of people. All over west
ern Kansas they built beautiful cities
and they were very rich and prosper
Gus. Hundreds of years ago, no man
knows when, there came upon the land
terrible deluge. It rained for days
and earthquake followed earth.
quake and tornado chased lorna
do. When it was all over there
was not a living thing in all this great
country. The people thus destroyed
loved their country SO well that eve,
since their death their spirits return
And rebuild their towns and cities in
the air and hold high jinks until
driven back to spirit land"
"Good Lord" exclaimed Nose. "An
dat what ,dey am doin' right now in
dat spook town?"
you're on, Nose
"What am it dat drives dem away
Massa Fullington? ?"
"1hey cause their cities and towns tt
suddenly disappear as soon as human
An1lrc cor,c noar them" i"
"Massa Fu1lington, you am jokin
me. Dat certainly am a real town.
aNow look here, Nose. That tow1
is on yonder hill, is it not? Well, yo'
know very well that we can't see Owe
the hill, and therefore the town mus
be on top of it. Now we are going tt
drive the cattle right over that hill
and you keep your eyes on that spool
town and see if it don't fade away be
fore We get there"
Several Of the cowboys had entered
into the spirit of the fun and bega1
|ltelling Nose Of the wonderful spook'
there were in the plains country
s.When we get within 60 miles o
town." declared one Of them, we viii