The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-08-26

1lS IduCu udhd6ct.
Il hope not, SIR" replied Tony. III
couldn't have at least 16 sections
from which to get my fresh air l
think I'd choke, sir"
me, too, Tony, hut the railroad has
made a survey through here within
five miles of the ranch, and the Teller
they call the diversified farmer is
breaking ND 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-
road was resumed. Whist11ng and
singing and shouting to the cattle,
the cowboys rode with the herd, glad
that the green plains still stretched
scarcely broken as far as the eye
could reach. Suddenly straight ahead
of the herd there appeared village,
apparently five or six miles distant.
One would have sworn that it was a
city built in the clear atmosphere
above a beautiful lake. 1t was an
ethereallooking habitation, which
stood boldly outlined against the
clondless sky, while the water be-
meath it glistened and swayed cease
lessly in the bright sunlight.
To Nose, the colored cook, who had
recently come to Maj. Fullington from
his fathers southern plantation. 1t
seemed to be section of fairyland.
Nose gazed at the apparition for some
time, and the cowboys, noting his evil
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
as he could get to Maj, Fullington's
wagon, he asked: "Massa Fullington
what am dat town we all are comm
to?"
"That town, Nose? Why that is q
spook town, that's all.
~ spook town, Massa Fullington
You all don mean to tell me dat dat
am not a real, sure 'nough town."
That's just what mean, Mose," re
piled the major, unconcernedly. Nose
rode along for time III silence, look
the corners of his eyes. Finally he
asked: How cum dat am spool
town. Massa Fullington?'
why, you see, ii was this way, Nose
Ages and ages ago all this countr,
was inhabited by strange and un
known race of people -All over west
ern Kansas they built beautiful cite!
and they were very rich and prosper
Gus. Hundreds of years ago, no mar
knows when. there came upon the lant
a terrible deluge. 1t rained for day.
and earthquake followed earth
quake and tornado chased lorna
do. When il was all over Their,
was not living thing in all this grea
| country. The people thus destroyed
loved their country so well that eve
since their death their spirits return
and rebuild their. towns and cities il
the air and hold high jinks unit
driven back to spirit land"
Good Lord exclaimed Nose. IAN
dat what dey am doin' right now il
dat spook town."
You're on, Nose"
what am it dat drives dem away
Massa Fullington?"
They cause their cities and towns t
suddenly disappear as soon as human
folks come near them"
"Massa Fullington, you am jokir
me. Dat certainly am real tow
Now icok here, Nose. That tow
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
De ON top of it. Now we are going t
drive the cattle right over that hill
and you keep your eyes on that spoo
town and see If it don't fade away be
fore we get there"
Several of the cowboys had entere
into the spirit of the fun and begs
telling Nose of the wonderful spook
there were in the plains countr,
When we get within co miles c
sown," declared one Of them. we wi