The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-03-20

cious yet holding his voice 20 q ,ufi
cious whisper II Vas be who led the
way down the bank. the four horses
SLOWLY splashine through the shallow
water 90 the northern shore. Before
them stretched broad plain. the sur
face rocky and uneven. the northern
stars ohscuned by ridges a. higher
land Murphy promptly gave his
horse the spur. never once Elanefng
behind while the other initiated ais
example. holding his animal vel m
check. being apparently the better
mounted
They rode silently The way o.
came more broken and rough a. the-
advanced causing them 10 exercise
greater caution. FIXING clouds Nd
scured the stars. yet thnough the rsfts
they caught feeting eiimpses e=fh-
cient 10 hold them 10 their course.
And the encroaching hills swept in
closer upon either hand. leaving them
cropping their way between as Ia a
pocket. set ever advancing north
Finally they attained 10 the steep
bank Of a considerable stream. found
the water Of sufficient depth 10 compel
swimming and crept up the opposite
shore dripping and miserable. ye- with
ammunition dry. Murphy stood swear
inc disjointedly. wiping the blood from
a wound in his forehead where the
Jagged edge Of a rock had broken Tire
skin. but suddenly stopped with q
4 quick intake OF breath that left him
painting The other man crepi toward
I him. leading his horse
What is il now o. he asked. gruf.iy.
Hev ye got EN- agin,"
The dazed old scout stared. point
ing directly across the others shout
der. his arm shaking desperately.
Its thar an lis his face. on.
\ Cod know it's year
4 The man glanced backward into The
f pitch darkness. but without moving
4 his body
There's nuthin' out there Tess it's
a freely he insisted. in tone Of con
tempt You're plum crazy Murphy.
the nights got on yer nerves What
is IL ye think We See
His face. tell ye. Don't I know
Z It's all green and Ehasfly. with snaky
flames playin' about il, But ! know,
( Is years an Amt forgot
He sank down feebiy-sank until he
was on his knees. his head craned for
ward The man watching touched the
miserable. hunched-up figure eompas-
+ sionafely and il shook beneath his
I hand. endeavoring 10 shrink away
Ny God. vas tibet you. I thought
il was him a-reachin' fer re. Here.
4 let me take yer hand. on. Lord, An
can't ye see Its just there beyond
I them horses-an green. craWiin'. dey-
F ilish-but its him
Who
. ~Bran;, Braat-l5 year
~Brant. Fifieen years. DO you
mean Mai Brani. the one Nolan killed
( over al Bethune.-
-He-he DIDN'T
The old man heaved forward. his
z head rocking from side 10 side then
suddenly he roppled over on his face.
gasping for breath His companion
F caught him and ripped open the heavy
flannel shirt. Then he strobe savage
4 Is across in front OF his shrinking horse
tore down the faring picture. and
hastily thrust II into his pocket tbs
+ light 81 the PHOSPHORUS with which il
4 had been rubbed being reflected for
moment on his features.
A dirty. miserable low-down trick
. he muttered Poor old devil, Ye.
I've got 10 DO il FOR the little girl
he stumbled back through the dark
ness. his hat filled with water. and
dashed IL into Murphy's face. Come
I on. Murphy, There's one good thing
bout spooks. they don't hang round
] fer long a. a time Likely es not this
'un is gone by now. Brace up man.
Y for you an have got ter get out o
F here afore mornin"
Then Murphy grasped his arm and
( drew himself slowly 10 his feet
Don't see nuthin' now. Go ye--
NO. Where's my-horse,-
The other silently reached him the
loose rein. marking as he did 50 the
! quick. nervous peerinE this way and
that. the starting al the slightest
sound
did We say. Murphy. as how Il
wasn't Nolan after al who plugged
( the major
I'm damned-if I did who-else
was ite~
WHY. ] dunno Sorfer blamed odd
+ though the- ghost should - ahasnt-
4 in ye Darn i 81 Amt creepy 'nough
ter make a Teller believe most any-
thin"
Murphy drew himself VI heavily
into his saddle Then an ar once he
showed The muzzle o. a a. into the
others face We ssy nufher word
boot thet. an III mako ghost outer
7 ye-blame lively. Now. re shef up-lf
Y " ride with me"
They moved forward az a walk and
4 reached a higher level. across which
7 the night wind swept bearing 4 touch
Of cold in its breath as though coming
!