The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-11-07

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rouse her from her duh, listless brood
ing. The surgeon OF the post. OF course,
advised complete change Of scene; hut
that was out Of the question.
F. While pondering deeply on this ur-
gent problem, chance word sug-
gested TO the colonel a desperate ex-
pedient Would II succeed? Might
not the remedy prove more dangerous
than the disease? Anything. he felt,
would be better than that alarming
lethargy.
Seating himself by his wife's couch.
he with dificulty secured her wan
dering attention, and this Is the story
he told:
At the close of a hot, sultiy after
noon. threatening thunderstorm, q
young lieutenant OF engineers. In
charge Of government surveying
party, had gone on some distance in
advance OF his men to select camp
ing place for the night. Emerging
from the forest. he entered a glade Of
considerable size, bounded on one side
by perpendicular ledge of rock, is
or 20 feet In height. Following the
ledge. he came upon decaying log
cabin. built against the rock
Startled by the loneliness OF this
wreck OF human shelter in the dense
wilderness. the lieutenant pushed open
the door, hung on wooden pins. which
crcaked dtsmally AS Il stifiy yielded.
The eSrthen floor was Uttered with
fragments OF the broken roof and a
few rusty cooking utensils
AS the young engineer stood there
gazing around the mouldering ruin. he
wondered vaguely why he should care
10 waste a moment in such a desolate
and uninviting spot. Yet he could not
make up his mind TO go. The daylight
seemed TO fade away, and was re-
placed by strange, dull. yellowish
glare. Several times he resolved TO
leave. but siill he stayed IN little
while he felt a sensation OF numbness
tn his feet. His eyelids grew heavy
end drowsiness stole over him. bring
ing with It the terrible paralysis Of
nightmare. He felt that he could not
move If he tried-and he dared not try.
Just then a distant shout came to
his ears. II drew nearer and nearer,
and the surveyors. crossing the glade
In search Of him, reached the open
door. hanging on one OF its pegs. With
feet as heavy as lead he stepped over
its thresi I'd and almost with effusion
greeted Sergt. Lawson. the hardest
headed man in the party. who came up
FIRST. The sergeant stared at him and
into the gloomy hut, and fingered
looking curiousiy after the lieutenant,
as with ever-ligbtening feet he led the
men away from the cabin TO a camp
ing spot at some distance.
When camp was pitched. the lieuten-
ant gave orders that the men should
be walked and camp broken at half
past three IN the morning. for a long
march before breakfast in the cool
OF the day. AS they sat about the fire
after supper. enjoying a short smoke
before turning in, the lieutenant could
not keep his thoughts from the de-
serted cabin and his strange expert
enee there. Pointing with his pipe
stem. he said 10 Lawson:
Queer ola shack over there"
The sergeant nodded and continued
70 look at him steadily with such an
expression that the officer felt impelled
TO relate what bad happened to him.
Again Lawson nodded, knocked the
ashes from his own pipe and said:
I went In myself and had exactly
the same sensations"
Each continued to look steadily into
the others face. They were men of
action. not words. At length the lieu
| tenant said:
There's moon for an hour before
daylight, and on hours sleep won't be
missed--eyen II we can sleep. What
do you say to an exploration OF the
ruined cabin before we march?"
II was 50 agreed.
When they stood again in the moon.
| light before the old hut. half buried
in its messy shroud. an nnaccountable
depression crept over them. like a
miasmatic fog. Entering silently. they
sat down on the bench, and looked
about as their eyes became aceus.
toned to the darkness.
AZ that moment they were startled
by an awful sight. At the point among
the logs OF the rear wall where the
lieutenant had noticed the charred
streaks. straight, daggershaped dart
Of fame shot downward toward the
floor and remained there quivering
Then a second flashed and wavered be.
side the first. They gave out iurid
sulphurous light. like flames seen
through a dense fog or smoke. Rap.
Idly this smoky light, pouring through
the crevices. shaped itself, until there
appeared before them, nebulous but
distinct. towering form in the SEM
blance Of humanity. II seemed 10 glow
with fiercest heat. yet. far from giving
warmth, 1t only added to the deathly
chill. As the lieutenant SAN that fear
ful shape. solidifying out OF the fiery
vapor, he was assailed by an unreason-
ing. overwhelming, unconquerabIe /
fear. He CROPPED toward his COM
panion, who sat rigid as marble. and |