The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-03-19
Her Husbands
Ghost
By F. A.

had pre-empted u quarter section of
land OF a prairie and built q log house
on 1t. There he dwelt alone. Strange
it is that there are men who can be
content only when far away from all
other persons. The famous hunter
Daniel Boone was n Of these. and
Enoch Pogram was another.
In the spring he prepared his land.
planted. tended his fields, keeping
them free from weeds during the sum-
mer. and in the autumn, having gath
cred his crops. went forth with his
rife to provide meat for his winter use.
Returning one night with a plentiful
supply Of venison and bear meat. he
went to bed. The next morning was
clear and cool. Enoch went out to the
tin basin located on Il bench to perform
his additions when he was astonished
to see far across the plain &. log cabin
with n man standing near it.
Enoch was much disyruntled. If he
had been ut home when that cabin
was being erected he would have TAX
en- measures to prevent its being finish
ed. He was not sure that 1t had not
been built ON his own land. He would
go at once to investigate. Turning. he
went into his cabin to get his rife, for
he was not sure but there would be
trouble between him and this new
squatter, and when he came out the
other man was just emerging from his
cabin also and with n gun.
Pogram started for his neighbours
cabin. and his neighbor advanced to
meet him. Pogram. who carried his
rife in his right hand below his hip.
raised it to a level with his chest in
order to have it ready in case of need.
The other also raised his weapon.
Looks as though there was goin'
to be more f1ghtin' than talkin'." NUT
tered Pogram. and he brought his piece
to his shoulder. His enemy was ready
for him. bringing his wi gun to ex-
actly the same position as Pogram.
You drop that gum! shouted Pogram
at the top of his voice.
The man held his weapon firmly to
his shoulder and seemed to be shout
ing something which Pogram did not
hear.
1--WE either got to kill him." thought
Pogram. "or he'll kill me-"
He cooked his gun. The other man
seemed to be going through q similar
motion.
Pogram was rvous Whether or
not he really intended to kill his neigh
Dor he has never been certain. Prob
ably he pulled the trigger without in
tending to do so. The neighbor evil
IDENTIFY was not hit. for he stood
his ground. He was not sufficiently
plain at the distance for Pogram to
discern if he had fired. At any rate.
Pogram could not detect smoke issuing
from the muzzle Of his rifle and didn't
even hear a bullet pass him.
There We're no repeating rifles In
those days. and both men dropped the
butts Of their rifles at the same mo-
ment to reload. 1t was a question Of
life and death with them as to which
could load the quicker. The more
haste Pogram made the more his OPP
ponent hurried. Both finished at the
same moment. and both fired again at
the same moment. Pogram was not
hit and did not even hear a ping"
They stood for a moment looking at
each other. Then 1t occurred to Po-
gram that they were at a greater dis
lance from each other than he had
supposed. He had a rifle in his cabin
that he used for long distance shooting
and went in to get it.
He had not used this latter rifle for
a long while. and it a not where he
had expected to find it. He hunted for
it some time before hitting upon it. then
went out again to resume the shooting.
Meanwhile the sun had cleared the
horizon and cast some warmth ana
more light yer the prairie. Pogram
looked for his neighbour, but he was
not to be seen. Probably he had gone
into his cabin. But the cabin was not
there either. Pogram was astonished.
Had he been firing at a phantom? He
shuddered. For the first time In his
life he felt lonely. He started for the
place where he had seen the cabin with
the intention of having IL nearer view
if there was really anything there. He
walked several miles without finding
either n house or a man. Then he met
a woman.
stranger she said, me and my
husband settled last week owe thar
(pointing). Yesterday he took sick and
died this mornin'."
Pogram started. ~ een his ghost a
spell ago." he said. The woman was
so distressed that she did not hear.
I'D be obleeged If you'd give me a
bit o. help. | was goin' to the cabin
whar l reckon you live for some n to
do somethin' for me. I'm dead Alone"
$50 am l." said Pogram.
The two went back to the woman's
cabin, and Pogram helped her to bury
her husband and in such other ways
as she needed.
Pogram and the widow. both being
lonely, concluded to live together In.
Pogram's cabin. Several years passed,
when one morning the husband went
outdoors and, say the cabin he had
seen before and the nan standing be-
.aa~ a. u ,n~ onlr &vfn thu hAaNSnf