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Show THE DIXIE OWL nothing because of the intense darkness. Rex brought out his light and flashed it on the walls that had once been adorned with swords and old coats of arms. With the aid of the light they tiptoed through the ten dark, cool, bare rooms. Each one they entered they held their breath for fear something should jump at them. Back in the hall they became and started more broken-down stairto ascend the way that creaked and moaned under their weight, sounding like a melancholy funeral march. The wind came down the stairway in gusts that made their hair stand up. The landing had been reached and they stopped, staring around and trying to pierce the gloomy darkness. Stop, Fred clutched Jim by the arm. He couldnt speak ; the words died at his throat, but he didnt need to ; they all saw it. There was a dim light in the further end of the upper hall. Something white was passing back and forth in front of it. It came brighter, then went, then They just again appeared. stood and stared. Any reason they might have had was completely gone. Whats that ? Shorty gasped out. A fresh gust of wind creaked' everything that was loose in the whole house. Something was coming down the hall one two three Oh, it looked like hundreds of them. The flashlight fell from Rexs hand with a thud this was all needed to wake them up and set them to thinking. There was one and only one thing to do and that was to run. In four bounds they were down the steps and fleeing down the lane. Jim chanced to look back ; they were coming, he was surrounded by them ; he stumbled and horrors the white thing had a hold of him. Then he thought he heard a familiar voice, Why Jim, what made you so late for the party ? How did self-confide- nt The Squaws Ghost One chilly night in October, Silas Hicken and Ruben Jones came jogging down the road in an old creaky buckboard behind an old worn out plow team. They were nearing the church yard when Silas spoke, Say Ruben, kin you remember when them fellers killed that Mexican right over there in that wash ? Reckon as how I do Silas ; say do you recollect when that old squaw was murdered down here by the church yard. Some says they seen her ghost around about twelve oclock at night. They say she is huntin for the one that murdered her. Old Sy Petingill says she tried to get him to move her bones out of the church yard so she could rest. She said the white people didnt treat her good in there. By hechy, Ruben, Id a died right in me tracks if she had said that to me. Ruben, we bet- ter stop tellin about these and ghost stories wer gettin pretty nigh mur-deri- ns cuz the church yard. By jingo, its gettin around about twelve oclock too. Hope that old squaws ghost aint out tonight. You dont hope it any moren me, Silas, said Ruben. Look Ruben shuddered Silas, What kin you make that out to be? Ruben looked, just as something white rose directly in front of the squaws grave. Hey go back there, Go back screamed Silas. With there a screech and a bound the ghost flew after them. In a fit of terror, Silas seized the whip ; Ruben from the bottom of a stay-chai- n the buckboard, and began to lay them over the old jaded team. ! ! you find out we were having it out here? Youve missed the best time ; really, that house isnt haunted. We were just leaving. Maudeen Prisbrey. It seemed ages to them before the old team stumbled into a trot. They were both leaning far out over the dash board, wishing the old horses would go faster when Silas said, Ruben kin ye make em go a little faster? Gi me them lines an I kin. Silas, look around and see where the ghost is. He looked and with a shriek brought the whip down over old Pets back with such force that it broke into a dozen pieces. Ruben chanced a look and saw the ghost just about to spring He turned into the buck-boarwith a yell and brought old Dick a smashing blow with the stay k chain. This new of blows awakened the old plow team and they broke into a slow d. out-brea- lope. Ruben! breathed Silas in a terrified whisper, Wer leavm it. Ruben threw a horrified glance over his shoulder and saw the ghost far in the rear. Just then the ghost shreiked out, Wait for me, daddy. My zounds Ruben, whispered Silas, in a horrified voice, It called one of us daddy. Just then the buckboard was jerked into a deep rut and crash went the doubletrees. The team went on down the road leaving Silas, Ruben and the buck-boar- d stuck in the rut. One swift glance backward showed Silas that the ghost was upon him. He ducked and pushed his head under the seat, just as the flying figure leaped into the buggy, only to be dragged out backward by the heals while the ghost shrieked daddy daday daddy! Well by the jumpin Jupiter if it aint Mariar. What the divel you been doin up here scarin your dad that way ? I went to bed but couldnt sleep because I felt so bad about cousin Mary dyin so I came up here to see her grave. Ben Hopkins. ! ! |