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A dead silence。
The Doctor （addressing space generally） 〃Yes； sir； it WAS a mighty
queer story。〃
Still the same reposeful indifference。 We all knew the Doctor's skill
as a raconteur； we all knew that a story was coming； and we all knew that
any interruption would be fatal。 Time and time again； in our prospecting
experience； had a word of polite encouragement； a rash expression of
interest； even a too eager attitude of silent expectancy； brought the Doctor
to a sudden change of subject。 Time and time again have we seen the
unwary stranger stand amazed and bewildered between our own
indifference and the sudden termination of a promising anecdote； through
his own unlucky interference。 So we said nothing。 〃The Judge〃
another instance of arbitrary nomenclaturepretended to sleep。 Jack
began to twist a cigarrito。 Thornton bit off the ends of pine needles
reflectively。
〃Yes； sir；〃 continued the Doctor； coolly resting the back of his head on
the palms of his hands； 〃it WAS rather curious。 All except the murder。
THAT'S what gets me； for the murder had no new points； no fancy touches；
no sentiment； no mystery。 Was just one of the old style； 'sub…head'
paragraphs。 Old…fashioned miner scrubs along on hardtack and beans；
and saves up a little money to go home and see relations。 Old…fashioned
assassin sharpens up knife； old style； loads old flint…lock； brass…mounted
pistol； walks in on old… fashioned miner one dark night； sends him home to
his relations away back to several generations； and walks off with the
swag。 No mystery THERE； nothing to clear up； subsequent revelations
only impertinence。 Nothing for any ghost to dowho meant business。
More than that； over forty murders； same old kind； committed every year
in Calaveras； and no spiritual post obits coming due every anniversary； no
assessments made on the peace and quiet of the surviving community。 I
tell you what； boys； I've always been inclined to throw off on the Cave
City ghost for that alone。 It's a bad precedent； sir。 If that kind o' thing is
going to obtain in the foot…hills； we'll have the trails full of chaps formerly
knocked over by Mexicans and road agents； every little camp and grocery
will have stock enough on hand to go into business； and where's there any
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security for surviving life and property； eh？ What's your opinion； Judge； as
a fair…minded legislator？〃
Of course there was no response。 Yet it was part of the Doctor's
system of aggravation to become discursive at these moments； in the hope
of interruption； and he continued for some moments to dwell on the
terrible possibility of a state of affairs in which a gentleman could no
longer settle a dispute with an enemy without being subjected to
succeeding spiritual embarrassment。 But all this digression fell upon
apparently inattentive ears。
〃Well； sir； after the murder； the cabin stood for a long time deserted
and tenantless。 Popular opinion was against it。 One day a ragged
prospector； savage with hard labor and harder luck； came to the camp；
looking for a place to live and a chance to prospect。 After the boys had
taken his measure； they concluded that he'd already tackled so much in the
way of difficulties that a ghost more or less wouldn't be of much account。
So they sent him to the haunted cabin。 He had a big yellow dog with him；
about as ugly and as savage as himself； and the boys sort o' congratulated
themselves； from a practical view…point； that while they were giving the
old ruffian a shelter； they were helping in the cause of Christianity against
ghosts and goblins。 They had little faith in the old man； but went their
whole pile on that dog。 That's where they were mistaken。
〃The house stood almost three hundred feet from the nearest cave； and
on dark nights； being in a hollow； was as lonely as if it had been on the top
of Shasta。 If you ever saw the spot when there was just moon enough to
bring out the little surrounding clumps of chapparal until they looked like
crouching figures； and make the bits of broken quartz glisten like skulls；
you'd begin to understand how big a contract that man and that yellow dog
undertook。
〃They went into possession that afternoon； and old Hard Times set out
to cook his supper。 When it was over he sat down by the embers and lit
his pipe； the yellow dog lying at his feet。 Suddenly 'Rap！ rap！' comes
from the door。 'Come in；' says the man； gruffly。 'Rap！' again。 'Come in
and be dd to you；' says the man； who has no idea of getting up to open
the door。 But no one responded； and the next moment smash goes the
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only sound pane in the only window。 Seeing this； old Hard Times gets up；
with the devil in his eye； and a revolver in his hand； followed by the
yellow dog； with every tooth showing； and swings open the door。 No one
there！ But as the man opened the door； that yellow dog； that had been so
chipper before； suddenly begins to crouch and step backward； step by step；
trembling and shivering； and at last crouches down in the chimney；
without even so much as looking at his master。 The man slams the door
shut again； but there comes another smash。
This time it seems to come from inside the cabin； and it isn't until the
man looks around and sees everything quiet that he gets up； without
speaking； and makes a dash for the door； and tears round outside the cabin
like mad； but finds nothing but silence and darkness。 Then he comes
back swearing and calls the dog。 But that great yellow dog that the boys
would have staked all their money on is crouching under the bunk； and has
to be dragged out like a coon from a hollow tree； and lies there； his eyes
starting from their sockets； every limb and muscle quivering with fear； and
his very hair drawn up in bristling ridges。 The man calls him to the door。
He drags himself a few steps； stops； sniffs； and refuses to go further。 The
man calls him again； with an oath and a threat。 Then； what does that
yellow dog do？ He crawls edgewise towards the door； crouching himself
against the bunk till he's flatter than a knife blade； then； half way； he stops。
Then that dd yellow dog begins to walk gingerlylifting each foot up in
the air； one after the other； still trembling in every limb。 Then he stops
again。 Then he crouches。 Then he gives one little shuddering leapnot
straight forward； but up；clearing the floor about six inches； as if〃
〃Over something；〃 interrupted the Judge； hastily； lifting himself on his
elbow。
The Doctor stopped instantly。 〃Juan；〃 he said coolly； to one of the
Mexican packers； 〃quit foolin' with that riata。 You'll have that stake out
and that mule loose in another minute。 Come over this way！〃
The Mexican turned a scared； white face to the Doctor； muttering
something； and let go the deer…skin hide。 We all up…raised our voices
with one accord； the Judge most penitently and apologetically； and
implored the Doctor to go on。 〃I'll shoot the first man who interrupts you
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again；〃 added Thornton； persuasively。
But the Doctor； with his hands languidly under his head； had lost his
interest。 〃Well； the dog ran off to the hills； and neither the threats nor
cajoleries of his master could ever make him enter the cabin again。 The
next day the man left the camp。 What time is it？ Getting on to sundown；
ain't it？ Keep off my leg； will you； you dd Greaser； and stop stumbling
round there！