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ain't it？ Keep off my leg； will you； you dd Greaser； and stop stumbling
round there！ Lie down。〃
But we knew that the Doctor had not completely finished his story； and
we waited patiently for the conclusion。 Meanwhile the old； gray silence
of the woods again asserted itself； but shadows were now beginning to
gather in the heavy beams of the roof above； and the dim aisles seemed to
be narrowing and closing in around us。 Presently the Doctor recommenced
lazily； as if no interruption had occurred。
〃As I said before； I never put much faith in that story； and shouldn't
have told it； but for a rather curious experience of my own。 It was in the
spring of '62； and I was one of a party of four； coming up from O'Neill's；
when we had been snowed up。 It was awful weather； the snow had
changed to sleet and rain after we crossed the divide； and the water was
out everywhere； every ditch was a creek； every creek a river。 We had lost
two horses on the North Fork； we were dead beat； off the trail； and
sloshing round； with night coming on； and the level hail like shot in our
faces。 Things were looking bleak and scary when； riding a little ahead of
the party； I saw a light twinkling in a hollow beyond。 My horse was still
fresh； and calling out to the boys to follow me and bear for the light； I
struck out for it。 In another moment I was before a little cabin that half
burrowed in the black chapparal； I dismounted and rapped at the door。
There was no response。 I then tried to force the door； but it was fastened
securely from within。 I was all the more surprised when one of the boys；
who had overtaken me； told me that he had just seen through a window a
man reading by the fire。 Indignant at this inhospitality； we both made a
resolute onset against the door； at the same time raising our angry voices
to a yell。 Suddenly there was a quick response； the hurried withdrawing
of a bolt； and the door opened。
〃The occupant was a short； thick…set man； with a pale； careworn face；
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whose prevailing expression was one of gentle good humor and patient
suffering。 When we entered； he asked us hastily why we had not 'sung
out' before。
〃'But we KNOCKED！' I said； impatiently； 'and almost drove your door
in。'
〃'That's nothing；' he said； patiently。 'I'm used to THAT。'
〃I looked again at the man's patient； fateful face； and then around the
cabin。 In an instant the whole situation flashed before me。 'Are we not
near Cave City？' I asked。
〃'Yes；' he replied； 'it's just below。 You must have passed it in the
storm。'
〃'I see。' I again looked around the cabin。 'Isn't this what they call
the haunted house？'
〃He looked at me curiously。 'It is；' he said； simply。
〃You can imagine my delight！ Here was an opportunity to test the
whole story； to work down to the bed rock； and see how it would pan out！
We were too many and too well armed to fear tricks or dangers from
outsiders。 Ifas one theory had been heldthe disturbance was kept up
by a band of concealed marauders or road agents； whose purpose was to
preserve their haunts from intrusion； we were quite able to pay them back
in kind for any assault。 I need not say that the boys were delighted with
this prospect when the fact was revealed to them。 The only one doubtful
or apathetic spirit there was our host； who quietly resumed his seat and his
book； with his old expression of patient martyrdom。 It would have been
easy for me to have drawn him out； but I felt that I did not want to
corroborate anybody else's experience； only to record my own。 And I
thought it better to keep the boys from any predisposing terrors。
〃We ate our supper； and then sat； patiently and expectant； around the
fire。 An hour slipped away； but no disturbance； another hour passed as
monotonously。 Our host read his book； only the dash of hail against the
roof broke the silence。 But〃
The Doctor stopped。 Since the last interruption； I noticed he had
changed the easy slangy style of his story to a more perfect； artistic； and
even studied manner。 He dropped now suddenly into his old colloquial
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speech； and quietly said： 〃If you don't quit stumbling over those riatas；
Juan； I'll hobble YOU。 Come here； there； lie down； will you？〃
We all turned fiercely on the cause of this second dangerous
interruption； but a sight of the poor fellow's pale and frightened face
withheld our vindictive tongues。 And the Doctor； happily； of his own
accord； went on：
〃But I had forgotten that it was no easy matter to keep these high…
spirited boys； bent on a row； in decent subjection； and after the third hour
passed without a supernatural exhibition； I observed； from certain winks
and whispers； that they were determined to get up indications of their own。
In a few moments violent rappings were heard from all parts of the cabin；
large stones （adroitly thrown up the chimney） fell with a heavy thud on the
roof。 Strange groans and ominous yells seemed to come from the outside
（where the interstices between the logs were wide enough）。 Yet； through
all this uproar； our host sat still and patient； with no sign of indignation or
reproach upon his good…humored but haggard features。 Before long it
became evident that this exhibition was exclusively for HIS benefit。
Under the thin disguise of asking him to assist them in discovering the
disturbers OUTSIDE the cabin； those inside took advantage of his absence
to turn the cabin topsy…turvy。
〃'You see what the spirits have done； old man；' said the arch leader of
this mischief。 'They've upset that there flour barrel while we wasn't
looking； and then kicked over the water jug and spilled all the water！'
〃The patient man lifted his head and looked at the flour…strewn walls。
Then he glanced down at the floor； but drew back with a slight tremor。
〃'It ain't water！' he said； quietly。
〃'What is it； then？'
〃'It's BLOOD！ Look！' 〃The nearest man gave a sudden start and
sank back white as a sheet。
〃For there； gentlemen； on the floor； just before the door； where the old
man had seen the dog hesitate and lift his feet； there！ there！gentlemen
upon my honor； slowly widened and broadened a dark red pool of human
blood！ Stop him！ Quick！ Stop him； I say！〃
There was a blinding flash that lit up the dark woods； and a sharp
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report！ When we reached the Doctor's side he was holding the smoking
pistol； just discharged； in one hand； while with the other he was pointing
to the rapidly disappearing figure of Juan； our Mexican vaquero！
〃Missed him！ by G…d！〃 said the Doctor。 〃But did you hear him？
Did you see his livid face as he rose up at the name of blood？ Did you
see his guilty conscience in his face。 Eh？ Why don't you speak？ What
are you staring at？〃
〃Was it the murdered man's ghost； Doctor？〃 we all panted in one quick
breath。
〃Ghost be dd！ No！ But in that Mexican vaquerothat cursed Juan
Ramirez！I saw and shot at his murderer！〃
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THE HOODLUM BAND OR THE
BOY CHIEF； THE INFANT
POLITICIAN； AND THE PIRATE
PRODIGY
BY JACK WHACKAWAY
Author of 〃The Boy Slaver；〃 〃The Immature Incendiary；〃 〃The
Precocious Pugilist；〃 etc。； etc。
CHAPTER I
It was a quiet New England village。 Nowhere in the valley of the
Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful； pastoral；