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We were in another atmosphere； under another sky； indeed； in another
world than the dazzling one we had just quitted。 The grave silence
seemed so much a part of the grateful coolness； that we hesitated to speak；
and for some moments lay quietly outstretched on the pine tassels where
we had first thrown ourselves。 Finally； a voice broke the silence：
〃Ask the old Major； he knows all about it！〃
The person here alluded to under that military title was myself。 I
hardly need explain to any Californian that it by no means followed that I
was a 〃Major；〃 or that I was 〃old；〃 or that I knew anything about 〃it；〃 or
indeed what 〃it〃 referred to。 The whole remark was merely one of the
usual conventional feelers to conversation；a kind of social preamble；
quite common to our slangy camp intercourse。 Nevertheless； as I was
always known as the Major； perhaps for no better reason than that the
speaker； an old journalist； was always called Doctor； I recognized the fact
so far as to kick aside an intervening saddle； so that I could see the
speaker's face on a level with my own； and said nothing。
〃About ghosts！〃 said the Doctor； after a pause； which nobody broke or
was expected to break。 〃Ghosts； sir！ That's what we want to know。
What are we doing here in this blanked old mausoleum of Calaveras
County； if it isn't to find out something about 'em； eh？〃
Nobody replied。
〃Thar's that haunted house at Cave City。 Can't be more than a mile or
two away； anyhow。 Used to be just off the trail。〃
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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