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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；
manufacturing community。 The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening
on the trees； and the white pine hams for Western consumption were
gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy
American artisan。 The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering
from his threshing floor the shoe…pegs； which； when intermixed with a fair
proportion of oats； offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete
civilizations of Europe。 An almost Sabbath…like stillness prevailed。
Doemville was only seven miles from Hartford； and the surrounding
landscape smiled with the conviction of being fully insured。
Few would have thought that this peaceful village was the home of the
three young heroes whose exploits would hereafterbut we anticipate。
Doemville Academy was the principal seat of learning in the county。
Under the grave and gentle administration of the venerable Doctor