Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 821 — page 6: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- rancid os: : wl ie ips Cea _ oe ae ‘‘That-settles it, sir; that was what I ~wanted te know. But about the horse I asked for?” ‘You shall have him. What time do you start?” } ‘* About eleven o’clock.” ‘* All right; it’s your own funeral, I sup- pose, but I wouldn’t care to pass Granton Graveyard at midnight.” ‘‘Tam not afraid of the ghost, sir; and, maybe I won’t see it anyhow.” ‘*Maybe you won’t, for some can’t; but if you do see it [ll bet you won't forget it in a hurry.” Billy remained at the hotel, making some acquaintances and listening to all that was said, | Bardner returned, as he had promised, and Billy had a’ good chance to study him well. Finally came the hour for the young de- tective to set out. He had inquired the road, and understood it as well almost as though he had already been over it, and he set off without any doubt on that. score. The crowd at the hotel wished him a safe trip, declaring that they would be anxious to learn how he got through. | Billy found the road a fine one, and being an expert rider, thanks to his Texas experi- ence, he enjoyed the trip and went along at a good rate of speed. He had made more particular inquiry about the road as it drew near to the ceme- tery, and as he approached that point he knew just about when to expect the ceme- tery to come into view. The night was not dark, though there was no moon, and presently the ghostly head- stones broke upon his sight. ‘* Well, here Iam,” Billy said to himself, bringing his horse down to a walk, ‘‘ and now let his Ghostship stalk forth and I'll try a sly shot at him and see what the effect ~ will be.” He was proceeding down a gently-sloping hill, and the cemetery lay at the bottom of the descent, on the right hand side of the road, Along the road in front of the cemetery was a stone wall, and in the middle of that wall an iron gate. | Billy’s sight was keen, even at night, and these points were easily made out, Then, near the gate, on the side from which he was approaching, was a large tree, and under the shadow of that, as he made out when he came nearer still, was a big vault. ! The young detective approached at a walk, his revolver in hand, ready for instant use, As he was approaching the tree a bluish light suddenly surrounded the vault, and the horse gave a snort of terror. Billy spoke to the animal and held the rein with a firm brip, his revolver in hand. Almost simultaneously with the appear- ance of the light, there came forth from the front of the vault what appeared to bea ghost of the genuine sort. ‘The horse gave a cry of fright, but its rider held it firmly, and at the same time Billy let goa bullet straight at the appari- tion, whatever it was, one that Was intended to do damage, too. 4 But no damage was done, apparently, for the ghost gave forth the most ghostly laugh imaginable, and lifting one spectral arm, with a part of its flowing white robe, pointed straight at the daring detective and called out, in deep tone: ‘‘Rash man, return whence you came! Nothing but death is here for you; your doom is sealed if you ride on to yon village.” Billy’s response was another shot, the effect of which was no more visible than that of the first. i caf And then, in the air overhead, was heard mocking laughter, and the horse, wheeling - a . RS , : eS se ; ¥ ? > +" wad a. y +, 77 ‘ ' _ : es “. ? A Ce “4 ee ‘ wd fe vat se . _ - ) et os LASS 2s Race I Oe a - , - ag Pere. t: SRO OD Rory one eet not ’ ses, — aye: Fe ge, ‘si Par A . “< oo a ~~ ees — : > ’ . . tien od am * © 4. a2 . Sak « > : hey. «oe . — ; > % a. : _ . ve 4 ~~. - TA y 4 A ~, Broadway Billy’s Bluff. - suddenly, dashed away up the road in the direction it had come; and as Billy was car- ried away he gave vent toa yell of seeming terror, and the wild laughter rung out more wildly still. bd ing his hand. ‘‘I have never tasted it, aun ‘Hello! You are a temperance chap, ney?” \ y I don’t look much like a drinking fellow, do I?" ‘ , And he certainly did not, for he was the CHAPTER VI. very picture of blooming health. In his << twenty-second year, he had the freshness of EE ee a youth of seventeen. ‘Well, no, you don’t look like a soak, that’s sure enough,” the landlord had to admit. ‘‘ But come, tell us about that ghost ye saw, and what ye think of it, Have you had enough of it?” “Plenty,” answered Billy. briefly. ‘I don’t think you'll see me in those parts right, away again, I don’t want any ghosts in mine when I know it, and I know it this time hard and fast. I have been warned to keep away, and [ think [ll heed the warn- BROADWAY Bruty looked back as he as: cended the hill, and as the laughter died away he saw the strange light disappear, ‘Sweet pertaters!” he said to himself, ‘‘ I don’t wonder the rustics are frightened half out of their wits. That is a ghost of the real old-fashioned kind, no mistake.” Then he laughed to himself, half aloud. ‘* Well, old horse,” to the animal he rode, ‘‘vyou brought me out of there in a hurry, whether I would or not, and they will think they have frightened me out of six months' | ing. growth, more or less. Ha! ha! ha!” ‘Warned? ‘Yes; was told to drop the case, as noth- ing but death awaited me if I went on with it, or words to that effect,” ' * And the ghost told you that?” ‘Yes And there were more more than one ghost, too, for I heard all manner of wild laughter floating in the air, and you can bet I turned and kicked up a dust to get back here again. If anybody asks you any- thing about it, you can tell them the facts. Iam not hunting ghosts to-night, thank you, If you want to set me down for a coward, all right,” ‘““hat’s what most folks will do, me son.’ ‘Let them. I have a due respect for whole skin, and have a strong desire to keep mine so,” ‘There is sense in that; but, from what I have read about you, youngster, I thought you must be clear grit all the way through. Thought it would take more than a ghost to frighten you off.” “Well newspaper reputation is one thing, you know.” ‘If you see it in the newspaper it’s so, though; or anyhow they claim it is.”’ ‘Yes, I know they do, and sometimes 1t. is so; but I am modest in my Claims toggreat. ness, you see.” By his mannerit did not appear that he was very badly scared, whatever the appear- ances, ‘*You did me a good turn, anyhow, old nag,” speaking again to the horse, “ It will just suit my purpose to let them think they have spooked me away, for then they will not be quite so vigilant. My inning next time, Sir Ghost, and I'll get there!’ He made no effort to bring his’ horse down to # more moderate speed, but let it have its own way, and fora mile or more, the furious gallop was kept up. ; And even when it began to tire, and would have stopped, he urged it on, and by the time he rode into Brisbane the animal was dripping with sweat and was pretty nigh used up. ‘The hotel had not yet closed for the night, for such places are not early in closing, ; but most of its patrons had taken their leave, and the landlord was outside on the piazza putting up the shutters’ * He heard the horse coming, and dropped the shutter he bid in hand as Billy dashed up to the steps and sprung from the saddle. ‘Hello! What’s the matter?” demanded the landlord, and there was just the sug- ¢estion of mirth in the tone.. ‘“What time does the next train start for ‘And you ain’t no ‘ghost-hunter,” re- New York?” Billy inquired, rather excitedly | marked one of the loungers, - and with some degree of haste. answered. ‘‘Not just now, thank you,” Billy. ‘The last train goes in about half an All laughed. hour,” the landlord informed, ‘‘ But, I am anxious to know what has happened to ye, my young man,” ‘‘What’s happened!” cried Billy. seen the ghost!” ‘*What, have you been to Granton Grave- yard and back already ?” ‘< Yes, sir, I have.” ‘‘Then you must have traveled, that’s all. That horse must be as wet and limp as a dishcloth!” ‘* Yes, I guess it is, for I have not spared it, You had better let your man see to itat once. I’m off for that train.” ‘*No, hold on a minute. Come in here. Plenty of time. Joe, see to the horse right away. Plenty of time, young man, to get the train. Come in and tell me what you saw. ”? . ‘*T don't want to miss that train.” ghost, anyhow?” the landlord urged, in his deep, base voice. ‘My opinion of ghosts does not amount to much,” Billy made response. ‘‘I have had a very small opinion of ghosts in K Mapes’ 8 but of this Granton ghost in particular [ don’t want any further acquaintance.” All laughed again. ' .‘« By the way,” spoke Billy, ‘if my friend Bardner asks for me to morrow you may tell him just how it was.” ‘‘Oh, yes, I’ll tell him, sure,” the landlord promised. | Billy betook himself to the station. “Tt is just about what I expected of him,” the landlord remarked, when he had gone, ‘‘He looks smart enough, but you can't ex- pect to find a man’s head on a boy’s shoul- “No danger. You can spend fifteen | ders.’ 4 ' | minutes here, and still have loads of time to «“'That’s so,” one of the, loungers agreed. catch it.” , ‘“ And that ghost is enough to scare any man; ‘Well, I don’t mind stopping to tell you, | no matter how big he is.” . then.” r And the others agreed in that. The landlord finished putting up his shut. ters, and that done, led the way into the bar room. ; | Some three or four loungers were still there, fellows who bad been present when Billy started. ‘Let me give you a bracer,” the landlord proposed, stepping behind the bar and tay- ing hojd upon a bottie ae “*Not a drop!” refused Billy, firmly, wav- ‘ec I've On the same train that had brought Billy out from the city that afternoon, were 2 man and woman in whom we shall take in- terest. and not lacking in good looks His companion, Lhe woman, was younger, — maybe twenty four. ; don't mean to begin now, ghost or no ghost,” ~ ‘Well, what's your opinioneabout that ~ : Yy The man was about thirty years of age— yong not a day younger, anyhow, weti dressed eee rr ~ n é a“ ©4-') ws ' . i 4 ‘ : * £ e Fo ‘ ~~ so ke SU AQ) we Se sure x Vi a a am «Te a” tyes - on sa 2 « ‘aed ¥ ra y ahs, we Y #7 ,’ = ° te te 77 * < oe Oh . aa cre ¥Y's om? * >». it” i Ge ;*) . uy ‘ 7 « +) th af t Fe. 4 4 ; : Me i. qj “ » 4 1 .* ‘ Sm aty sa9-6 Wan * ; 3 es vs Ave ts a4 ’ , ys \ pat * : te , Fa . e hi ET ss | “ . ae aon i, “ ‘LA nh als J A “? *Y * r sei,