West Fairmont High School - Maple Leaves Yearbook (Fairmont, WV)

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i f ,M ll EW tpetettnvtsi i fill remove his robes. He took off the white sheet and revealed an old man with a gray beard and rounded shoulders. He's the tramp I've seen in town several times, declared Weldon upon close inspection. Yes, I've seen him, too, added Hal. What are you doing here? Ric inquired. I stay here all the time, answered the tramp in a surly manner. What did you play ghost for? Beans demanded, angrily. To scare people away. What did you want to scare folks away for? Well, I heard there was some money hidden here. and I wanted a chance to hunt for it, and it made a dandy place to stay. It's real cosy in the cellar, and the tramp glanced regretfully at the cabin. Did you pile our stuff in the middle of the floor? 'AYes. Suddenly the moon went behind a cloud and all was very dark. He's gone! shouted Beans, and when the moon came out again the tramp had disappeared. The boys went back into the cabin and rebuilt the fire. They sat around it and talked for a long time, and Beans told them about the green eyes that be had dreamed about. They went to bed a little later, but it was almost dawn before they went to sleep. When they awoke the next morning they examined the garden carefully, but they could find no traces of their captive of the night before. He said he stayed in the cellar, so there must be one, mused Ric thought- fully. 'ALet's look around on the outside for an entrance. I don't think there is one on the inside. The boys went around the house and on the side opposite the garden they found a small door. I saw that door, but I thought it went into the kitchen, said Beans. He tried the door and found it to be unlocked. Gee, it's dark. Let me have your flashlight, Cy. Cy surrendered his flashlight and Beans led the Way down a low, dark passage. Then he came to a pair of creaking stairs, but he continued, and when he reached the bottom he stopped, turned the flashlight around and ex- amined the cellar. He turned to give one last look at the cellar, and as he did so he saw a pair of bright green eyes coming toward him. Wheeling about he dashed for the stairs. As he neared the door something heavy, yet soft, lit on his head. He dropped the flashlight, gave a scream of terror and made a dive for the door. The door was so low that Beans had to stoop over to go through, and that terrible something was torn from his head. He rushed toward his companions and they ran to meet him, plying him with questions concerning his escape. They decidedto solve the mystery of Shackleford Cabin. They walked slowly and cautiously toward the house. As they neared the cabin a monstrous black cat strutted from the low, dark doorway and across the garden before the astonished boys, and disappeared into the bushes. The boys stared at each other in amazement, and then burst into howls of hysterical laughter. Hoi ho? shouted Beans. L'There goes the Green Eyes of Shackleford Cabin. if .4 if if Page 86

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, ii' 1fZIi'14T-'- f u mcstcnvels Pill they have passed near the cabin and seen him in the garden moaning because it is in such bad shape. I don't take much stock in their story myself. Some folks have tried to sleep here, but they have always left before dawn and re- fused to tell what they saw. I don't believe in ghosts myself. Well, I don't either, but let's get to bed. I'm sleepy, said Cy from a dark corner. It must be getting late: we had better turn in, said Ric, and the boys made a dash for their blankets. They rolled up in them, and after a while fell asleep. Along in the wee, small hours of the night Beans began to have bad dreams. Two bright objects appeared in the distance and began to move slowly toward him. On and one they came slowly, but steadily. At last, when they were very close, Beans tried to run, but he was held fast: he could not move. Then the objects stopped, and after pausing a second, they disappeared. Beans rubbed his eyes. Gee, he muttered, I must have been dreaming, and a bad dream at that. That supper I ate sure did have the wrong effect. I don't suppose I'll go back to sleep for a while, so I'll get up. He left his place on the bed and went to the window that over-looked the garden. The moon should be full tonight, and he laughed, but I don't see him. Oh, there he is behind a cloud. He was looking at the sky when he heard a low wailing moan, which seemed to come from the garden. He strangled, gasping frantically for breath as his heart leaped up into his throat and he attempted to swallow it. He leaned near the window and peered into the darkness. As he watched, the moon came near the edge of the cloud and a white figure became visible in the middle of the garden. Old Man Shackleford's Ghost! he gasped and glanced toward his sleeping companions. As he did so he saw two green objects glaring at him from the doorway that led into the kitchen. The moon came out from behind the cloud en- tirely, and he turned his attention to the ghost in the garden. The ghost seemed frightened: Hnally it turned and fled to the shadow of the cabin. That instant it paused in the moonlight was enough for Beans. Hum, he mused, thoughtfully, Now I wonder! He turned and saw that the green eyes had disappeared, so he went to Ric and shook him gently. When he got Ric awake, he said: We have a visitor: let's entertain. Don't make any noise and let's get the other fellows up to see the fun. I've got an idea and I'1l wager it's a good one, too. The other boys were awakened and they all went to the door. Beans divided them into two parts. You go around the cabin to the right and I'll go to the left. Don't let anyone get past you and look carefully in the shadow of the cabin. I say, don't let anyone get past you, were his orders. Anyone, the boys echoed in surprise. Yes, anyone. Now hurry, and the boys opened the door and slipped out quietly. All was very quiet for a while, and suddenly a shout was heard from the group of boys led by Beans. I've got him! someone yelled. Come on around here the rest of you, we've got him, called Beans. The other boys came running. They dragged a white-clad figure from the shadow of the cabin into the bright moonlight. That's him, yelled Beans, now hold onto him while I Page 85

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