The two men concealed in the brush along the road had no warning of the approaching phantom, until they caught the sound of the strange footsteps, and peered cautiously out, only to see the fearful sight that Pete beheld shortly before.
“Holy Moses!” exclaimed Jake, with a yell, “it’s the ghost!” The men jumped simultaneously into the road, and started for the miners’ quarters, screaming like maniacs. The ghost followed in swift pursuit until they were some distance past the mines; the men then being safely disposed of with no danger of their return, it turned slowly in the direction of the Lucky Chance mine.
Houston and his friends, having accomplished their task, stepped forth from the tunnel into the starlight, looking carefully and searchingly in every direction.
“There is no one to be seen at present,” said Houston in low tones, “they may be concealed about here, or we may meet them on the road to the house.”
“Very probably,” Jack replied, “we must now proceed with the utmost caution. Mr. Van Dorn and I will accompany you to the house, and he had better then go with me to the cabin, in case there should be spies watching for our return, and it will be safer for him to remain there until nearly daylight, as none of the men will be out at that time, and he can return to the house unobserved.”
They had gone but a short distance, however, when, passing around a curve in the road, they beheld a sight that filled them with astonishment.
“Shades of the departed!” exclaimed Houston, “what kind of an apparition is this?”
Jack studied the approaching figures for an instant, a smile of amusement lighting up his usually stern features, while Van Dorn hastily slipped on his glasses for a better view.
“That,” said Jack, “is evidently the famous phantom of Spotted Horse gulch, but who has originated the idea?”
“It must be Lyle,” said Houston, “she said the ghost would walk to-night.”