Mysterious noises had been heard about the place at the dead hour of
night, and ghostly lights had flitted past the cellar windows. All
Tinkletown agreed that the place was haunted and kept at a most
respectful distance. The three small boys who startled Marshal Crow from
his moping had gone down the river to skate instead of going to school.
They swore that the sound of muffled voices came from the interior of
the cabin, near which they had inadvertently wandered. Although Dave
Wolfe had been dead thirty years, one of the youngest of the lads was
positive that he recognised the voice of the desperado. And at once the
trio fled the 'cursed spot and brought the horrifying news to Anderson
Crow. The detective was immediately called upon to solve the ghostly
mystery.
Marshal Crow first went to his home and donned his blue coat,
transferring the stars and badges to the greasy lapel of the garment. He
also secured his dark lantern and the official cane of the village, but
why he should carry a cane on a bicycle expedition was known only to
himself. Followed by a horde of small boys and a few representative
citizens of Tinkletown on antiquated wheels, Mr. Crow pedalled
majestically off to the south. Skirting the swamp, the party approached
the haunted house over the narrow path which ran along the river bank.
Once in sight of the dilapidated cabin, which seemed to slink farther
and farther back into the dense shadows of the late afternoon, with all
the diffidence of the supernatural, the marshal called a halt and
announced his plans.
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