“He’d get out of there as fast as possible,” said Silas.
‘Never go back,” Joe added.
“Instead of watching the trail,” harry said, “perhaps I should talk to Mr. Martin.”
“I can arrange,” Joe said.
“Great, but make it soon.” Harry looked at Joe. “Do you still have your phone?”
Joe laughed. “Only modern gadget.”
Harry went to pay the bill and they left. He dropped both men at their respective homes and headed back to the office.
Bertie looked up, eyebrows raised in question as he entered, and Harry grinned. “Silas will be in touch with you about Samuel White, but Joe didn’t know anything.”
“Great! A personal story is always nice. I’m surprised Joe didn’t know anything. I thought he knew everyone and everything about this place.”
“So was I, but there might have been enough of an age difference that they didn’t mingle in the same group.”
********************
Several days later, Harry set out for Joe’s place, to meet Gary Martin. They were sitting on a bench, gazing out over the harbour, when he arrived. He parked the truck and joined them. “Good morning, gentlemen.”
“Hogan!” Joe said. “Gary wants to talk… told him to trust you.”
Harry nodded and sat down. “Tell me what’s on your mind if you think I can help.”
“You can… ” Joe said.
Martin took a deep breath. “I doubt that you… or anyone… will believe me.”
“I’ve heard some strange stories,” Harry said. “When I saw you a few days ago, you had been in on the trail.”
Martin nodded but said nothing.
“Would you care to tell me what you were doing in there?”
“Looking for cranberry patches. My wife makes her own cranberry sauce”
Harry frowned. “So, what was the purpose of the fishing basket?”
Martin grinned. “To collect pine cones along the way. She uses them for crafts, and Otter Hill is a good place for them. I also had a nylon backpack in my pocket.” He shook his head. “I hoped to get enough to last her a while… that didn’t work.”
“Tell him,” Joe said.” Don’t beat around…”
Martin sighed, looking down at his feet. “Well, I was picking up pine cones… not watching where I was going, and… I heard a sound… like something moaning.”
“Could you tell where it was coming from?” Harry asked.
When I straightened up, I realized I was close to the entrance of Paddy’s Cave. I started shaking but… I went closer and called out several times, asking who was there, but…” his voice had dropped almost to a whisper, “… but there was no answer. I knew there wouldn’t be.”
“Did you see anything?”
Gary’s face went pale and he shook his head. “I… I was right in front of Paddy’s Cave and all I could think of was getting out of there before… as fast as I could.”
“Why?” Harry asked.
“Haunted… some say,” Joe added. “Paddy wants revenge.”
Harry groaned. “Haunted? Haven’t you learned the difference yet, Joe?”
Joe shrugged. “Maybe… can’t always explain things.”
“What do you think?” Harry looked at Martin.
“Paddy’s ghost haunts the place. I’ve heard that all my life. The last thing I heard that day was moaning and… and Paddy dragging chains across the floor of the cave.”
“I take it you didn’t go into the mine.”
