Set in the 1800s, I think. A woman is visited at her country home by a salesman (?). She tells him a spooky story about her menfolk heading out hunting and never coming back. Now and then you can hear them calling for their hunting dog. She finishes the tale, and the hunting party shows up calling for the dog. The salesman freaks out and runs off. Of course, it was all a gag.
It’s my favorite: The Open Window by Saki
Beat me to it. I love Saki. My favorite short story of all time is his Tobermory. I named a cat Tobermory, still miss him.
What really made this the most delightful ghost story for me, is that I read it in one of those Alfred Hitchcock collections of ghost stories, so readers would assume it was another scary tale of the afterlife.
As did I, so the ending was quite the surprise.
The story opens on a mischievous fifteen year old, who’s introduced to Mr. Framton Nuttel, a nervous name for a nervous gentleman … who’s visiting the country estate to soothe his “case of The Nerves”.
The young lady spins quite the tale, and no summation can have the depth and sparkling use of language that Saki (H. H. Munro) does.
You really need to read it, and it is indeed a short story: two pages.
Here, enjoy:
.
eta: I’ve since read most of Saki’s stories, and I do love Tobermory. Baker, I’m glad you named your cat that … and not Sredni Vashtar.
Great story. “Romance at short notice was her specialty.” That line f*cks up all kind of students.
Note that, at the time Saki was writing, “romance” also meany a fictitious story with sensational or fantasy elements. Saki is using it in that sense: she can make up that sort of story at the spur of the moment.
Yes, I had figured that out about 30 years ago. It always messes my students up though.
digs, I think that Sredni Vashtar was made into an Alfred Hitchcock story. Also The Schwartz-Metterklume Method. I have actually seen the latter.
If you read a bio of Munro then SV takes on a lot more meaning.
My favorite is The Storyteller.
After watching Trump, Cousin Teresa comes in a close second.
Nice tale, but what is this?
“Here we are, my dear,” said the bearer of the white mackintosh, coming in through the window;
“fairly muddy, but most of it’s dry. Who was that who bolted out as we came up?”"
Through the window? Is that a British custom or a type of door/window?
Frugal word use and maintained focus on the window.
The British call 'em French windows, but in French they are merely portes-fenêtres 
In an updated rewrite they would be sliding patio doors 
Ah, thanks guys.