Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914) was a short story writer, an editorialist, a satirist and a journalist. He is best known for his Devil's Dictionary. His sardonic view of human nature and his tough stance as a critic earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce". Despite his reputation Bierce always encouraged young writers. Bierce went to Mexico to get a first hand view of the revolution. He disappeared without a trace. Stories in this collection include Present at a hanging -- A cold greeting -- A wireless message -- An arrest -- A man with two lives -- Three and two are one -- A baffled ambuscade -- Two military executions -- The Isle of Pines -- A fruitless assignment -- A vine on a house -- At old man Eckert's -- The Spook House -- The other lodgers -- The thing at Nolan -- The difficulty of crossing a field -- An unfinished race -- Charles Ashmore's trail -- Science to the front.