The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-10-01
THE BLACK DOG.

mrrr, nr c,rr D0o
IHE BIACk UOG,
-
rh.-. ,u.s oo..,,o.. .,,,,,,,. =. a..
~ .i '''o
Az ~ tne heaVy ram urops battered
upon the laurel thlckets and the matted
moss and haggard rocks beneath. -Four
water soaked men made their difficult
ways through the drenched forest. Tho
little man stopped and shook an angry
Fneer AZ ,vbera nigbt ,vas staaltbil,, foi.
1o,-,r., thsu "C,,rsod Ia sota an1 ho.
-e -srst 49, s ~ I1,, ~ - ia'e ,nl, ''i1 noi
- eu anu nei o,'ii'ien oiiiiuien'
We are eFeriasViigly lostI ne crled'
The painting procession halted under
aome dripping, dropping hemlocks and
BWore In wrathful astOnishment.
1T will rain for forty days and forty
niqhts.D - said the pudqy man mosninplv.
,ssnd I Sael lil,a n ,,,at ioef Of hrood ,,ov,
W. .h.,i go, s,,d orr 49, a,t 20 t,',a
~ .----.- -. - '. Wy Uu. " 'iio
Nsaue.ns'9 uii'i "ni n'iiue into por-
r1ose.
In desperation they started again to
drag their listless bodies through the
wptery bushes. After time, the clouds
withdrew from above them and great
winds came from concealment and went
sweeping and swirling among the trees,
Night also came very near and menaced
the wanderers with darkness. The little
man had determination in his legs. He
scrambled among the thickets and made
desperate attempts to find a path or
road. As he climbed hillock he espied
q small clearing upon which sat DESC
lstion and venerable house, wept over
by wind waved pines.
"Ho," he cried, "heres a house."
His companions struggled painfully
after him IS he fought the thickets be-
tween him and the cabin. AT their ap-
proach the wind frenziedly opposed
them and skirled madly In the trees.
The little man boldly confronted the
weird glances from the crannies of the
cabin and raped on the door. A score
Of timbers answered with groans, and
within something fell to the floor with
elang.
"Ho," said the little man. He stepped
back few PAGES.
Somebody in a distant part started
and walked across the floor toward the
door with an ominous step. A slate col
ored man appeared. He was dressed in
. ragged shirt and trousers, the latter
stuffed into his boots. Large tears were
falling from his eyes.
Glow d. do, my friend?" said the little
man affably.
my ol uncle, Jim Crocker, he's sick
ter death" replied the slate colored per-
son.
"Hol" said the little man. "Isthat so5"
The latter's clothing clung desperately
to him and water sogged in his boots.
BE stood patiently on one foot for
time.
"Can you put us up here until tomor-
rowY' he asked finally.
fes," said the slate colored man.
The party passed into a little un-
washed room, inhabited by stove, a
stairway, few precarious chairs and
misshapen table.
"Pll fry yer some po'k and make yer
some coffee" said the slate colored man
to his guests.
"Go ahead, old boy" cried the little
man cheerfully from where he sat ON
the table smoking his pipe and dangling
his legs.
"My ol uncle, Jim Crocker, he's sick
ter death" /" said the slate colored man.
"Think he'll diey" asked the pudgy
man gently.
"Nop
"NoY
"He won't diel He's an oil man, but
he won't die yitl The black dorg hain't
been around yitl"
''The black dogY" said the little man
feebly. He struggled with himself for
Q moment.
'What's the black dog?" he asked at
last.
"He's a sperrit," said the slate colored
man in voice Of somber hue.
.Oh, he is? Well?"
: "Hs ha'nts these parts, he does. an
when people are goin to die he comes
and sets and howls."
"HoI" said the little man. He looked
out Of the window and saw night max
ing Q million shadows.
The little man moved his legs nerv-
ously.
'I don't believe in these things" said
he, addressing the slate colored man,
who was scuffiing with a side of pork.
"Wot things?' came incoherently from
the combatant.
"oh, these 'er phantoms and ghosts
ana what not All rot, say
Ihats because you have merely
stomach and no soul grunted the pudgy
man.
"Ho, old pudgkins" replied the little
man. his BACK curved with passion. A
tempest OF wrath was in the pudgy
mans eye The hnal epithet used by
the little man was carefully studied
insult always Drought forth at crisis.
1hey quaTreled'
Al aght, pudgkinsi bring on your
phantom" ," cried the little man in con-
elnsion.
bis stout companions wrath was too
huge Tor words The little man smiled
e1umpnantly' de had staked his OPP
ponsnts reputation.
The visitors sat silent. The slate col
ored man moved about in a email per-
sonal atmosphere OF gloom.
suddenly a strange cry came TO their
ears from somewhere. II was low,
trembling call which made the little
man quake privately in his shoes. The
slete eolored man bounded at the stair
way and disappeared with fash Of legs
through a hole in the ceiling. The marty
hSlow heard two voices in Conversation.
one belonging TO the slate colored man
and the other in the ouiyering tones M
age. Directly the slate colored man re-
appeared from above and said. ,.The Of
man 4 took bad for his sumner"