Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-09-22
THE BLACK DOG.

THE BLACK DOG.
There was a ceaseless rumble in the
air as the heavy rain drops battered
upon the laurel thickets and the matted
moss and haggard rocks beneath. Four
water soaked men made their difficult
ways through the drenched forest. The
little man stopped and shook an angry
finger at where night was stealthily fol-
lowing them. "Cursed be fate and her
children and her children's children!
We are everlastingly lost!" he cried.
The painting procession halted under
some dripping, dropping hemlocks and
swore in wrathful astonishment.
at will rain for forty days and forty
nights" said the pudgy man moaningly,
"and | feel like wet loaf of bread now.
We shall never find our way out of this
wilderness until I am made into por-
ridge"
In desperation they started again to
drag their listless bodies through the
watery 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
a small clearing upon which sat deso-
lation and venerable house, wept over
by wind waved pines.
"Ho," he cried, 'here's house,.
His companions struggled painfully
after him as 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 timhers answered with groans, and
within something fell to the floor with g
clang.
"Ho," said thelittle man. He stepped
back,a few PAGES.
Somebody in a distant part started
and walked across the floor toward tht
door with an ominous step. A slate col
ored man appeared. He was dressed il
q ragged shirt and trousers, the latter
stuffed into his boots. Large tears were
falling from his eyes.
"How d. do, my friend?" said the little
man affably.
"My oil uncle, Jim Crocker, he's sicl
ter death" replied the slate colored per
son.
"Hor' said the littleman. SIS that SOP
The latter's clothing clung desperately
to him and water sogged in his boots
He stood patiently ON one foot for
time.
"Can you put us up here until tomor
row? he asked finally.
"Yes," said the slate colored man.
The party passed into a little un
washed room, inhabited by a stove, ;
stairway, few precarious chairs and ;
misshapen table.
'Tll fry yer some polk ard make ye
some Coffee" said the slate colored mai
to his guests.
"Go ahead, old boy" cried the ittl
man cheerfully from where he sat Oh
the table smoking his pipe and dangling
his legs.
"Myt0l uncle, Jim Crocker, he's sicl
ter DEATH" said the slate colored man.
"Think he'll die!" asked the pudg,
man gently.
"NoI'
"Na?'
"He won't ,diel He's anol man, bu
he won't die yitl The black dorg hahn
been around yit!'
''The black dog?" said the little mai
feebly. He struggled with himself TO
moment.
"What's the black dog?" he asked a
last.
"He'sa sperrit," said the slate colore'
man in voice,of somber hue.
"Oh, he is? Well?"
"He ha'nts these parts, he does, IA
when people are goin to die he come
and sets and howls."
"Ho" said the little man. He loeke'
out of the window and saw night max
ing million shadows.
The little man moved his legs nery
ously.
II don't believe in these things" sal
he, addressing the slate colored man
who was scuf1ing with side of pork.
"Wot'things" came incoherently fron
| the combatant.
"Oh, these 'er' phantoms and ghost
and what not. All rot, say"
''That's because you have merely 4
stomach and no soul, grunted the pudg,
1 man.
"Ho, old Pudgkins!" replied the ittl
| man. His back curved with passion.
tempest of wrath was in the pudg
mans eye. The final epithet used b
the little man was a carefully studie
insult, always brought forth at crisis
They quarreled.
"All right, pudgkins; bring on you
phantom" cried the little man in con
| clusion.
His stout companions wrath was to
huge for words. The little man smile
triumphantly. He had staked his or
ponent's reputation.
The visitors sat silent. The slate col
ored man moved about in q small per
sonal atmosphere of gloom.
Suddenly d strange cry came to thei
ears from somewhere. 1t was a low