Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-09-10


through q hole In the ceiling. The pai.5
below heard two voices In conversation,
ono belonging 10 the slate colorod man
and tho othcr Ia tho quivoring tones Of
age. Directly the slate colorcd man re-
appeared from above and said. "The ol
man Is took bad for his supper"
He hurriedly prepared "a mixture with
hot voter, salt and beef. Beef tea It
might be called. He disappeared again.
Once more the party below heard.
vaguely, talking over their heads. Tho
voice Of ago arose 10 shrick.
"Open the window, fool Do YOU
think I can live In the smell Of your
soupf
Mutterings by the slate colorcd man
and the crcaking Of window were
hoard.
The slate oolorod man stumbled down
J the stairs, ond said with intense gloon.
"Tho blacl, dorg'1l b. along suon."
Tho little man started and the pudgy
man sneered at him. They ate n supper
aud then sat waiting. The pudgy man
listened 30 palpably that the little man
wished to kill him. The wood fire ho-
came excited and spuiiered frantically.
WithoutA thousand spirits Of the winds
had become onianglod in the pine
branches aud were lowly pleading TO DO
looocned. The slate colorcd man tip
tood across tho room and lit q timid
candle. The men sat waiting.
The phantom dog lay euddled TO n
round bundle, asleep down tho roadway
against tho windwnrd side Of an old
shanty. The apecter's master had moved
TO Pike county, but the dog fingered Ms
friend might linger at the tomb Of a
friend. HiBfur was like suit OF old
clothes. His jowls hung and Topped,
exposing his teeth. Yellow famine was
IN his eyes. Eho wind rocked Ghanty
groanod aclf muttcred, but tho dog
slept. Suddenly, however, he got up
md shamblcd to tho roadway. He cast
o long glance from his hungry, despair.
ing eyes In the direction Of the voncrg-
bio house. Tho breeze came full to his
nos,rils. He threw bncl, his head and
gave long. low howl and started In
tently up the road. Maybe he smelled
dead man.
Tho group around the fire In the ven
cradle house were listening and waiting.
Tho atmosphere OF the room was tense.
Tho slate colorod mans face was twitch.
ing and his /. abbcd hands were gripped
together. Tho little man was contin-
ually looking behind his chair. Upon
the countonancc OF the pudgy man APP
pcarcd conceit for an approaching tri-
umph over the little man, mingled with
apprehension for his own safety. Five
pipes glowcd rs rivals Of the timid can.
die. Profound silence dropped heavily
over them. Finally the slate colored
man spoke;
MY oiunclc. Jim Croclser, he's sick
ter death"
The four mon started and then shrank
back in their chairs.
Damn itr' replied the little man
vaguely
Again there was long silence. Sud.
denly 1t was broken by wild cry from
the room above. It was shrek that
struck upon them with appalling swift
ness, like flash of lightning. The
walls whirlcd and the floor runbled. 1t
brought the men together with rush.
They huddlod In a heap and stared at
the white terror IN each others faces.
Tho slate colorcd man grasped the can.
die and ilared It above his head. "The
black dorg," he howlod, and plunged
at the stairwdy. Tho maddoned four
men followed frantically, for IL Is better
10 be in the presence Of the awful than
only within hearing.
Their ears still quivcring with tho
shrek, they bounded through the hole
in the ceiling and into the sickroom.
With quilts drawn closely TO his
ehrunkon breast for shield, his bony
hand gripping tho cover, an old man
lay, with glazing eyes fixed ON the open
window. His throat gurgled and a
froth appeared at his mouth.
From the outer darkness came q
strange, unnatural wuil, burdened with
weight OF death, aud each note filled
with foreboding, 1t was tho song OF
the spectral dog.
"Godr screamed the little man. IL,
ran TO the open window. He could sec
nothing ut frat save the pine trees, On
gagged in a furious combat tossing bach
and forth and struggling. The moor
was peeping cautiously over the rims Of
some black clouds. But the chant d
tho phantom guided tho little mani
eyes, aud he at length perceived it
shadowy form on the ground under tn
window. He fell away gasping ut tn
sight. The pudgy man crouched In I
corner, chattering insanely. The slat'
colored man, in his fear, crooked hi
legs and looked like n hideous Chimes,
idol. Tho man upon the bed was turne,
to stone, save the froth, which pulsated
In the final struggle terror will Hgh
the inevitable. The little man roare,
! maniacal curses, and rushing again 4
: the window began 10 throw various ar
ticles at the specter.
A mug, q plate, n knife, n fork al
crashed or changed on the ground, bu
the song Of the speoter continued. tn
bowl of beef tea followed. As 1t strucl
the ground the phantom ceased its cry.
4 Tho men in the chamber sank limpl
s against the walls, with tho unearthl
wall still ringing in their ears and tn
/ fear unfaded from their eyes. The
: waited again.
Tho little man felt his nerves vibrate
I. Destruction was better than anothe
wait. He grasped candle and, goinl
] to tho window. held 1t over his head an
!, looked out.
"Ilo!' he said.
n His companions crawled 10 the win