Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-11-03
THE BLACK DOG.

HE DLAOA DOU.
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 be-
meath. 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 following
them. ''Cursed be fate and her chill
dren and her children's childrenl We
are everlastingly lostp' he cried. The
painting procession halted under some
dripping, dropping hemlocks and
swore in wrathful establishment.
sit Will rain for forty days and
forty nights" said the pudgy man,
moaningly, ''and 1 feel like a wet
loaf of bread now. We shall never
find our way out of this wilderness
until am made into a porridge."
In desperation they started again
to drag their listless bodies through
the watery bushes. After a time the
clouds withdrew from above them and
great winds came from concealment
and went sweeping ana 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 desOlatiOn and a venerable house,
wept over by windwayed pines.
''Ho," he cried, 'here's a house :"
His companions struggled painfully
after him as he fought the thickets
between him and the cabin. At their
approach the wind frenz1edly opposed
them and skirled madly in the trees.
The little man boldly confronted the
weird chances 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 a clang.
"HO," said the little man He
stepped back a few PAGES
Somebody in a distant part started
and walked across the floor toward
the door with an ominous step. a
Slate-colOred man appeared. He was
dressed in ragged shirt and trousers,
the latter stuffed into his boots.
Large tears were falling from his eyes.
'tHOw-d'-do, my friend?" said the
little man, affably.
'.My OF uncle, Jim Crocker, he's
sick ter death, l. replied the slate-col-
Ored person.
''Ho," said the little man. sis that
SOP"
The latter's clothing chung desper-
ta1t 70 ,, II
boots. He stood patiently on one
foot for a time
''Can you put us I'D here until to-
morrow" he asked, finally.
ayes" said the slate-coloTed man.
The party passed into a little I'M
washed room, inhabited by stove, a
stairway, a few precarious chairs and
a misshapen table.
al fry yer some polk and make yer
some coffee" said the slate-colored
man to his guests
$50 ahead, old boy" cried the lit
tie man cheerfullY from where he sat
on the table, smoking his pipe and
dangling his legs
i:My OF uncle, Jim Croker. he's
sick ter death" said the sIate-colored
man.
Think he'll die?" asked the pudgy
man, gently.
''Nol
''No?"
she won't diel He's an ol' man,
but he won't die yit! The black dorg
hain't been around ylt!'
''The black dOg?" said the little
man, feebly. He struggled with him
self for a moment.
'tWhat's the black dog?' he asked
at last
Hes a sperrit," said the slate
colored man in voice of somber hue.
'Oh, he is? Well?"
she hantS these parts, he does, an
when people are goin' to die he comes
and sets and howls."
'tHO," said the little man. He
looked out of the window and saw
night making a million shadows.
The little man moved his legs ner-
Tcusly.
81 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 che combatant.
'Oh, ese-er-phantOms and
ghosts and what not. All rot, say. -
'sThat's because you have merely
stomach and no SOUL" granted the
pudgy man.