Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-09-11

wil6 A&f .onelv mOoriand. "l4et me scc,"
he rsurmured. pulling out of the breast
pocket of his coat IL scratch map. roughly
l'enciled. such as hunting men often carry.
"Ycs. this must he the way and presently
some shepherd. will be ut hand to Direct
me-"
The friend with whom, as the veracious
baronet had informed his titled sister, he
had an appointment, certainly did live in
n dreary and inaccessible part of the coun-
try. and it was not for Il considerable time
that Sir Richard could congratulate HIM
self on drawing near to his destination.
Robinson CrusOe's house, YOU mean,
measter? Yes. yes-red-headed jet hunt
er chap-we calls him Robinsos!' bawled
a lad from behind IL loose stone wall, as
he leaned upon his spade.
"YOu call him Robinson, my hoy. be-
cnuse he lives all alone!' suggested the
baronct, refining in his horse.
''Yes; and a main queer customer he
is. from foreign parts" replied the hoy.
"Anyhow, yon he lives, down in the hOl
low there. YOu're sure to hear the bark
ing of his dogs once they nose ye!'
For moment the baronct fingered. The
stony hill sides looked singularly barren
and grim; tn. hollow between prx,,ipitous
banks. toward which the lad had pointed
full resort. Nor was what he knew and
what he heard respecting the rcclusc for
whom he was inQuiring of remarkably
lcassuring nature. But the boy, uninqui-
sitivc as becomes rustic, had returned
to his digging among the potato beds, and
was whistling shrilly us he delved. so that
Sir Richard was ashamed to question him
further. He therefore rode OH. The
bridle track which led down into the
darkling hollow was steep one, while
here and there bank of yellow lowered
broom. or some great stone that had slip
ped down from the hill side, seemed to
bar the path. Above, the hawks wheeled,
soaring, and now and again there was a
rustling amid the tall bracken fern, rs il
n startled hare had brushed by, but of
human habitation there was for some
time no sign. A wilder or more desolate
spot than that secluded hollow could not
readily be found, and Sir Richard, as he
carefully descended the steep and rugged
path, began to doubt whether his latest
informant had not willfully deceived him,
when at last the deep, hoarse barking of q
dog reached his ears. Almost instantly
the warning note was taken up by an.
other canine voice, and yet another, al
though Cerberus, with his triple head
and savage bay, were aroused to guard
the shadowy frontiers of Pluto's sable
realm. Guided partly by the fierce bark
ing of the dogs, Sir Richard pressed on,
and came in sight of Il mean hovel, COM
pared with which the wigwam of Paw.
nee or the krlal Of a Zulu are types of
symmetrical architecture.
Chained to the walls of the hut and
sheltered either by fragment of shat.
tered woodwork or by some mat or NOR
sci of frowsy tarpauiin propped by rick
ETY. pole, were no less than four lean
fierce dogs, all barking furiously in cho
rus. and striving to get free, rs if to tear
the intruder ON their domain. A wreath
or two of blue wood smoke rising above
the low chimney seemed to give token
that the proprietor of this delectable villa
residence was to be found at home. For
while Sir Richard hesitated, but then
rallying his courage, he rode nearer to
the hut, and, dismounting, passed his
horses bride over the blackened stump
of sturdy old willow tree that stood
hard by. AS he approached the door, the
two dogs that were tethered nearest
sprang savagely toward him, straining
their chains and half choking themselves
i'll the effort to reach him with their gls-
tening fangs. With the butt-end Of his
riding whip he knocked at the door.
To I,o