Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-06-17

Wnen the sheriff turned into the pri-
vate thoroughfare he began to review
the directions that had been given him
at the postoffice: Follow the lane and
you'll find a barn at the other end.
BACK OF the barn there's another short
wagon track leading down into a hol-
low. In that hollow there is a house.
and In that house you'll find Juan Mel
son." 80
He repeated those instructions over
ana over again to the accompaniment
or the clatter of the horses hoofs
against the clods Of frozen earth and
the creaking of the buggy which
lunged in and out of the deep ruts and
wheel tracks. The snow had been sift-
ing down lightly at intervals through
out the morning, but along toward
noon the weather had moderated a lit
tie and the low-hanging clouds gave
promise of heavy storm, which had
fairly set in by the time the sheriff
reached the barn. There were high
bars impeding his progress at that end
OF the lane, and he grumbled fretfully
when he got out into the snow to let
them down. He led his horse through
the barn yard to where the cattle were
huddled close together in an open shed
and headed him into a second lane that
ran down to the hollow. 1t was only
short distance down the slope to the
single house that stood in the depres-
sion of land and the sheriff did not get
back into the buggy.
1t was little house that Juan Nelson
lived in, half frame and half log, The
weather boarding had fallen off in
some places and where the mortar had
crumbled away there were chinks be-
tween the logs through which fakes
of snow seemed to be insiduously drift
ing. When the sheriff first turned in
to the scarce-defined roadway there
was no person in sight around the lit
tie cottage, but before he was halfway
down the incline flock of bare-headed
children, accompanied by three dogs,
swarmed out from the back of the
house and stood watching him bashful-
ly. He spoke to the largest boy, who
had advanced farthest to meet him,
and that red-headed youngster took to
his heels and ran toward the rear of
the building whence he had Just an
peared.
There was no fence around the rude
dwelling and the sheriff, following the
boys lead, made his way into the back
yard. Soon after leaving the barn the
sound of an ak had been heard, and
when the officer came to halt in the
midst of the small regiment of chill
dren he saw that it was a. woman who
was splitting wood. She was tall and
gaunt and thinly clad. She ceased
chopping when her visitor alighted and
leaned against the handle of the ak,
which rested firmly on the log.
"Mrs. Nelson, presume" he said,
advancing toward her.
She pushed back her light, stringy
hair with one hand and looked at him
keenly.
Eyes, sir"
The sheriff's glance wandered off to-
ward the surrounding hill-tops, then
back to the woman again.
SIS Mr.. Nelson at homer" he asked.
Eyes, sir"
"May see him."
A suspicious look had crept into her
small, blue eyes and her voice took on
an extra degree of sharpness as she
answered, II don't know. He amt
feelin' very we'll. Juan's been real
sick for more'n week. He's pretty
low to-day. Can't you tell me what it
is you want?"
"No," he said, II must see him per-
sonally. 1t is very important"
She dropped the ak then and brush