Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-01-23

Keen, and very strong, to be alive fully
al 4 o'clock on the morning Of a chilly
spring day: when there is a damp mist
rising TO hide the o apology for a
sun which is 10 come later. With his
ardor very considerably cooled, Mr.
Hubbard was about to return TO be1 in
disgust when something happened that
brought all his faculties into keen
working order I'm a mCment.
That something was a light. which
danced about along the base of the gar
den wall. and touched, here and there,
the trees and bushes as IL passed. 1t
was a very faint light, and one which
evidently came from a distance; but
Il came from a source within the radius
of the garden. Mr.. Hubbard drew his
Goa about him and advanced, cautious
ly out into that desert of weeds and
dead leaves, through which he had
plowed his way when first he had been
brought into the house.
The light came from III right-from
the direction of the house that was re-
garded as haunted. Almost holding his
breath, Mr.. Hubbard crept out into the
garden, ana. in the shadow OF the
trees, made his way towards the spot
from which it came. 1t was evident
that he was at last TO be rewarded for
all his watching and his patience: even
while his teeth chartered with cold and
with he chuckled softly to
himself with s~atisaction as he glided
along in the shadow.
He got to a clump OF trees quite near
to where a lirse group OF 0 people
stood: down on the ground, in the
midst of them. were two lanterns.
Bending forward eagerly, Mr.. Hub
bard saw that one of the group-a tall
man-was working away busily in the
earth. digging as though his life de-
pended on 1t. Then, in a moment or
two, the digging ceased: and this same
man and another lifted something be-
tween them and laid it carefully in the
earth-something that bore the unmis-
taxable likeness of a body. MIR. Hub
bard crept nearer still; saw thet tall man
stand at the head OF the grave he had
dug and speak some words softly. while
the others stood grouped about him,
then saw the earth sLoveled In and
beaten down and the awful work hid
den, so far as was possible.
He was too much Fascinated by what
was going on 10 be aware of the danger
ne stood in OF being discovered; II was
only when b lights upon the ground
were suddenly extinguished and two or
the figures began TO move towards him
that he realized that he had been seen
and that he stood in peril. Then, see
Ing that one Of the men had begun TO
make a circuit stealthiIy. as though TO
cut or any retreat he might have de-
ciGed on, Mr.. Hubbard took TO his heels
and ran.
1t was AT this point that he discov-
cred. after running aimlessly for some
Fifty yards. that the tall man was gain
ing on him rapidly: he gave a shrek
of despair and faced about, not with
any special bravery, but rather In des-
peration.
The tan man closed with him at
once. and showed himself, rel In that
first grip, to be a mar OF strength m
determination. Mr.. Hubbard, forced to
defend himself, struck sui as manfulIy
as he could, end at the same time
raised q feeble shout Of Murder"
Tie tall man seized him then in good
earnest, and got such a grip of his coll
lar as effectually silepced hinf. Then.
while they rocked and swayed about to-
gether, a door was pulled open sudden
ly and a man ran out of the house
straight towards them. AS he came
close TO them In the darkness. the tail
man flung Mr.. Hubbard, with all his
strength, against The newcomer. so that
he reeled and staggered against him,
| and then turned himself and ran in the
direction FROM which he had first come
When Mr.. Hubbard recovered he
found himself clutching a man wildly
in the dark and calculating '.murderl"
at Intervals. The man grappled with
him. and seemed TO BIZ striving to get
a hand over his mouth to stop that aw-
full word.
II saw it'll saw tive got you-you
can't get away!" gasped Hubbard.
| family. "Oh, good heavens-dead bod
ies-buried under bushes!-but Nv got
you! Oh, good heavensi-murder!"
Hold you tongue. you idiot" ex-
claimed the voice OF Leathwood.
What the dickens is your game here2
Who were you fighting with, and what
was that row u here?"
II tell YOU saw It." gasped Hub
bard. agas.. ing desperately TO
Leathwood. 4 lie here 10 find out
about 1t: and I've found 1t he first
time! Dead Sodies--hidden al night
Without another word Leathwood
caught hold OF him savagely and be-
gan TO drag him towards the house.
"I'a silence you o madman." he
whispered. hoarsely 'I1l give you
talk OF dead bodies! Come in here and
cease this raying. Come In here. ]
say!"
The weedy Mr.. Hubbard was no
match for the stronger. better-trained
/ L~eathwood. More than that, he wa
too much demoralized by actual terror,
and by the strange experiences of the
night. to know fully what was happen
Ing or in what peril he stood. Feebly
protesting, he allowed himself TO be
dragged along towards the house.
through the open door end UP the
stairs. Nor did Nugent Leathwood re-
lease his hold until he had him safely
In the room wherein James Holden had
met his Death and he had planted his
own back against the door.
so you'll pirate Of dead men-will
ycug" he painted. looking at the abject
4 Mr. Huhbard and wQ crVfug hfg head af