The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-01-31

tain. though not, as you will see, OF his
AFFAIRS. 1t was a bitter. cold winter
with long, hard frosts n heavy
that my poor father vas little likely
to see the. spring. He sunk daily and
my mother and I had all the inn upon
our hands, and were kept pussy
enough without paying much regard 70
our unpleasant guest.
1t was one January morning. very
early-a pinching, frosty
cove all gray with hoar-frost. the rip-
pie tapping softly on the stones, the
sun still lew. and only touching the
hilltops and shining far to eaWard
The captain had risen earlier. than
usual, and set out down the beach, ms
cutlass swinging under the proad
skirts of the old blue coat, his brass
telescope under his arm, his hat tilted
back upon his head. / remember MS
breath hanging like smoke In his wake
as he strobe off, N he last sound I
i heard Of him, as he turned the plg
rock, was a loud snort of Indignation,
as though his mine was still running
upon DR.. Lfyesey. Q
Well, mother was up stairs with Ia
Their; and I was laying the reakfas
table against the captains return.
when the parlor door peneo anu
man stepped in on whom 1 never
set my eyes before. He was a pale, tai
lowy creature, wanting two fingers on
the left hand; and, though he wore q
cutlass, he did not look much like a
fighter. I had always my eyes open
for seafaring men, with one leg OF tWo'
and 1 remember this one puzzled me.
He was not sailorly, and yet he had q
smack of the sea about him, too.
asked him what was for his SER
vice, and he said he would take rum;
but as I was going out of the room 70
fetch it he sat down upon a table anu
motfoned to me to draw near. ! paused
where l was with my napkin IN my
hand
Come here, sonny says he: Come
nearer here"
I took, a step nearer.
SIS this here table for my maze
Bill?" he asked, With a l OF leer.
I told him I did not know his mate
Bill: and this was for a person who
stayed In our house, whom we called
the captain.
"well,' said he, my mate Bill would
be called the captain, as Tx as not.
He has q cut on one cheek, ana d.
mighty pleasant way with him par
ticularly in drink, has my mate Bill.
Well put it for an argument like, that
your captain has a cut on m cheek-
and we'll put 1t. If you like, that that,
cheeks the right one. All. well! ! told
you. Now, is my mate BIZ In this mere
house?"
+ I told him he was out walking.
(Which way, sonny? Which way fs
he gomez
And when I had pointed out the rock
and told himthow the captain was like
ly to return, and how soon, and an.
swered a few other questions "Ah,"
said he, "this'll be as good as drink to
my mate Bill :,
The expression of his, face as he, said
these words was not at all pleasant,
aj - p -, ~rrrtn ysan oN0 q ~ r n MI -
ing that the stranger was mistaken
even supposing he meant what he said.
But 1t was no affair Of mine, l Thought;
and, besides, 1t was difficult to know
what to do. The stranger kept hang-
l ing about just inside the inner door.
. peer.ng around the corner like a cat
\ waiting for a mouse. Once I stepped
t out myself into the road, but he Inn
mediately called me back, and, as did
: not obey quick enough for his fancy, 9
S most horrible change came over his
8 tallowy face, and he ordered me IN
: with an oath hat made me Jump.
v AS soon as 1 was back again he re.
turned to his former manner, hall
faWning, half sneering, patted me or
s the shoulder, old me I was a good boy
e and he had taken quite a fancy to me
s II have a son Of my own" said he, "a:
pride of my art. But the great Trims
for boys is discipline, sonny-discipline
10 Now. If you had sailed along Of Bill
you wouldn't have stood there TO o.
spoke to twice-rot you. That was neve
d Bilrs way. nor the way OF such a
sailed with him. And here, sur
eonugh, is my mate Bill, with a spy
n glass under his arm, bless his old art
= to be sure. You and nell just go bacl
lie into the parlor, sonny, Il get behin'
r the door and we'll give Bill a httl
v, surprise-bless his art, 1 say again
v. Us ,ot,i,r tho ctr noar ha cRo6 1lOn
ot with me into the parlor, and put m
Re behind him in the corner, so that W
~ were both hidden by the open door.
III was very meas and alarmed, as 20
re may fancy, and 1t rather added to m
ne fears to observe that the stranger wa
is Certainly frightened himself. He cleare
ls the hilt Of his cutlass and loosened tn
blade in the sheath; and all the tim
ne we were kept waiting there he keI
,r. swallowing as If he felt what we use
X to call a lump in the throat.
X At last in strobe the captain, slamme
or the door behind him, without lookin
or to the right or left, and marche
traight across the room to where h
IN breakfast awaited him.
re BILL" said the stranger, In a volt
that 1 thought he had tried to NAL
vs. bold and big.
ad The captain spur round on his he
lis and fronted US; all the brown had gol
out of his face, and eve his nose w;
lat blue; he a the look Of a man wi
Id sees q ghost or the evil one, or som
IN thing worse. il anything can be; an
upon my word, / felt sorry to see hi
He all in a moment, turn so old and sic
"a Come, Bill, you know me; you knC
It an old shipmate, Bill, surely" said t.
at stranger.
The captain made a sort of gasp.
ed. "Black Dog!" said he.
his land who else? returned the otn'
ce; getting more at ms ease. biack y
ON as ever was. come LOT 70 see ms {