Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-20
THE HOUSE OF THE
BL ACK RING.
BY FRED LEWIS PATTEE.
tcopyrssht. 1905. by Henry Holt q oo)


out and so frightful But his panic was
only for instant
Some OF them Farthins are In there try
ing to scare u.s." he shouted. Here. I'm
coming In. You can't scare me. You've
got the wrong man, II tell yeh that, Here,
open up! A sudden fury seemed to have
seized him Open up. Open therep he
sSheo. linen ne ran against the door full
TIT, but It did not yield.
A Eyid stream of curses in what seemed
TO De an old mans cracked voice followed.
Amos took back step, and hesitated Then
fecotiection OF the group in the store came
upon him, and he faced the cabin again.
Come on. Dan. It's only the Farthins
trying to scare us. Stand by me, DAN" he
shouted Get a stone I'm goin' to stave
in the old door, Dan took one step and
stopped short: but for Amos he would have
turned and fed for his life.
For another scream came from the in
terror. scream that must have come from
Wonans throat. and yet no living wo-
binding, fffering through the crannies like
red IRE For the space of a minute 1t
bathed the scene in lurid hell-red Even
Amos felt his hair creeping, but his blood
was up and he would not have turned back
now even If the devil himself had con-
fronted him
The bright light showed him a jagged
piece or limestone at his feet within the
deadiine. He seized 1t and began to bat
ter the door 1t held out strongly: he
threw all Of his strength into the work
Then the cabin became utterly dark:
was deathly still now: but he bat
tered on The bar began to give way:
a couple of blows more and the door swung
wide open.
But Amos did not enter
He held up his lantern and peered within
with quiVer1ng interest. Nothing was in
sight; nothing moved; but there was a
thick smudge of smoke and a ghastly
stencil, stencil of sulphur. He stood still and
the gurgle of Roaring Run, like the rattle
in the throat of dying man.
Come on. Dan" he ordered excitedly.
1t was too late to back out now 'Prn GO
ing right in there heil-bent darned II /
ain t Come on. Don't go back on me.
oio man Dan was no longer master of
himself. He moved as in a stupor; the
strong VIII of the other man dominated
him He hesitated, then took a faltering
step toward the door. Amos was out OF
Hey, Amos. Where be yeh?" he ouav
cred He caught a choking breath of the
sulphur reek and hts knees well-nigh gave
way beneath him.
~ Here emit This r way, quick" he heard
he rushed in. He found Amos. the stone
stin In his hand. looking about him warily
The cabin. as they saw it by the light of
the lantern, was furnished apparently as
the last occupant had left 1t years ago
There were two rooms, and in the larger
were a bedraggled sofa, several kitchen
chairs. cupboard and a few smaller pieces
of furniture. In the kitchen was a stove
which gave evidences OF having been lately
used. There were cooking utensils scat
tered about Both rooms were utterly de-
serted.
Here, they're upstairs" Amos yelled
Here. you, come DOWN." After q moment
he sprang up the rickety stairway, but the
rooms were empty.
Then they're in the cellar! The door
was standing ajar
Come ONT he shouted They're not
goin to fool me. / amt goin' to back out
| n chO, ,tf.I
down the stairway. Come up and show
yourselves. or We'll go down! There's
whole gang of us up here, SO you don't
=, FAll right: here goes!" Amos had his
blood up
It's an aw-w-w-wful hole down there"
Come alongI" he shouted as if in anger
and Dan automatically followed the Ian
tern: better down in the cellar with the
light than above without it.
There was no one in the cellar
They stood in speeches. amazement, a
shudder OF superstitious horror beginning
TO creep over even Amos
They're hid" he cried, though the idea
was not very plausible. They began a sys-
tematic search. They even prodded the
limestone walls for a hidden exit
There was no one in the cellar
They went at length up the stairs again.
and searched with minute care through the
two rooms and the chambers above There
deserted. There could be no doubt of It,
Amos stood moment in blank amazement;
then sudden thought struck him.
Here, / have 1t. They skinned out the
back way while we was upstairs-thats
jest what they done. Hold on minute;
let me look for tracks," With Dan at his
heels, he circled the cabin again
No one had left the house. The creatures
whoever they might be, were still in the
cabin.
''Wal-Ill-be dum-buzzledw
~
vulsive whisper. Les get out O. here. on,
lord! jest look at thatl'' He pointed with
shaking hand at the livid ring around the
cabin. which seemed TO glow and waver
with a sort of phosphorescent light.
For Gods sake, les run, Amos, while
we CAM He was on the verge of nervous
collapse, looking around him fearfully as If
something were close behind him and peer
Ing over his shoulder.
Not till I've fired this hell-hole!" There
was a ring In the mans voice that held
Dan involuntarily. Hold the larntern here
till 1 get some kindling wood" Amos
broke up chair and ripped open the tick
Of the old lounge. Then he arranged the
straw with the wood above it.
Wish l had can OF coal oil But
guess this'll 60" He struck match. but
the straw was damp. He tried another
and 1t failed.
Hold on: I've gut paper here in my
pocket" He drew out newspaper which
he had received in the evenings mall,
arranged 1t under the straw.
Say. I'm going to Stop a little of the
oil out o. this lantern. He unserewed the
little filler. and carefully saturated the pa
per and the straw without extinguishing
the light. Then he scratched another
match.
''Whatre you doing here?" growled a
voice at the door,
Both jumped as if the last trump had
sounded in their ears. Dan Tressier let out
yell that Wed even with those of q few
moments earlier. They turned and saw
Allen Fsrthing.
What's going here?" he demanded.
What are you doing?"
Jest what I'm goin' to do" Amos had
dropped his match, but he felt deliberately
In his pocket for another.
"Oh, that's you, is it. Amos and Danf
You the ones that's been making all this
yelling?"
No spoke up Dan. This house Is
ha'nted. It was the ghosts yellin''
'.Oh. pshaw! You don't take any stock
in such nonsense as that, do you. AmosY''
Stock or no stock, I'm goin' TO fire this
old hell-kitchen. That's jest what / m
goin' to do" He was sheitering the match
flame with his hands.
Here! Hold on. This Is my property.
Don't you fire that straw, Amos
Reckon / she'll.
"Aii right; go ahead: but it's serious
matter to burn mans buildings against
his consent. Do as you please. gentlemen.
$50. H. Il