Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-06-07

| He regarded the old adage. "A place
! for everything, and everything in its
place AS a precept second in impor-
| lance only to the ten commandments;
therefore,, awakening suddenly one
night haunted by the vague but UNI
easy consciousness of something left
undone. his mind was %roubled.
Staring into the darkness. he rack ed
his brain as to what he had forgot
ten. and mentally checked Oft the list
of the evening duties. brought iii the
wood" he thought. put out the dog,
certain OF that, cos l recoliect sittin'
the broom-locked the door: wound up
the With Il resigned sigh Ezra
futile slid gently out of bed. for the
first time during his married life ne
had forgotten 10 wind the kitchen
lock.
Cautiously the old man CROPPED for a
match, listening apprchcnsvely; but
his wife's regular breathing rose from
the bed undisturbed. With d sigh of
relief ne lighted the little glass lamp.
and. taking Il firm grip on the waist
band of his trousers. crcpt softly III the
direction of the chamber door, keep
ing the dim glinlmer of light carefully
shaded from the bed. Il wouldn't nave
Eliza wake up for the world he
thought. with a dry smile; 'if she knew
l forgot that clock I'd never hear the
..st of ILL.,"
With much care, lest the crcakins
Of The worn and carpetless boards
should betray him to his wife, Ezra
futile proceeded. and had arrived safe
ly ut the fourth step when a startling
uOise from behind cauSNd him to nearly
drop the lamp.
He heard distinctly the zap of Il stick
and the shuiliing. sliding step of me
onc-apparently old and intirm-delib-
erately feeling the way downstairs aft
ter him. Raising his light, he turned
and stared at the landing he had just
quilted. Ii was absolutely vacant.
What ii fool l be" he calculated un-
der his breath. Il might ha' known
there wasn't nothin' there"
n tritle ashamed. yet feeling decid-
eGiy shaky. he faced about to continue
brought a repetition of the ghostly
sounds the invisible stick struck the
Ht;lir sharply, followed by the same
curious. shutfling footstep.
lnvoluntarily a vision rose out of
the past of Il stout old lady. short
breathed. and bent with age and rheu-
matism. making her way laboriously
over the same stairs; ever the stick
whose uncanny tapping was rending
his nerves to shreds should have been
by rights resting quietly against the
wall or the spare room ~cupboard-he
remembered placing it there himself
the day its owner had taken to her bed
for the last time.
"A cold sweat broke out on the old
mans forehead II he leaned weakly
against he banister. It's Aunt Nab
by" he thought. striving vainly to
steady the shaking lamp. while un-
pleasant prickles chased themselves
up and down his spine, she always
vowed she'd come pack"
is that Won. Aunf Nahhy -. bo ,rh;,
pered hoarselv "cos il it is, JUS say
what tbs you want amt afraid. not
\ Bit
There vas no reply. Gathering cour-
age. the speaker went on: maybe
You're put out cos l sold that lower
clared you'd appear to me il 1 did. but
l don't think it's quite right to blame
inc for dom it-'twasn't nuthin' but "A
marsh anyhow. eating itself up in
axes you'd have sold it yourself in a
minute il you'd bee alive for half
for it,"
Cant you say nuthin':' he quav-
cred miserably. You used to b. ready
enough with your tongue when things
didn't suit you. Maybe it amt the
land after all" a sudden prophetic fear
chilling him TO the marrow; maybe
It's me! Have you come to warn me
Nabby?9"
From the floor Of the landing came
IN instantaneous explosive crack.
on Mr.. Tuttle's ear like a loud
n emphatic affirmative. oh.
mercy" he gasped with a jump. that's
II. I'm going to be took; father and
mother both died suddenly"
Anxiously he waited further confir-
nation. but 1t was not ~forthcoming:
even a tentative sideways step down.
ward tailed to produce an answering
stick-tap. Overwhelming conviction as
TO IN truth OF his suspicion came home
Win crushing force to Ezra's mind.
-, sne 8 some. he said aloud. shes Civ
ner Warnin' and gone back: twasn't the
meadow she came ABOUT; but 1 kind O.
wish after all l hadn't sold it amt
Ielt we'll the whole spring, but never
thought 1t would come to this"
a dismal groan burst from his ouiy-
erlhg lips. Needless of his unfinished
GRAND and the CT eaking stairs. he hast
lily retraced his steps.
i nope 1t amt goin' ~ be tonight"
re fnedfated as he climbed. Maybe I:u
drcp on the landing, same as father did
N IN bayfield,. there's no telling.
.here.s always been heart disease In
he family, and mine feels
queer now-sort o. fiutters like"
a strange moisture dimmed his owes.
It's a VI shock for Eliza to wake
up and find me laying here dead. 7
don't want to so without seeing her
AGAIN. e~ither-.sidcs. ! might smash the
ann and set the house afire."
Mr.. futile held his breath as 10
crossed the landing. but the dreaded
Dlow was mercifully withheld. and he
reached the bedside still In the fissh
Il nate to I've to tell her," he thomeht
ruefuliy.. looking down OH the face ns
MS sleeping wife. She'll take it miehtv
hard; we've been together a good man
years. Eliza and L." many
a lump swelled painfully In tho
Watchers throat. and setting down h
lamp h dropped his hand gently nv
the gray head buried i'm the nii,ov..
Wake up. Eliza" he said mournr,,,i,,
Mrs. futile opened her eyes and thsn
nat up. staring with increasing he
wiiderment at her husbands deiocted
figure. "S'ee'eo
What on earth are you talking a,,o.,.
Ezra TIttle:" cried his wife. rett;~1
c;,crgetically to her feet. II verify has
iieve you've gone crazy, wakiny me-
up Ii: the middle OF the night taIkine
abou warnins'! II you're mi why can!t
yo, say so an let me git Won Some
pep'n,int or something. stead of ST. nd
ing there like a craven image? Have
you had a chi!l?" nave
Briefly. but impressiyely. Mr.. ,rutt,o
related his experience. .
little. however. " the fact thai he