Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08
THE HOUSE OF THE
BLACK RING.
BY FRED LEWIS PATTEE. (.
Copyright, 1905 by Henry Holt & Coz

already. Somestng strange"
H-s~s-s-S, Here comes AL" Dan Tress-
Ter warned the group in a penetrating
whisper Then he called out in unfeigned
welcome:
How d do. Al? Mighty glad to see
yeh, mighty glad" He shook hands with
the stranger and few of the others did
also.
The day was breaking clear and sbarn
The sun, peering through the bars over
the mountain, was transmitting the bronze
into incandescent gold. 1t lighted up the
far horizon in marvellous shades of red
and russell and it fell on the long ridges
that bounded the valley. showing in sharp
relief the snags and scrub-oaks on the
sky line.
The Farthing boys plunged at once into
the work with muscular vigor They were
ad-shouldered, brawny fellows both
OF them over twenty. with good nature in
their faces and a self-relance and mas
terry OF AFFAIRS, come as they might. clear
| ~ inherited from their father
smart Boys you We got there, Al. Good
| workers, amt they?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, sir-r-r." There was a
| hearty ring In his voice. They're willing
| to work and I'm willing they should" He
| rolled up his sleeves and took his place
| in the line. He was geodly man to look
at, square shouIdered and straight and
he went into the work as If he loved it.
The business moved on merrily.
At 10 o'clock Squire HartsWick with a
whirl and flourish. drove into the yard
ana lIe Climax or the day was at hand
The men looked UP nerVously. then fell to
work again with redoubled vigor. The
old man made 1t a point to oversee care
fully all butchering operations on his
farms, and he criticised shabby work
without mercy. The hogs were to be sold
TO him. He seemed to be a thickset old
man as he sat in the buggy, square and
forceful His face was smooth and fiorid
and under white. shaggy eyebrows gilt
tered heady eyes that were never stin IA
moment In the corner OF his mouth as
II IL We're a part of him. was gripped
| tightly the stub of an unlighted cigar.
lie was holding his horse with dI fficulty
Horses We're his one weakness. Counting
| In his work teams he had twenty-seven
and he had long held the county records
in nearly every class. In races he ALWAYS
drove his own horse, and IL was q sight
TO stir the blood to see him then. If any
thing had ever kindled within his hard
| old soul the passion of love it certainly
was his horses. 1t may be doubted II
even his only child Rose the one hope OF
| his old age. aroused within him the tide
of sentiment which was called forth by
his magnificent stud OF pure bloods.
The great bay stallion which he was
holding by main force was paving and
dancing. and snorting.
Can you get out. Rose? Whoa there
! Bill, Whoa Behave there, Say, one of
you fellows, come and help Rose out,
won't yeh? Don't stand there with your
mouths wide open. Whoa, tell yeh.'
Half dozen sprang forward eagerly.
rulslvely and vaulted from the buggy like
a boy, alighting with grace and spring as
Il she always got out that way. Then with
a ripple OF laughter at the discounted
SWANS and a girlish nlrt, she disappeared
into the house,
Too slow." burst out the old squire With
great, gurgling laugh You fellers'n
have TO wake up IL you want to help her
out. Ho, no, hol Say, Dan, have some
body take this boss and stand by him. He's
full of ginger this morning How're yeh
| getting alongT
Good. Here. Sam, you and Jakey take
the squirrels boss. Come out and see 'em.
squire: they're neat ones. tell yen" The
old man aiighted briskly and went with
Dan.
wal. wal. wal boys. you have done
well. That's good job. How're they
dressing up, Dan7 Good?"
Prime, squire. Never had better lot
/ of hogs up by the heels. never Jest you
| look 'em over, squire. wunst."
The old man examined them with critf-
cal eye, and found nothing to criticise
Ian expanded yolubly on the merits and
the history OF each in turn. and swallowed
greedily the patronizing words which the
great man deigned to let fall. The squire
was indeed q man of commanding pres
ence. man to inspire awe and even fear