Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-10-01
THE WHITE.
DEATH
b. DON MARK LEMON
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Copyright, by Shortstory Pub. Co..

at home in Virginia But no, he must
come to South America and prospect
IN Tarantula valley. He proposed it
first to his Mexican guide, Loco. LOCO
grew white about the lips, despite his
tawny color, and shook his head
"Why not?" the American ques-
toned.
"The White Death, senior; it is
| there!"
wherein Tarantula valley?"
Eyes, senor"
What is the White Death?"
Lozo drew his lips firmly together
and again shook his head. Evidently
the White Death was something to be
silent about, as we'll as to fear.
Is it pestilence of some kind?"
the American questioned.
mo, senior"
rs it a shaker"
mo, senior"
ga wild beast?"
mo, senior"
rs it death from poisonous gases?"
mo, senor."
"1s it death by the hand of men
banditti, for instance?"
mo, senor"
Hunger? thirst?"
mo, senor."
Then what the devil is the White
Death?"
The American spoke angrily, but
Loco made no reply. He only drew
his lips tighter together and looked
more frightened. The fellow-half
savage that he was-feared he might
draw the anger of the White Death
upon himself should he describe it's
nature
"Queer!" the American muttered,
greatly perpleXed. Then he tried pol
ICY Come, I'll double your pay if
you'll act as guide"
NO. senor."
Treble it."
NO, senor."
Give you ten dollars day-Amer-
tcan gold"
mo, senior"
The American considered awhile.
Then he said: THAT decides me; I'll
prospect Tarantula valley and see if
can't stack a mortgage on this White
Death-anG III go it alone.'
The Mexican was a Catholic, He
crossed himself and looked unhappy.
There was no reason he shouldn't look
unhappy. He liked the American. in
MS rough way; besides the Ameri-
cams pay was good-and certain. And
now the American was going to meet
he White Death!
Having made up his mind to PROS
rect Tarantula valley at any cost, the
Virginian looked about for another
guide than Loco, but his labor vas
wasted. No one would accompany
aim on his proposed prospecting tour,
cor explain what was meant by the
White Death.
Was it something SO strange, Sc far
removed from common nature. chat
human speech could frame no destrip.
ton of it? Or did the superstitsDus
villagers fear that they might draw
the anger of the White Death-waat-
2ver it was-upon themselves should
hey go into particulars?
The next day the American set out
2'o2e for Tarantula valley, very curl
Gus and not at all nervous. He was
well proyisioned-one burro bore his
supply of food, another his blankets
and mining outfit-and we'll armed,
He didn't reason that there might be
something lurking in the valley be-
IRE him against which his Winches-
ter would be no protection-soma
Shape such as might haunt the infer
nal pool and make it more hideous
than even diseased poet could i'm
agine. No; he didn't reason at all.
Tarantula valley, in appearance, was
pleasant place, with wooded river
flowing through it and a wooded lake.
Or large pool, in its center. The Amer
lean thought what a paradise it would
be in which to dream away the rest
Of his life with One by his side who
was waiting for him in Virginia.
Yet, despite the sylvan charm of
the valley, the American grew lonely.
for there really wasn't much society
about. To be sure, there were the two
burros, an occasional snake, few
horned toads, and some buzzards: but.
apart from these, the dumb creatures
10 be seen We're not at all soc;able.
Not sociable, at least, like the buzz
yards. They, in one particular, were
almost as good as human society. ia
king, as they did, a very evident in
terest in the Americans state of
health ~ - -s.
One strange thing that impressed
the Virginian were the collections of
bones scattered over the valley, and
especially about the lake. On his first
day in the vale he had lighted on one
Of these collections of bones. He ex-
anined it. 1t looked like little open
air cosmopolitan graveyard. Within a
circle of about 20 feet in diameter were