Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-02-27
CHAPTER I.-continued.
By F. L. Pattee

Dan Tressler had had typhoid, gon'
down and worked all day on his grain
| And there were other good turns o
which the valley could tell.
But the silence of the man and the
strength of his personality famed more
and more the curiosity of the LITTLE
community. He was probably not un
der 5S, yet so vigorous and well pre-
served that one might hesitate TO SCI
him at 45. He was man o.
masterful temperament, one coulc
see that at a glance. Hii
sharp, black eyes looked one straight
through. One felt instinctively thai
here was a man not to be trlfied with
man whom one might be glad, very
glad, to have for a friend, but whom
one might well hesitate to have for 8
foe. He was a man of great activity
He had adapted himself quickly to his
new environment; he soon knew every.
body in the region; and he seemed e
understand as If by instinct all the
valley. The farmers were not getting
enough for their wheat Squire Harts-
wick, who owned many Of the farms
and who had a monopoly OF the valley
trade, dictated the price, and there was
no appeal. They were paying him toe
Farthing had rebelled. He had decided
to market his own produce and send
for his own groceries, and he had In
vited his neighbors to join him.
But don't you suppose Al knows
about the old house,"
Ulie wiped his knife and looked over
his glasses.
Told him myself already"
"Oh, you did?"
But AL can hear and see for him
self If he amt deaf and dumb and
blind. No use to tell him." snapped
Ulie.
"Then why don't he do something
about ii wunst?"
But what in time can he do about
it?" Lem Fisher was facing the crowd
half defiantly.
Burn down the old coop, hide and
hinges" The suggestion came from a
tall slab Of a man who was very busy
with the pulley blocks. A scornful
laugh burst from Lem Fisher.
Now, that's good. That is certainly
good. Just you hear Amos, boys. Burn
out the devil! Fight the devil with
fire! oh, my! That's something new,
amt II already YETI"
DRY woodIl burn, devil or no devil.
You touch n match to that old She
bang and see what happens. If 1t
don't burn, then you en- go and harvest
my head long with the rest of your
fall pun'kins."
Now, don't you be too sure, Amos
Hardin, wunst. And don't you go to
maxim big talk about what the devil
can't do still. 'Tain't safe. Nosuh." He
had a threatening tone, as If his own
personal prowess had been made
light of.
"Oh, pshaw" Amos turned in dis
gust and walked away.
do you think that cabin could be
touched by fire? Do yeh?" raising his
voice to follow him. where's he gone?
You see he's afraid to talk. Amos, he
amt nothin' but jest a Yankee still,
but he knows I'm right. 1 tell you
knows what I'm sayin'-can't nobody
go over the dead line around that
house but Jest the devil and them he
let's go. Nosuh!" The oracle straight
ened up and looked about him like one
who has won his debate.
But what I want to know is why
amt Al scairt? Why don't he say
wunst? Why don't he tell
what he sees nights? l tell youall
still there's something strange about
strange" Ulie wagged
his head mysteriously.
Vas yas, somesing strange" echoed
old Poppy Miller, who had sat till now
in sphinx-like silence. The unexpected
words caused thrill to go over the
company. They all stopped short and
looked at him.
What is it. Poppy" There was a
breathless silence.
"Somesing strange" mumbled the old
man with a vacant, far-away look in
his eyes. "Somesing stranger'n you
sink already. Somesing strange"
"H-s-s-s-s! Here comes AL" Dan
Tressler warned the group in a pene-
trating 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 a few of the 9TH
ers did also.
The day was breaking clear and
sharp. The sun, peering through the
bars over the mountain, was transmit
ing the bronze into incandescent gold.
II lighted UP the far horizon in mar
fell on the long ridges that bounded
the valley, showing in sharp relief the
snags and scrub oaks on the sky line
The F'arthing boys plunged at once
into the work with muscular vigor.
They were broad shouldered, brawny
fellows, both of them over 20, with
good nature in their faces. and self
reliance and mastery of affairs, come
as they might, clearly inherited from
heir father.
Smart boys you've got there, AL.
Good workers, amt they?"
"Oh, yes. Yes sir-r-r!" There was a
hearty ring in his voice. They're will
ng to work and Pm willing they
should" He rolled up his sleeves and
.ook his place in the line. He was
yoodly man to look at, square shoul-
Tered and straight, and he went into
he work as If he loved it.
The business moved on merrily.
At 10 o'clock Squire Hartswick with
/ whirl and a flourish drove into the
yard, and the climax of the day was
It hand. The men looked up nervous
Y, then fell to work again with re-
doubled vigor. The old man made ii
point to oversee carefully all butch
ring operations on his farms, and he
criticised shabby work without mercy.
The hogs were to be sold to him. He
eemed to be a thick set old man as
lie sat in the buggy square and force
ul. His face was smooth and florid, |
nd under white, shaggy eyebrows gilt
cred beady eyes that were never still |
moment. In the corner of his mouth, |
s If 1t were part OF him, was gripped |
lightly the stub of an unlighted cigar. |
lie was holding his horse with diff |
ulty. Horses were his one weakness. |
in his work teams, he had |
Z, and he had long held the county |
ecords in nearly every class. In races |
e always drove his own horse, and Ii |
,as a sight to stir the blood to see him |
hen. If anything had ever kindled |
'ithin his hard old soul the passion OF |
I'VE, 1t certainly was his horses. 1t |
lay be doubted if even his only child |
lose, the one hope of his old age,
reused within him the tide of senti-
lent which was called forth by his
lagnificent stud of pure bloods.
The great bay stallion which he was
olding by main force was paving, and
ancing, and snorting.
Can you get out, Rose? Whoa there,
i'll! Whoa! Behave therel Say, one
you fellows, come and help Rose out,
ont yeh? Don't stand there with
our mouths wide open. Whoa, / tell
eh!" Half dozen sprang forward
lgerly.
Il don't want any help" She arose
npulsively and vaulted from the bug
y like a boy, alighting with grace and
Dring as IL she always got out that
ay. Then ripple of laughter at the