The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-07-29
The House Of the Black
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the sher1n, getting excited. Lets SEE
what's In beyond there"
He cooked his revolver, and they
pushed on cautiously, pausing now and
then to listen. There was no sound
save the slow dripping OF water some
where Off I'm he darkness, echoing In
the hollow void like blows on q tun.
The passage grew larger. At length
they came out into another chamber
somewhat broader than the other. AT
one side OF II there seemed to be q door
In the solid rock.
They investigated closely. Al branch
of the cave had been walled UP at some
time with stones and mortar, and a
narrow door made OF two solid oak
logs hewn smooth was fitted Into the
wall as IL q part Of II. It was evidently
locked; for there vas a large key hole.
They kicked on Ii and pounded on 1t
with stones. but 1t was like pounding
on the side OF a rock.
Wen let this go for a while.'' said
the sheriff decisively. Lets see what
else there g." Again they pressed on
and on through the narrow passages.
Then they came apparently to the end.
Another doorway II was. but this one
yielded easily. and they found them
selves In a spacious room with boarded
walls and floor, and q confusion of
roughly made furniture. A ladder at
one end disappeared into the darkness
or the roof. There were cupboards and
closets, a bed and tables and chairs.
The nature Of the place was evident
at a glance. They were in the home
of the robbers; there could be no doubt
or II. Blankets, clothes, shoes, canned
goods-everything that had been taken
during the winter lay scattered about
the o Amos hustled here and there,
.feverishly opening cupboard and box,
and dragging out their contents, while
the sheriff identified them.
"Yessuh; there's the very blanket
they took down to Snyder's, and there's
the fur coat they got at Heisler's." 1t
was impossible to identify the canned
goods. but canned goods had been taken
at nearly every place entered. Amos
at length pulled out a drawer in an
old, home made dresser.
Look here" he cried, holding up a
dingy book.
Here, let me see it." The sheriff
sprang toward him excitedly. my God,
that's the Keichline stamp book. How's
this? There want two"
Let me see it," asked the old man
grimly.
IT'S the same book. See there. and
there"
"Humph!" E
There's something strange about
this. I'll take that right along with me.
The stamps are still in It,"
Here, look here, sheriff" Amos
voice came from high above them.
Where are yeh, Amos?"
Up the ladder. Come UP, quick. for
Gods sake"
Here, Squire. you keep your eye on
Jim. I'm going up" He disappeared
UP the ladder as IL on an errand OF
mercy.
Where are you, Amos?"
Here" He looked up and saw the
excited face OF the man peering down
at him through a round hole the size
Of q barrel head. Come up through,
sheriff" In a moment they stood to-
gether In what seemed TO be a cellar.
A round lid was standing up, hinged
at one part like the cover OF a coffee
pot.
SAY. the whole things clearer n
daylight. Look here" He closed the
lid, which fitted with utmost nicety.
The top of It was OF the same COM
position al the earth floor. without
the most careful inspection one might
not tell there was any opening.
i've been here before. This Is the
cellar OF the old Heller house. The
whole things clear q mud, as Lem seq.
The gangs been here all winter, and of
course there needn't be any track in
the snow. Here's where they went the
night Dan and / chased 'em. I 'spose
they had to do their cookin' up there
on account OF the smoke. Pshaw, it's
easy ain't 1t? The reason why snow
don't lay o the house is on ac-
count OF the warm air that comes up
from the cave. My senses, won't /
knock u Lens pow'wowin'? Come,
let's go down n tell the Squire"
They found him wrathful and excited.
He tried to kin me- he cried. ''If
he hadn't had his hands tied he'd have
murdered me, sure
You see that stamp book?" Jim was
standing by the table, the book before
him. The minute o got out OF sight
the Squire o out his knife and begun
to scrape Off some OF the marks. I
stopped him, that's all. Iona said you
found that stamp book in our barn,
and l don't want this one altered"
IT'S a lie" shouted the old man. "Hs
tried to kill me-"
wal, Amos, you take charge OF II
now, and you be careful of it. It's a
valuable find." There was a business
ring In the sheriff's voice. Come on.
Wen go back now" They started out
together Though the winding passages.
the sheriff explaining to- the Squire
what they had found at the end of the
THAT clears the whole thing up
them He stopped suddenly and faced
them with animation. "Al Farthing
knew all about this, OF course. He had
these two old partners OF his in there.
and could sneak In and out Just as he
wanted to. You remember, Amos, how
slipped In onto o and Dan that
night In April. Clear enough now you
see 1t. amt it?'
The others made no reply. They
wound silently on through the marvels
of the cavern, out into the dark warm
OF the summer night. There was no
hint as yet Of light in the east. All
silent save the boom of the Run,
and tho signing Of a little breeze In the
rhododendrons and cedars.
CHAPTER XIX.