The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-03-04
CHAPTER II.
WHERE THE DEVIL THREADS, WHO
LOOKS FOR SNOW?

M k 8 AOON rOn oENoW I ....
The valley of Hell Bottom lies like
d giant stocking at full stretch among
the ridges. There are three ragged
holes. at the heel, Bald Eagle gap
walled In on one side by Nance noun
tain, and "a deep by a little stream
at the toe, Gum Run gap, leading into
O populous valley beyond the clutch OF
the ridges; and at the top, which IL
puckered almost to a point, Roaring
Run gap, the vent of a small river
fed from a spring from near the in
step OF the stocking.
The scenery Of this last gar Is wild
n chaotic. Huge lime stone hulks
weathered into weird patterns, pro-
trude from the soil, or lie scattered
about as IL the place had been q work.
shop of the Titans, who had flung aside
these colossal ~gargoyles spoiled in the
making. In places the gnarled blocks
are piled helterskelter, forming grot-
toes and ragged hollows about which
grows q scurf of jumpers and laurel
~scrags-a place to be avoided at all
times, and especially after dark. A
few rods further on, the stream, break
ing In a panic from the ~alluvial, sinks
whfmpering down a wild gorge, and
Hes sluggish and exhausted beyond.
This chaotic five acres was old Pop
py Miller's farm. One lot was under
the plow, q ragged little patch hug
ging the ridge as for protection, and
guarded at every avenue by the wealth
cred rocks which leered hideously, like
totem heads. Many there were, who
walked softly when they went to MIL
ler's, n they averred there was rea-
son. II was an uncanny hole surely,
and united In every way for agricul-
ture, but old Poppy was reputed to
have other and sufficient revenues, Of
which more later.
There was another rip in the hosiery,
well up h ankle, a gaping tear
through n ridge, known as Heller's
Gap. IL had been through this opening
that Matthew Heller, purely by acci-
dent, had burst into the valley one De-
cember afternoon in the days when the
land was King Georges. and he had
been greatly pleased with what he
found. In the very jaws of the gap
ne built him a cabin, and in the spring
he had brought thither his young wife
TO make OF it "A home. He had hewed
out a little farm along the run and
built him a barn, and all had gone well
until the day when he had heard the
sound rt axes In the pines down by
Gum Run.
There are traditions still vivid as to
how the first band of settlers, who had
come in from Sugar Valley, had been
startled on the second day OF their
clearing by the apparition OF a mar
grizzied and gaunt, who had pro-
claimed that he was the sole owner and
proprietor n king OF the valley, and
who had ordered them roughly to be
gone. r.. a.. r.. . t..
Then John Hartswick leader OF the
clearing band, had challenged the man
to show his title deeds, which the old
settler had one promptly, and the in
truders, after looking wistfully at the
goodly land, had left the region that
very night. .-1"7.
Then 10 years had gone by, during
which time occurred the struggle along
the eastern seaboard known as the
Revolutionary war.
AS to what happened next, tradition
IS vague. It would seem that on a GER
tain April day. John Hartswick had
come again into the valley, descending
upon the old settler In the evening as
he sat at the door of his cabin, and
producing a certain paper which rem
dered the original documents worth
less. AS to t:st what means he had
taken, tradition says nothing at all,
for the valley population, who alone
preserve the story, know little of law.
That there was a serious defect, how
ever, In the older title is clear, and that
II was OF real moment and well-night
self evident to n whose attention
was called to 1t. is proved by the fact
that Matthew Heller then and there
had been forced to admit the worth
lessness OF the paper, though the ad-
mission left him not the ground on
which stool his cabin.
Then had followed a half hour that
even after a century Is vivid in the
little valley.
The old settler had sat at first In
silence. Then he had expostulated.
Morally and really the land was his.
Al mere technicality could not deprive
him OF land on which he had resided
for 20 years. 1t was his even by squat
ter's rights. The letter of the law
could never destroy the spirit. He had
the right on his side; he would fight
the matter In the courts; and no jury
In the world would decide against him.
The younger man, however, had re-
NAMED firm. The land was his; he
alone had a clear title. Justice by the
law was an expensive business, and
he would see that this, case was no
exception. He had not been Idle dur
Ing the war: he had money and to
spare; and he would fight for his legal
right as long a. he had a farthing.
Then suddenly he had assumed a be-
ncvolent look. He would not be hard
on him. He would give him a clear
title to his cottage lot and to the few
acres he had cleared about 1t. Really
he was injurtng him not at all, for he
was giving him all that ne had ever
used. r..t."
The patronfzing ton In the younger
mans voice had pierced the free-air~
loving old woodsman as with a knife.
His Helplessness, his total unprepared-
ness to fight q legal duel involving
great expense, the perfect justice of
his claim, and the barefaced wrong
forced so brutally upon him, sent the
hot blood leaping to his head. He had
burst Into a paroxysm of helpless rage,
and had cursed the man with his
whole soul He would accept not a
single inch which was his own, but
nevertheless he would stay where he
was. 1t was useless for him to fight,
for he had no money, but none the
less he would hold the claim.
Then, I'm q paroxysm of rage, he
called on the devil to guard him and
to bring evil upon every Hartswick, OF
Hartswick emissary, henceforth and
forever. who should dare to come near
him. He warned the man to beware OF
an internal patrol which henceforth
should surround his premises, and
which would blast and destroy any OF
his name or blood who might ever en-
ter the accursed circle. AS for him
self. he would never, so long as ht
lived, deflle his foot by treading on thu
y Ia ~ that tho Ia W dApyaad RI a Harris.