Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-05-07
The House of the Black
! Pate: Ring Copyright. 1906

ment he sprang UP the rickety stair
way. but the rooms were empty.
Then they're IN the cellar!" The
door was standing ajar.
Come on, he shouted. They're no
goin' to fool me. / amt goin' TO zach
out now, darned II / am. Here!" he
shouted down the stairway. Come uI
and show yourselves. or Wen go down
There's n whole gang OF as up here, sc
you don't stand no show. Who are
yeh?"
Nc answer.
IAN right; here goes" Amos had
his blood up.
Don't go, Amos; for Gods sake
don't. It's an aw-w-w-wful hole down
there"
Come along" he shouted as if in
anger, and Dan automatically followed
the lantern: better down in the cellar
with the light h a above without il.
There was no one in the cellar.
They stood I'm speeches. amazement,
a shudoer Of superstitiOus horror be
ginning to creep over even Amos.
They're hid" ne cried, though the
idea was not very plausible. They be-
gan "a systematic search. They even
prodded the limestone walls for a hid
den Kit.
There was no one in the cellar.
They went at length up the stairs
again, and searched with minute care
through the two rooms n the ham
bers above. There was no secret hid
ing place-the cabin vas deserted.
There could be no doubt of il. Amos
stood a moment in blank amazement;
then a sudden thought struck him.
Here / have it.. They skinned out
the back way while he was upstairs
that's Jest what they done. Hold on
a uninrta. lot ma Inpk for tracks - With
Dan at his heels he cirCled the cabin
again.
No one had left the house. The crea-
lures, whoever they might be, were
still in the cabin.
"Wal-I'Il-be dum-buzzled!'
Come, les CO. pleaded Dan in a
conclusive whisper. Les get out o
He pointed with shaking hand at the
livid ring around the cabin, which
seemed to glow and waver with a sort
of phosphorescent light.
for Gods sake. les run, Amos.
while we cant" He was on the verge
OF ervou collapse, looking around him
~fearfully as If something were close
behind him and peering over his shout
der.
Not till I've fired this hell-hOle!"
There was a ring in the mans voice
that held Dan ~involuntarily. Hold he
lantern here till I get some klndling
wood" Amos broke up a chair n
ripped open the tick OF an old lounge.
Then he arranged the straw with the
wood above it.
Wish 1 had a can OF coal-oil. But
l guess this I'll go" He struck a match,
but the straw was damp. He tried an
other and 1t failed.
Hold on; I've got a paper here in my
pocket" He drew u a ~wsp
which he had received in the evenings
mail, opened 1t, crumpled the sheets to-
gether, and arranged 1t under the
straw.
Say, I'm going to slop a little of the
oil out o this lantern" He unscrewed
the little filler, and carefully saturated
the paper and straw without extin-
gushing the light. Then he scratched
another match.
What re doing here?" growled a
voice at the door.
Both jumped as IL the last trump had
sounded in their ears. Dan Tressler let
out a yell hat We'd even with those of
a few moments earlier. They turned
and saw Allen Farthing.
Whats going on here?" he demand
ed. What are you doing?"
Tn going to fire this old ~hell-coop;
that's jest what I'm goin' TO do" Amos
had dropped his match, out he felt de-
liberately in his pocket for another.
"Oh. that's you is 1t, Amos and Dan?
You the nes that's been making all
his yelling?"
NO" spoke up Dan. '"This house is
ha'nted. It was the ghosts yellin'."
"Oh, pshaw! You don't take any
stock in such nonsense as that. do you
Amos?'
stock or no stock, I'm goin' to fire
this old hell-kitchen. That's Jest what
I'm goin' to do" He was sheltering
the match-fiame with his hands.
Here! Hold on! This is my prop
erty. Don't you fire that straw, Amos"
Reckon she'll"
All right; go ahead; but it's a Sc
rious matter to burn a man. buildings
against his consent. Do as you please
gentlemen. But youll pay the penalty
If you do" He disappeared in a twink
ling in the darkness. Amos dropped his
match and gave a whistle Of astonish-
ment.
"Wal-by-gum!" He seized the a n
tern and went out quickly. AL Earth
ing had disappeared as II into the air.
For a moment they looked bewilderedly
about them. then they started down the
road without a word. Once only before
they reached the store did Amos open
his lips: