The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-06-24
The House of the Black
ss:Ae.ss. Ring Copyright. 200.

eral government for the apprehension
of the guilty parties, and the burgess
after a short conference with his coun-
ell offered a like o Then a lul
seemed to come in the whirlwind OF
events. But 1t was of short duration
On the very heels of the verdict the
sheriff received q telephone message
from Squire Hartswick. of He'll Bot
tom, and the excitement instantly in
creased tenfold.
The news had come to the Bottom
like a thunderclap. In all the history
of the region there a never been such
q sensation: June first was the day
when Karl was to nave received his
final answer from Rose; Jim Farthing,
1T was known, was infatuated with her;
the ammer with its brand could NEAR
only n thing.
h squire's suspicious We're right.
1t was clear now who had been COM
hitting the robberies, and who a
been responsible for the doings in the
Heller cabin.
The thought came to the valley like
a cold chill. AS If by agreement, the
men everywhere dropped their work
and congregated at the store. There
was no loud talk and no noisy excite
ment; the feeling was too intense for
that A sullen undertone, deep and
menacing, ann from the little groups.
The uncanny element In the affair APP
pealed to many and caused them to talk
In fearful whispers. The squire said
nothing at all, but the Hartswick wrath
was in his face as no one had ever
seen 1t there before. Men glanced at
him fearfnlly and avoided him. All
through the forenoon he was a smould-
ering volcano; the eruption was yet
to come.
1t came with the report of the coro-
ner. Suddenly he burst into uriou
action; three minutes after he had
heard the final details he telephoned
the sheriff to ride with all speed to
the Bottom, and to come with a force
prepared for rough work. Then, unable
to walt a single instant. he rode up to
the Farthing place to reconnoiter. BY
mere luck he came upon Mrs. Farthing
In the road and learned from her that
her husband and Tom had gone the day
before on business to Sinking Springs,
but that they were expected home be-
fore night. Jim was up in the wood
lot cutting fire GOD. The old man
drove back in fierce haste.
They hain't got back yet from their
butchering,' he burst in stormily even
before he had reached the store. They
hain't, unless the old woman's lying.
Here, two of yeh go up there where
% can see the house and keep watch.
Don't let''em see yeh. But they won't
come back; It's their trick to hide in the
Mountains till this blows over, but it
won't work. Dang EN-. they can't get
away now"
He hustled from the buggy and strobe
to the telephone, where he began Civ
ing orders like a general at the front.
He called up one by one every station
on the line and ordered a strict watch
to be set on all roads. From Sugar
Valley he got word that the sheriff
would start In half an hour with a full
force of deputies prepared to scour the
mountains till the murderers were
found, Then. he turned to the crowd in
the store.
It's a clear case" He swung his
fist In windy wrath. I'VE know who
this gang is now, Inc damn EN-, we've
got EN-. We've got every link: the
motives as clear as the light of day
and SOS the proof. The sheriff III be
here against four and you must stand
by us. every one of We. We shall need
We ALL He strobe out of the door like
an avenging fury.
For a. there was silence; the
crowd got It's bearings slowly.
Now. I amt quite 80 sure began
Lem Fisher after a time. I'D just as
quick think the Paintings want there
as to think they was. Did you hear
neck still? Helm? Recollect what I
told you down to Dams fifth? Didn't
I say as how you'd find Karl some fine
morning with q black ring round his
and his eyes bulgin' out like he'd
saw h devil wunst? Helm? wal. sub.
know what I think still? Somebody's
pow-wowin' Already" %nodding his
mysteriously. "Umph-huh. and
you don't have to be where the man
Is to pow-wow him. Umph-huh! See?'
oh. pshaw!" sneered Amos. Let
up, v.on't yeh, on this pesky pow-wow
business. We've gut facts enough, the
Lord Knows. without going into that in
fernal rot. The thing was done by the
gang that's been operatin' in this region
all the spring. That's plain enough to
me-. They'd jest gut the safe down
ready to blow when Karl. Who's been
sleepin with one W open these three
months, heard the noise and pounced
down on EN-. They're old hands, I tell
YOU. They know that country post
masters have stamps ready for CUSTOM
ers generally In some old book, and
that they don't always remember to put
1t in the safe at night. They looked for
that first thing, n they found 1t.
can't have been extra stout fell
lows, for Karl, seems to have gut h
best OF the two of 'em for a while, Jest
IL he threw one OF EN- and the other
smashed him owe the head. That don't
exactly pint to the Paintings, for they
could handle Karl, AIRY one Of 'em,
Jest like q fly. The main thing I can
see ag'in 'em is the hammer. Then,
again, nobody knows where they come
from, and these breaks begun Jest about
the time they moved here"
"Humph!" grunted Ulie. There amt
a jury In this state that wouldn't hang
ali three of 'emAhigller N Hannah on
half the evidence there is ag.in ,em.
Not one. Rose didn't set any store by
Farthing Teller. When the news
vas broke to her they a she turned
winter n milk and she pretty near
keeled right over. You wouldn't iii
of q girl like Rose. now, would
you? but 1t amt strange to me. They
was goin' to be merried, h and Karl,
pretty 500 row.. I'M there want only.
one way to head ii or, nj Jim he took
III It's all plain enough to me"
plain? BY mighty Why, it's primo
facie." The Squire had puffed In again.
rive u another piece o evidence.
Dan IIubler and Ira Kemmerer sayes
they met Jim In h roa here with
hisscoit driving down Gum Run way
alto O'Clock last night. How that for
.evtdence?s He stepped across h room
and rang the telephone with q snap that
threatened to break h crank.
They've started. he announced. hang
inG up the receiver. They've Just
rome, the sheriff and a dcxen young
1fellers. Now get ready all of you for,
ktnr 49, pnfn1at