The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-03-11
II-Continued.

1ewty, and he done 1t, and I amt the
only one nuther. He don go cacklin'
all over town every time his old Buff
Cochin lays an aig."
Say, boys, ever hin OF one thing7''
continued the squire ~placidly. You've
been seem some strange sights up to
the old cabin lately, hain't yeh? There's
always been queer stories about that
place, but you didn't near of much go
ing on there till Farthing moved onto
that farm. did yeh2 Now stop to hin
of this latest cuttin' up; hahn every
bit of 1t been since he moved into
town."
wal, you can't lay that INTO AL"
Dan a about argumentatively.
There hain't been no rack into that
cabin all his winter yetst, and you-all
knows 1t still" He addressed his argu-
ments to the crowd, as II 1t were they
who We're combating him. HE told
me himself when I asked him that he
awake watchin' for ghosts still, and
that he hadn't saw a thing In the old
cabin already. He sal he slept nights
and went at his sleepin' early"
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS." The
squire again winked knowingly. Ever
notice what q sharp little black eye
he's got and how 1t looks right through
yeh? You don't see eyes as sharp as
that very often" The old man under
stood perfectly those to whom he vas
talking.
Var! Now you're gettin' at It,"
burst in Lem Fisher. It's an eye that
can weave a branch round yeh. First
thing some of you-uns II know you'll
be gettin' hacked: our kids'n be liver
growed. and have the rundown
full, you-uns; that's my word to
you Already. He had lowered
his voice almost to a whisper. Ulie
took up the theme instantly.
That's jest what I've been a-tellin'
of yeh. The devil knows what's what.
There's a reason for the doin's up in
that old shanty. don't you forget that.
The devil don't have to walk when he
wants to get over snow and"-lower-
ing his voice mysteriously and half
wower don't nuther. You-all think of
that wunst."
"Recollect how strange OLD Poppy
Miller acted down to Dams butcherin'?
Heigh?"
How'd you dast to stan ag'in him
in front of him? Won't he hack yeh?
Won't he send Rose into the oppneh-
mer? Amt yeh 'fraid something IL
happen to herr"
"Nawl Not a bit. I carry words
ag'in him. He can't touch me or mine
I've saw to that"
but he's a deep one" Lem Fish
er was on his own ground now. He's
jest the worst n we-uns ever know'd
here"
Il don't believe it," exploded Dan.
al ain't no more of a hacker than
you be, Lem; not one bit. And / don't
believe that none OF you have really
ever saw anything up to that cabin
wunst. Nosuh. You're Jest like my
old mare when she goes acrost h rail-
road track. You're SO blamed scairt
and o expect to see such an awful
thing that o don't know what you
do see. n o shy M kick and snort
for all the world as If there was some
thing there"
"Humph!" retorted Ulie scornfully.
"'Spose I don't know still what 1 see
with my own eyes? Humph!"
"Oh, / amt questioning but what you
think you see it. My boy come in one
day and sayed that he seen a snake as
long as the hay ladder still. and I
hain't the slightest doubt but what he
thought 1t really Where's Amos?
He'd knock the whole thing higher
n q kite"
Up sudden and sharp, I'll give o ten
dollars and pay 1t In money If you'll
go up to that cabin right off now and
ouch 1t with your hand. Now, that's
business" The Squire knew his man.
''Yessuh; now, that's business, and
%portantly. You talk big still. but you
don't dast to do 1t. Nosuh. We've got
YOU now, Dan It's go up or shet up"
where's AmosI III go II he.H go
with ne unst.' The man was clearly
In distress. He had half arisen. and
was wavering p~erceptibly.
Amos don't count In this bargain.
Amos amt here. NOW you 80 up there
or you quit your everlasting yammer-
ing o this here Farthing. I'm sick
of it."
"All right, sub. He spoke with O
culver OF excitement in his voice. It'll
go" Loyalty to his friend raj strug-
Cling with innate superstition, n 10y
atty was for the moment the stronger,
He arose lk the leader of a forlorn
hope and 0 Q a lettering step.
NOW" said the Squire, briskly. IL
want Tile and Lem to follow behind
and sec that he does It," The crafty
old man knew with whom he was deal
Ing. Fear is as contagious as disease,
The two men hesitated a moment, Their
arose doggedly and buttoned up thei,
coats. IT was always best to obey the
Squire even when he asked hard things
"Come back and tell us how you
make OUT. shouted the old man as they
were plunging out into the night.
right. We won't be gone long
TIL fell Won that called hack IY1fe anS