Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-07-23
CHAPTER xvII-Continued.

house? Pretty efficient sheriff View
got In this county. What nave vel
been dom? Consulting the authorities
on pow-wowin'. I swami, / believe
I'll run for sheriff myself next fall"
There was the sound of brisk foot
steps; a large man was approaching
rapidly.
1t was Allen Farthing.
Lem Fisher started from his seat anC
stole into the back store al IL the devi
had come. The sheriff arose, but said
nothing. All looked with hanging jaws
as IL the man held a cooked revolver
in either hand.
Il understand. gentlemen" he began
at once, that you have been in search
OF me. l was over In the Wild
Meadows until 8 o'clock. When / got
home / learned about you visit and
came down as soon as I could get
away. Now, gentlemen. what can ]
do for your"
It's a lie!" The words came from
the Squire in a smothered heap. We've
got a dozen men right here who saw
you In the gap this afternoon. and saw
you run over the ridge. That talk
don't go here"
II arrest you, sir, in the name of the
law" said the sheriff theatrically.
Hold out your hands"
There's no need of irons, Mr.. Sher-
il Il SlIdll iON ItSiol VI lly W totdpt.
Hold 'em out" he ordered sharply.
The man obeyed without a word, and
the sharp click click was distinctly
heard by all.
Ibid l understand you to say that
you was not with the boys this after
noon when they run over the ridge? ?"
asked Amos, elbowing his way to the
prisoner.
mo, sub, | was not. You scared my
ufifa lpnnat 70 dnnfh hut che had sand
enough to follow the mob, and she said
the boys and somebody else that looked
to her to be a woman, ran down into
Roaring Run and got through the gar.
l don know a thing more'n that" The
sheriff squirmed %uneasily at the men,
ton of the escape through the gap.
What did the boys run for p ross
examined Amos.
II don't know more'n you do. They
probably got into a panic, and from
what my wife SAYS there was eason
for it. They'll come back; they'll be
here In time for the hearing. And
here, Squire Hartswick, I demand a
hearing tomorrow morning. And /
wish s~omebody'd be kind enough to run
up n stay with my wife. She's all
and frightfully nerved up. Won't
somebody do it?"
I'll 60" volunteered Amos quickly.
Glad to go. Don't you worry one mite.
Mr.. Farthlng."
II won't forget this, Amos" said the
mar feelingly. Amos arose and left
the store.
Got a place for him Squire? I've
got a guard." There was a business
ring in the sheriff's voice.
Yes; oh, yes. This way" The
followed by the sheriff and his pris-
The men from Sugar Valley
arose and fell in behind.
For a time there was silence among
little group huddled about the store
door. Then the voice of Lem Fisher
was heard from behind.
II see 1t. It's clearer'n mud now. AL
Farthing wants TO get into that house
still. He's goin' to spend the night
there. Jest you mind what comes of
1t. S'pose you can tie a hacker with
handouts? Nosuh. The DEVILS In II.
There'll be a dead body In that house
against tomorrow still. You notice
what / say"
II was fully 10 o'clock when Amos
started up the turnpike for the
Farthing place. The summer night lay
dark n sultry upon the valley. There
was the threat of a thunderstorm the
heat lightning played in ghostly flick
ers across the south: and the clouds
In snaky swaths, with here and
there livid patches where the stars
feebly through. Save for the
nervous notes OF a whip-poor-wiil In
the near meadow, and the steady drone
of the waters In the Run, the night was
silent.
Then Amos caught another sound.
and Strengthened up to listen-the sound
of q horse and buggy approaching at
rate. The horse was evidently
speeding as OF q race track, and he
was coming nearer every instant. Au-
tomatlcally Amos stepped into the
ditch and held up his lantern. A mo-
and the wild whirlwind was right
upon him, then IL was gone, and the
hoof-beats n roaring wheels came
fainter and fainter from the distance.
1t wes daredevil riding In a night like
that. The lantern had showed him a
single figure In h buggy. but whether
q man or woman he could not tell.
Who could 1t be plunging into the
night In that mad fashion? Life in
deed was becoming strenuous in the
little valley.
near to the Farthing place he caught
the CLINT of a light In the yard. and
made cut a figure beside tia m
Hello, there" he shouted reas-
suringly. It's me, Amos Hardin. Don't
you go to work and get scairt."
"Oh. it's you. Amcs?' Mra. Farthing's
voice. I'm awfuily glad you've come.
I'm worried most TO death. Where's
Allen? Is he all right? 2" h came
close and locked into his face.
"Snug's a bug" he explained joviai-
IN, They up n arrested him, but
he's jest as safe as / em,-jest exactly.
Don't you worry about him" His
CHEEKY was reassuring.
II cam understand It," she went or
rapidly. Jim came in jest a minute
ago on the run after the colt. He said
he was going TO Gum Stump after Doc
tor Kuack. He said Tom was all right.
but / must so quick as I could down
TO MIXERS. for Loney was Jest alive,
Then he hitched VI the colt and drove
of the next minute
..Sho! What 'srose he meant? Say,
I'd better harness right up. hadn't II"
Yes. I think you had. I'll run in and
get my medicine box I'll be ready
when you are" He hustled into the
barn and In a. minutes they were
driving down the pike.
Il van. MS. Farthing," he began.
This whole thing beats the Dutch,
now. don't t?f
What's it all about. Amos" Her
Voice HAD a CULVER In II. 1T came so
sudden. I can't think or straighten IL
out. Seems like some kind Of q night
mare"
wal. III tell yeh. Ms. Farthing: It's
jcst<like this Thereupon he detailed
with fulnNss all that he knew OF tho