The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-07-01
The House Of the Black
- ! ~. Ring e.,z...es. l,s

goin' to be any more pow-wowin' In
this valley they'll take you and pow
WOW half q spoonful Of brains into
your III Dutch skull" exploded Amos
Pow wowin'i Lori Almighty, II
amt good and sick Of pow-wowin'l
Can't an old yarler hen lay a big aig
in this valley but what she's been pow
vowed? Now, why don't you stop this
nonsense and go to lookin' for the gang
that's really been dom this devilish-
/, ness2 Jim Farthing couldn't have done
that job alone There was two of 'em
at least, and who was the other 1 want
TO know? You take my advice. Squire,
and go mighty slow. The Farthings are
out of this, and he's a dangerous man
to make mistakes with"
What about the hammer? Heigh?'
That hammer won't hang no Far
things. They could get that hammer
in a dozen ways. Almost every break
/ aver heard OF begun by their gettin'
tools out Of ONE blacksmith shop or
Toulouse. Perhaps the one that took
that hammer done II to lay the sus-
picion onto the Paintings. / tell you,
Squire, you take my advice n go
slow"
II shall go slow or fast, jest as I
dunn please, you-uns take notice of
that. It's been a mighty long time
sence Tv been crawling around this
valley asking people what I better do.
You let me tell you this, sub: Al Far
thing amt out Of this yet. Nosuh.' He
turned with a jerk and stormed out OF
the room, slamming the door behind
him, A small avalanche OF talk, SEEM
ingly loosened by the bang, ratified
about the room, but 1t was quickly cut
short by a commotion without.
They rushed TO the door In time to
see the sheriff and his posse gallop UP
with a flourish, their horses white with
L foo m md Yaolrn halP q pir0ln ahnI1f the
store 'front.'.
Where's the squire?" shouted the
leader breezily.
Here, right here" The old man
hustled through the crowd. There
was a curious, wild western air to the
scene, with it's blowing horses and
flannel shirted riders. The leader sat
on a raw-boned mustang that, despite
it's hard run, held his head high. The
Squire went straight to the man.
TITS Jim Farthing we want" he an
nounced, ~brusquely. mo matter about
the others"
but I thought there was evidence
against all Of 'em. / thought they wal
q gang" There was q shade of disap-
pointment in his voice.
mo. Jim's the only n In this
scrape. " gut more evidence since
1 telephoned. You'll know him: stout,
broad-shouldered Teller: about 81; 1--WE
feet eleven; weighs about $50; brown
hair, grey eyes, smooth face, square
jaws, good teeth; wears a brown shirt
and a black felt hat"
t'Where'd we better start IMP
You'd better go to the house first,
and from there strike up, into the Gap
to their wood lot. He's hid somewhere
In the mountains. but he can't get out
, I've sent word in every direction and
they're keeping watch for him."
H. shlI rlrrbt - anouyarad tl,a ut,ari1F uyffk
breezy Importance. Il shall want to
swear in most OF this crowd as depu-
ties. We want TO spread ou In small
groups, and
God Almighty! there he is now!'
The ejaculation turned the crowd like
a pistol-shot. Allen Farthing and jim
were right by the sheriff's horse.
Here's the boy; it's all a mistake;
!, and / want 1t cleared UP right now
This boy Is Jest as innocent of this
business as a child"
Sheriff" called the Squire sharply
that's the man. / order his arrest or
the spot" The sheriff sprang from his
horse and strobe over to the new ar
rivals.
! Look here, young man, / want to put
! some questions to yeh and you mind
/ how you answer 'em." The Squire
! grim and black, planted himself In
! front of Jim and swung his fist In hii
face. Where was yeh last night? Wa
l you home all the timer"
was you out with your colt? ?"
yes"
"At 10 o'clock?"
yes"
: Driving down Gum Rum way?"
yes"
, you'll tell the sheriff now why yo,
took that drive at that time OF nigh
In that direction."
Z ''Why--I went on business" There
was a troubled look in his face.
g ooh, yes. that's very probable" TIL,
d Squire cast a triumphant look at tn,
sheriff. d you have much business
i at midnight these nights? Alone wa
il yeh all the way?"
: Moo, i wasn't"
who did We have with yeh?" Al
3 intense silence had fallen owe tn,
L crowd. Jim made no reply. r."
: who was it?" inisted the mai
brutally.
II can't tell you, Squire Hartswick.
Cant tell me? Do you realize wha
honest business, you'll tell who 1t was
!" Now, once again, who was it?"
Z, II refuse to answer"
Y t"oh, indeed. This is quite interest
ing, Mr.. Sheriff. Very well, let me asI
you another question. You've Away
8. llk6u MARI hSlCLllllSp udN0 yen
ff why, I don't know"
a, YES or no; a you always like,
% him?" ~.
NO" .t .E.I ARK a.. .
ever had any falling out with him?
III why not much. Up In the noun
tains one night, we
Never mind the whole story" brok
{" In the Squire harshly. What was tn
: last word he said to you then?'
"Why-I-
70 Tell the sheriff just what he said.
- H said he'd get even with me IL
e took so years, but I DIDN'T"
"a Right. It takes two to make a quar-
= rel. and what you said to him will com
out in due time" =
I But, Squire Hartswick, T.
IL "Oh, you'll have time enough to tai
he about that. We want you to clear u
Of more point. Here, sheriff, 20
T. brought up the hammer, didn't ycul
~ The sheriff produced 1t at once. NOV
IS have you eve seen that hammer"
Yes, that's our hammer" He too
rs II into his hands and examined 1t cur
-. OuSlV- ..