The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-02-25
The House Of the Black
= : :. ~; Ring s,,,e...: .,.s
Continued.

l One thing, however, was clear, the
Farthings We're certainly kind neigh
bors. They We're the first to volunteer
aid in times of sickness; they were
hospitable and generous n they
seemed anxious to make friends OF all
IN the valley. Had not the three, when
Dan Tresslcr had had typhoid, gone
down m worked all day IN his grain?
And there We're other good turns OF
which the valley could tell.
But the silence of the man and the
strength of his personality famed moro
and more the curiosity of the little
community. He was probably not UNI
der SIS, yet so vigorous and well pre-
served that n might hesitate to set
him at As. He was a man of
masterful temperament, one could
see that at a glance. His
sharp. black eyes looked one straight
through. One felt instinctively that
here was a nan not to be trifled with,
q y whom n might be glad, Very
glad, to have for a friend, but whom
one might we'll hesitate to have for a
foe. He was a man Of great activity.
He had adapted himself quickly to his
new environment: he soon knew every
body in the region; and he seemed to
understand as IL by instinct all the
problems and conditions of, the little
valley. The farmers were not getting
enough for their wheat. Squire Harris
wick, who owned many of the farms,
and who had a monopoly of the valley
trade, dictated the price, and there was
no appeal. They were paying him too
much for their groceries, too, and
Farthing had rebelled. He had decided
to market his own produce and send
for his own groceries, and he had in
vited his neighhors to join him.
But don't you suppose Al knows
about the old house%
Ulie wiped his knife and looked over
his glasses.
Told him myself Already"
oh, you did,"
But AL can hear and see for him
self If he amt deaf and dumb and
blind. No use to tell him." snapped
Ulie.
Then why don't he do something
about it wunst?"
But what in time can he do about
it," Lem Fisher was facing the crowd
half defiantly.
hinges" The suggestion came from a
tall slab of a man who was very busy
with the pulley blocks. A s%cornful
laugh burst from Lem Fisher.
Now, that's good. That is certainly
good. Just you hear Amos, boys. Burn
firel oh, my! That's something new,
amt it already YETI"
DRY wood'll burn, devil or no devil.
You touch a match to that old She
] bang and see What happens. If it
don't burn, then you en- go and harvest
my head long with the rest OF your
fall pun'kins."
Now, don't you be too sure, Amos
! Hardin, wunst. And don't you go TIC
maxim big talk about what the dew
\ can't do still. 'Tain't safe. Nosull." He
had a threatening tone, as if his OWL
personal rowes bad been made
! light of.
"oh, psnaw!'' Amos turned In dis.
gust and walked away.
do you think that cabin could be
touched by fire? Do yeh?" raising his
voice to follow him. Where's he gone
/ You see he's afraid TO talk. Amos, hc
amt nothin but jest a Yankee still
knows what I'm sayin'-can't nobod!
go over the dead line around tina
house but Jest the devil and them ht
let's go. Nosuh!" The oracle straight,
ened up and looked about him like ONT
who has won his debate.
But what / want to know is VIII,
amt Al scairt? Why don't he sa,
something wunst? Why don't he tel
what he sees nights? l tell you-al
still there's something strange abou
this-something strange" Ulie wagget
his a mysteriousiy.
"Yas, vas, someSing strange" echoet
old Poppy Miller, who had sat till nov
in sphinx-like silence. The uneXpectet
words caused a thrill to go over TIL,
company. They all stopped short an
looked at him.
What is it, Poppy" There was
GREATNESS silence.
"Somesing strange" mumbled the oil
man with a vacant, far-away look il
his eyes. 'Somesing ~stranger'n yo1
sink already. Somesing strange"
"H-s-s-s-s! Here comes AL" Da1
Tressler warned the group in a pene
. f,-r - TF1,-,~ 1A- I ~,
in unfeigned welcome:
How d. do, Al? Mighty glad to Sc
yeh, mighty glad" He shook hand
with the stranger and a few of the 9th
ers did also.
The day was breaking clear an
sharp. The sun, peering through tn
bars over the mountain, was transmit
ing the bronze into incandescent golt
1t lighted up the far horizon in mar
velous shades of red and russell, and
fell on the long ridges that bounde
the valley, showing in sharp relief tn
la md Scrub-oakS on the sky line.
The ENarthing boys plunged at ono
into the work with muscular vigo,
They were broad shouIdered, Drawn
fellows, both Of them over 20, wit
good nature in their faces, and a self
reliance and mastery of affairs, com
as they might, clearly inherited froI
their father.
Smart boys you've got there. A
Good workers, amt they?"
oh, yes. Yes, sir-r-r!" There was
hearty ring in his voice. They're will
ing to work and I'm willing the
should" File rolled UP his sleeves an
tool his place in the line. He was
goodly man to look at, square Shout
dered n straight, and he went int
the work as if he loved it.
The business moved on merrily.
At 10 O'Clock Squire Hartswick wit
a whirl n a flourish drove into tn
yard, and the climax Of the day VIZ
at hand. The men looked up nervous
ly, then fell to work again with re
doubled vigor. The old mar made
a point to oversee carefully all butch
ering operations on his farms, and /
criticised shabby work without mere,
The hogs were to be sold to him. II
seemed to be a thick set old man a
he sat in the buggy, squa.e and force
full. His face was smooth and fiori,
and under white, shaggy eyebrows gilt
tered beady eyes that We're never sti
a moment. In the corner of his mouth
as if it We're a part of him. was grippe
tightly the stub of an unlighted ciga
He was holding his horse with diff
Guilty. Horses were his N weakness
Counting in his work teams, he la
27. and he had long held the count
records III nearly every class. In race