The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-05-06
CHAPTER v111-continued.

Too bad; too bad; too bad" he was
saying. II armed him. He brought
At on his w self" Then suddenly
he started for the door. No one spoke
or disturbed the silence, nor was there
a sound in the store until the Chunk
chunk" OF the old wagon had died away
On the distance.
Amos and Dan walked rapidly down
the pike. 1t was a perfect spring
night. The clouds had entirely dis
appeared, leaving the sky brilliant with
stars that scintillated coldly. Low In
n west, over the ragged scar In the
range, the thin of a new moon
lay pointing upward with sharp horns.
Far Off in the stiffness they could hear
the warning growl Of Roaring Run, but
1t only made the silence more complete.
Ihey said nothing as they strobe down
fhe pike, n they turned into the Hell
ler's Gap road without a word. The
awful warnings OF Poppy Miller were
echoins In Dams ears: he was walking
like a man in q dream.
A dim light burned In the Farthing
Kitchen, but they heard no sound, save
The rafting movements Of some
creature In the barn. Then they struck
into the old lane to the cabin.
The world still wore the fantastic
garments Of the morning, though much
ef the n had dropped from the trees
turing the day. 1t was a weird, silent
FSOilC, w DOtI OI Inc men were I'M
pressed by 1T. The great shadow Of the
rap was over them; the walls on either
Hide doomed up like ghostly columns as
hey saw them In the uncertain light.
Darn creepy place." observed Dan
1t length.
HUH" shifted Amos. striding on
itoutly In the lead.
Then they came in sight OF the cabin.
md stopped a to r%econnoiter.
the old house loomed up black and
epulchral amid the scrubs. A livid
.tng, unnaturally distinct, surrounded
u. Da called his companions atten-
ton to it, but Amos only grunted.
Cons ahead, DAN" he said gruffly.
They strobe rapidly to the edge of
the snow line, then both stopped In
stantly as IL they had run into
an invisible wire. There was a light in
the cabin. but one SO diffused and in
distinct that it was impossible to see
hnythlng within. Dan Tressler turned
an a panic, and was IN the point of
fleeing, but Amos gripped him by the
arm.
Brace up Dan" he Kissed in his
ear. We're going to see this out IL it
a leg. You stay right here; I'm
gong TO ind u how many's in there"
he started out cautiously in a circle
around he cabin, yelling his lantern
with his coat and examining the snow
with extreme care. At length he came
around to where he had started.
Say. Dan." he said with a trace Of
living soul moved In or out of there
since the now"
Good lordl" gasped Dan. Say. les
make a rush and touch the old shanty
and run" His nerves were rapidly
gesting beyond his control.
ably went in there before the snow
came the other night. You wait a min
ute. I'm going to look in"
He crept nearer Then there came
from within a shrill laugh, fearfully
startling in It's weird distinctness. IN
Dan gave a cry,
n on the instant they saw a face at
the window, a face strangely white
and thin, with a framing Of hair that
even In that uncertain light showed IN
lnKy black. Instantly there echoed
from Within a Shrek SO CHASTITY thai it
shook the nerves even of Amos Hard
Ing. It was a shrill falsatto. seemingly
feminine. He dropped his lantern. so
suddenly did it ring out and SO fright
ful. But his panic was only for an in
slant.
Some OF them Farthin's are in there.
trying to scare U.S." he shouted. Here,
I'm coming in! You can't scare mel
You've got the wrong man, Til tell yeh
Here. open up!" A sudden fury
seemed to have seized him. open uni
Open there!" he yelled. Then he ran
against the door full tilt, but 1t did not
yield.
A livid stream OF curses In what
seemed to be an old mans cracked
voice followed. Amos took a back
step, n hesitated. Then a recollec-
ton of the group in the store came
upon him, and he faced the cabin
again.
Come on. Dan. It's only the Far
thin's trying to scare us. Stand by me.
he shouted. Get a stone. I'm
goin' to stave in the old door, Dan
took one step and stopped short: but
Tor Amos he would have turned and
fed for his life.
For another scream came from the
interior, q scream that must have come
from q woman's throat, and vet no uy-
ing woman's; then a flash Of light, in
tense and binding, fltering through
the crannfes like red fire. For the
space Of a minute It bathed the scene
IN q lurfd hell red. Eve Amos felt his
he would not have turned back now
eve II the devil himself had confront
ed him.
The bright light showed him q Jagged
piece of limestone at his feet within
the dead line. He seized 1t and began
to batter h door. It held out strong
ly; he threw all OF his strength into
the work. Then the cabin became ut
terly dark; 1t was deathly still now.
but he battered on. The bar began to
give way: q couple OF blows more and
the door swung wide open.
But amos did not enter.
He held up his lantern and peered
within with quivering interest. Moth
ing was in sight: nothing moved: but
there was q thick smudge OF smoke and
a ghastly stench OF sulphur. He stood
still and listened. No sound save FAR
behind him the gurgIe of Roaring Run.
like h rattle In the throat OF q dying
man.
Come on. DAN" he ordered excited
Iy. It was too late to back out now.
.'I'm going right in there hell bent.
darned II I amt. Come on. Don't "a
back on me, old man.. Dan was no
longer master Of himself. He moved a.
In q stupor; the strong will OF the
other mar dominated him. he hesitaf-
ed, then took q faltering step toward
the door. Amos was out Of sight.
.sHey, Amosl Where be yeh?" he
quavered. He caught a choking breath
Of the sulphur reel and his knees wei
nigh gave way beneath him.
Here! This way. Quick!" he heard
Amos calling. Blindly and automatic
ally he rushed In. He found Amos. the
stone still In his hand, looking about
him awarily. The cabin, as they saw 1t