Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-04-10
The House of the Black
BEL Pate: Ring COPYRIGHT. .,e.

that that little runt O. Jim's beat out
that old slasher OF Earl's, do yeh?"
He began to talk the moment he got
within sight OF her. Say, tell US
about IL, dew"
Il was driving the mare myself, so
she naturally couldn't do anything but
win. See?" She laughed up into his
face mischievously. His perplexity was
really grotesque.
The mare? Was you driving against
Karl? Say, tell feller. 'Tain't fair;
I'm jest dying to know"
II can't stop, really, Uncle Amos.
You must go. Quick. They're coming
right along. I'll tell you in the morn
ing. Now hurry" She waved her
hand and darted toward the house and
after wistful look toward the shad-
owG whore she had disappeared, he
buttoned up his coat and drove out into
the still radiance of the night.
1t was 10 o'clock the next morning
when Rose saw her father. She was
making apple pies. busily rolling out
the top lids" and fitting them on,
when he stormed in at the kitchen door.
The old mans wrath gathered easily,
and IL made no distinctions.
I've heard all about it, he burst
out before he was fairly in the room.
Every mans that struck the store this
mornings been full OF IT! It's towns
talk. And now karrs phoned up raw
ing mad. l never knew him so mad.
It's damnable, damnable" His face
was fairly livid.
what's happened?" Mrs. Hartswick
dropped her dish and spoon and fiut-
tered over to him in q tremor
"Oh it's nothing. Come, Pap, 1t isn't
so bad's you think, not half" Rose
looked up at him with a twinkle in her
eyes. There wouldn't have been a bit
of trouble If Karl hadn't lost his head.
Really that man gets ratified as easy
as an old woman" She laughed up
into his face but the old man, when he
was angry. was wholly animal in his
rage.
"Stop!" he roared. Don't YOU talk
to me like that! Don't-you-do-it!
oh, don't, Ira, dont-please." The
mother came pleadingly between the
two as If to avert tragedy.
You don't know anything about IL!
Stand out Of the way!" he beloved.
But, Ira, Rose didn't mean any
thing. She meant it all right, Ira"
There was tired, pleading tone in
the woman's voice that was almost like
a whine. She was a gentle, laughing
little body, but her husband had dom
mated her until she was CoWed and
shrinking. OF all things she detested
controversy. She bent helplessly be-
fore the squires frequent storms OF
wrath: they depressed and worried
her; and now she was q mere creature
OF whining protest, never standing
against him for a moment, but advis-
ing ever the line of least resistance
Forty years with the choleric old man
had changed her into a mere helpless
voice of protest.
Il tell you it's scandalous," he
stormed, paying no heed to his wife's
entreaties. IT'S the towns talk! Here
you go with a man who's invited you
to ride, and then you sneak off home
with a perfect stranger, and race him
against the man who took yeh!'
And beat him." Rose laughed UP
sauclly. Beat his great crack racer
with little 900 mare, and handicapped
at that. oh, | take after my dad-I
never could ride after a slow horse"
She wrinkled up her nose at him play
fully, but he was implacable.
stop, Rose! Stop right where you
are" he ordered.
Don't anger your father, Rosie. He
knows best" Mrs. Hartswick Joined in
with soothing tone.
It's an outrage to Karl and me and
all of u.s." he roared, drawing nearer
to Rose and swinging his arm up and
down like a pump handle.
But it was clean race. Pap" she
L
square, and the best horse won. Say,
I'd give ten dollars in minute, Pap, IL
you could have seen 1t. 1t was a
thriller. That little mare certainly
beats anything that ever stepped in
this valley. Say, want you to buy her
for me. Will you, Pap?" Somehow the
old mans wrath began to wilt little
1t was impossible to Withstand her sun
ny enthusiasm.
But that's not the question at all,
Rose. 1t was a disgraceful thing.
You'd no business riding with that
Farthing. You'd promised Karl"
"Oh, pshaw. Pap! What had prom
ised him? He asked me if would go
with him. and did. didn't T." She
laughed up at him again, then turned
lightly to her pie making.
Twas a contemplate trick you
know IT. 1t was damnable! He
planned IT deliberately; he united that
hoss on purpose; and it's prison Of
fense."
He didn't unite the horse father"
There was confidence in her voice.
The horse wasn't tied right, and it got
loose" The reply seemed to come to
the man like blow across the eyes.
so you stand up for him, do yeh ?"
He wheeled upon her instantly. Think
he's about right. do yeh? And Karls
all wrong? SO that's the way things
are running!-so that's it, Is it?
Heigh? Well-well-see! Wen find
what the law Is on that point; well
put him where he belongs mighty
quick, and his whole damned family
with him!"
"Oh, Ira, don't" protested Mrs
Hartswick in a half frightened voice.
But how are you going to prove
anything, father" Rose turned to him
with trace of gathering anger There
was no fun in her eyes now.
prove it? Prove it? Look here
Rose, you're going too far! And sc
you're going to stand up for that low
lived scamp, are yeh?"
'Mr. Farthing's no such man, father
BY a curious perversity she said
nothing about her having been con-
strained by young Jim. though the mere
mention Of ii might have altered the
complexion of things considerably. Nc
one knew of the affair save the two
concerned.
"Heigh? So that's your game! Sc
you're going to throw Karl over fol
that miserable puppy, are yeh? Their
you let"
stop, father-stop!" There was au.
thority in her voice. Her eyes had g
flash in them that was seldom there
but he paid no heed.
"Oh, Rose! Don't, Rosie, please!
The voice was near to tears.
Il never have dictated to you. Rose
who you should keep company with ol
who you shouldn't, but I'll say one
thing now fiat and square: you-shant
o-with--that-Jim Farthing. No
sir! There shant no Farthing evel
step into this house while l live in 1t
I nut nv foot down on that fiat anC