Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-04-03
The House of the Black
aEAe.s.: Ring e.,ze... 9,ez
CHAPTER y-Continued.


hair! lie had never seen her eyes so
deep and dark before, and he had never
seen her in such joyous mood. Her
every movement, the fash of her little
hands, the ripple of her laugh, be-
witched him more and more until he
was scarcely conscious that anything
existed in all the world save her--and
him, an -h-hg! He ground his teeth.
See, she was smiling up into his face,
actually beaming up into that great
full moon. He clenched his fingers into
his palms as if he We're strangling
something.
Then they cleared the room of its
tables and chairs, and danced with
might and main even as they had eat
en-. The old fiddler. scraping away for
dear life, keeping time with head and
foot and bow, called out the changes
OF the dance like the boss of river
crew loading Il boat
"All salute your pardners! First
couple forward and back! First couple
balance and swing! Alll-l-l-l-l--sha-
shay" ard so on and on, while the
lutsy dancers obeyed orders with a
vigor that threatened the tavern floor
Those elaborate mortals whose ideal
of the dance is TO float languidly
through some dreamy waltz, scarce
touching their partners sleeve, would
gain new conceptions Of the terpsicho-
rean art could they but see whole
souled, primitive dance like this--the
Vigor and JUNCTION of those bouncing
girls, the pigeon wings and capers of
those strapping boys, and the muscu-
lar energy Of the balance and swing.
In an hour the faces Of the maidens
were glowing with the exercise.
1t was midnight and time to start
over tt" mountains. The boys paid the
bill and hustled out for the horses,
leaving the girls plenty of time to ad-
Just their wraps before the cracked
mirror in the hall. Ten minutes passed
ani no sign from without.
Say. | believe something has hap
pcned." 1t was Rose who spoke. I'm
going out 10 see
"Oh. don't. They'll be right along"
1t is wCman's place always to wait and
wonder
NO. sir. I'm not going to stay
COOpcd M here another minute" She
bounded through the door and out into
the darkness
Say, what's the natter" she called,
approaching the circle of lanterns.
"Karl's lost his boss. Somebody's
stole him"
stole him?"
Yes: or else he's got away"
WAS the halter broken"
"Any sign of the halter dragging"
No"
"Where's Karl?"
GONE down to Corls farm to hire
another rig wunst."
Here, show me where the horse
stood" She took lantern from one
OF them and began to examine the
ground.
See, there's his track" she cried.
He backed out this way and took that
swing there"
"Oh. we saw that first thing" they
chorused.
Yes" She followed the trail care
fully far down the road until it entered
the beaten track and was lost. "Ah,
but you didn't see this" She held up
shred of rope. Hes dragging his
halter and stepping on it. He's got
loose. that's all, and he's started out
for home. Say, I've got half a mind to
get saddle horse and light out after
him Bet could catch up with him"
But where'd you get your saddle
hoss?'
Now don't you worry about that.
Say. there's no use for you boys to
wait. Better start right out with the
girls. I'll Overtake you"
There really was no need for wait
ing. so one by one the sleighs drove up
and took from the group on the door
stone. Then the bObsled arrived and
Rose stood alone.
Better pile in here with u.s." came
n voice from the sled Tight squeeze,
but we can make it,"
Don't you worry about me-" she
laughed. II never got left yet. Good
bye! See you later" They burst into |
the song. Good night. ladies' we're go
ing to leave you now" and drove hi
lariously away.
Say. Mr.. Snyder"-she turned alb |
ruptly to the landlord-"dO you know
of any good saddle horse around here?"
ono. ma'am. No saddle-hosses round |
here still"
But do YOU know of any horse thatn |
go, saddle-hOrse or no saddle-hOrse?" |
IVY, les see. Cal Lorah's got one
an ole tcarer, down here a half mile or
so. He's awful ugly, though. He
amt no woman's hOss."
Then he's just the horse / want. I'm |
going to have him." She started out |
decisively.
At that instant a sleigh leaped into
the yard and drew up before the door |
with a flourish Even before it stopped |
Il stalwart fellow had leaped out, and |
now he stood deferentially before the |
girl
It was young Jim.
"You'H go with me. Miss Hartswick," !
he said calmly. There don't seem to |
be any other way. Come on" He held |
back the laprobes and turned as if to
help her in.
"Oh, no! I'm going alone. I'm go
Ing to get a horse down at Lorah's."
But you'll ride with me-" he said |
firmly, "at least down to Lorah's? |
Youl ride that far" There was a |
confident ring in the voice
that somehow appealed to her. She |
hesitated q moment
Come on" he urged.
"Why~-yes-Ill ride with you down |
to Lorah's." She sprang into the |
sleigh, and the colt darted out of the |
yard like swallow. A shout arose |
from the sled as they went by.
The horse had been standing in the |
cold and was frisky. She flung the |
snowballs merrily, and skinned down |
the fiat like a skater down stream. |
1t seemed only a minute before they |
met a sleigh with solitary driver |
coming rapidly.
Rose gave little cry at the sight Of |
"Why, that's Karl's rig" she shouted |
"See" That's his bay. Somebody |
caughC him and is driving him back" |
Jim ground his teeth together and said |
nothing.
That's Lorah's house there, see?"
she called. Here we are. I'll get out |
now and wait for Karl I'm going to |
drive that horse of his home. He'll |
.lIlV MN III Il minute VI lNo, HOW, ana |
come right along |
Jim said nothing. He leaned over |
and ratified the whip. The little mare
shot out like an arrow.
"Why-why, aren't you going to
stOp?' There was a sudden thrill of |
in her voice.
No"
Not going to stop? Why-why, what
do you mean?"
What l say. I'm going to take you |
home"
But Karl's coming. He'll have his
horse inside of five minutes"
Let him come"
And you're not going to stop? She
could hardly believe her ears.
mo! I've started out to take you
home and I'm going to-" His jaws set
like trap.
She stole a look up into the rigid