Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-05-01

ain't 1t, squire, to the man who puhts
his hand on the old cabin wunst after
dark?"
"Ye-es." said the squire hesitatingly.
He knew Amos, and he knew Ulie and
Lem and Dan. 1t would not do, how
ever. to back down on his offer.
I'm dare yeh and double dare yeh Y
go up to that house tonight" jeere&
Ulie. Now, you've been talking biA
for long time Already. You go ur
now or you shet up. That's fair"
"Oh, he won't CO." sneered Lem in a
tone that sent the hot blood to Amos
face. Perhaps he'll take Dan along
to give him courage" The squire wac
keeping strangely silent. Things were
not going just right He knew Amos.
II thought he'd weaken" scoffed Tile.
He hain't gut as much sand as Dan
has"
NOW, look here, folks, there hain't
any reasonable call for me to go up
to that old house tonight in this mush
of snow, but you and nobody else amt
going to dare me. l amt afraid, and
ye all know it, I'm good and sick of
this whole thing, and the sooner it's
settled the better. Here, Alb, get me
larntern. I'd Jest exactly as lives go
up there as to go to the sQuire's barn.
want you to go with me, Dan, for a
witness"
"All right; I'll CO." He arose in
SldnllN ana DullOHeu Ills COdl
Better strip good for racin', Dan,
jeered Ulie.
"All right, suh!' Amos was getting
angry. I'm goin' up there, and what's
more I'm goin' inside, and I'm goin' to
fire the tarnal old shanty. I'm sick and
tired Of it," Amos had not a particle
of superstition in his make up. More
over, he was a man of courage, one
who seldom backed down when once he
had taken a position. Clearly some
thing was going 10 happen.
Don't you do II, Amos" Old Poppy
Miller had shakily arisen TO his feet
and was holding out a palsied hand
Don't you dast to do 1t, Amos" His
voice was a tremulous falsetto.
I'm going to kill two birds with one
stone; I'm going 10 earn SO; and I'm
going to get red of the biggest nuisance
in this valley, that's jest what I'm goin'
to do. Got that larntern most ready,
ABB"
mo, no." quavered the old man with
singular intensity. Fer Gods sake
don't do it, Amos. You don't know
what you're a-doin' Of" His excite
ment was increasing visibly.
Huh" Amos was coolly helping
himself from the store matches.
"If it's the last word / ever have to
say" begged the old man, his voice
cracking in his excitement, don't yer
dast ter do 1t. l knows what rs Assay
in. It's death, Amos; death, DEATH
DEATH" He had taken a step forward.
and with his palsied hands was waving
shaky circle toward the bustling
man.
Come on, Dan. Ready? en-"
They strode out together. Watch for
fire in just 60 minutes" he called
back confidently.
But there was to be no fire that
night
"Al right, ten; all right. ten"
mumbled the old man incOherently. He
was still making weird circles in the
air with his shaky hands. Ulie ana
Lem Fisher stood behind him as far as
they could get in the narrow store ana
watched his movements with ghastly
faces.
They knew what it meant.
Those about the store could hear the
dollar clock beating on the shelf over
the cloth counter. 1t fairly beloved
through the room. The old man was
staring with vacant eyes out into the
darkness and mumbling disiointadlN.
Then he began to wind the long scarf
about his neck.
(Contisued Mex. Week1