The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-02-18
The House of the Black
BE-: s..:. Ring Copyright. ZOOS

wagons OIL All NarietleS, ana Win
horses. No time was lost; each mar
had brought some implement that 1T
was his especial duty to furnish at a
butchering-pulley blocks. hooks, ket-
ties, kniVes-and each knew his part
and went at it instantly without or
ders. The women and the girls went
straight into the house, where they
took their places with an order and
dispatch gained by the experience OF
many chickering's.
"Ah, here's old Poppy already. Here,
let me help you out, Poppy. Chust you
wait a minute wunst." But the old
man did not hear. Horse. wagon and
man seemed incredibly old. Without a
word he hoisted himself over the wheel
with unchecked wheezes and groans.
then Strengthened up slowly and looked
about him. Then he hardened into a
stiff pose, with his gaze fixed intently
on the south.
What is it. Poppy?" asked Dan
aExiously. That's going to be a fine
Pet day, young man; t'at's a pet
day. Chust you remember what Use
a-tellin' yeh still. Chust you look t'ere
wunst." He stretched a wagering hand
out toward the south. Beware of
Ummmmmm!" He said it in the same.
awful o that the scothsayer must
have used when he said, Beware the
Ides OF March,"
Despite the dire prediction, the morn
ing vas breaking clear and sharp. The
iron bars over old Name were SOFTEN
ing into copper and bronze: the black;
smudge In the south was growing into
the semblance of a wooded ridge. cut
sharply against the pale sky.
A belated vehicle drove into the yard,
and a shout greeted it.
It's Ulie. boys! Here's Ulie ~a'ready.'
Sleepy! oh, my! Jest you see them
eyes wunst."
Get home In time for breakfast,
Ulie?"
A plump, middle-aged man climbed
from his wagon, and proceeded with.
p~reternatural gravity to tie his horse.
to the nee. Apparently he had heard
no word of the raillery, 1t was as if
the undertaken had arrived at the flu
neral, and was arranging the hearse.
AS he turned. however, a sheepish grin
began to spread over his face, and at
the sight of the crowd began to
laugh.
his big coat with vigor, and taking his
customary place. Then the chatting
fell sharp and thick, like rice at a we'd
ding.
who was it, Ulie, last night2 Come
tell us. Dew"
Say, better get your courage UP
quick. Ulie. The rule for sparkin' is
that the gals jest as afraid Of you as
you be of her.
"Oh. pshaw, Ulie! Finish it right up
slap and be done with it. It's awful
a on yeh, this settin' up so late
nights when you're gettin' along in
years. Boys a stan 1t, but it's death
on you old critters
When a country gathering gets start
ed on this track there is no logical end.
asked. Shouts of merry laughter went
up at every hit. The victim seemed
irritable and angry; he snapped and
growled and hustled over his work with;
unnecessary tigor. out a close observer,
might have detected that in reality he
was enjoying the raillery.
Pretty smart. amt yeh? Help" he
spluttered. "'Spose you mind your,
own business awhile? I'VE known folks
to get rich jest by minding their own,
business" He was greeted with snick-;
ers. Wal, then" he exploded, as il
hopelessly at bay. "let me tell yeh one
thing wunst. l was out last night, and
l seen something that would scare the
very devil himself" The smokers broke
into outlaws.
Lord! is she that ugly, Ulie?'
You jest wait a %D,inute, fellers. L
was out last night It'll midnight-on
business, you lnow-and-"
Again they interrupted him. Ulie
Dribelbis, as all knew. had as his first
business the securing of wife number
three.
Strike a bargain in yeh business,
did yeh?"
Observation-Disclosures" he re-
peated with studied elaboration, land
at just ~ O'clock, midnight. l was in
sight Of the old Heller house, and"
lowering his voice, II seen something"
What was it. Ulie?" A strange hush
had fallen e the crowd. They had
all to a man stopped working, and
were looking at him in a curious way.
Tell us, Ulie. What was t?"
"Oh. nothing much.' He was work.
ing away as If unconscious of the in
terest he had suddenly aroused. Say.
this is a good hog, Dan. Spring watts,
want hep"
"Ulie. what was it? Tell us what
oh. boys. don't ask me about it.
over. Oh, my Lord! / wouldn't go
through that again for a thousand dol
lars. No, uh-a thousand dollars" He
glanced up with a shade OF terror in
his face. n he shivered p~erceptibly.
How many hogs you got. DAM" He
changed the subject with a visible ef-
fort. Reckon we can do 'em all to-
day."
It, Ulie?" They had gathered about
him. and were looking into his face
with round eyes.
"Kind Of a reddish. sickish light in
the WlnQef WunSt, that KEPT sort Of
wa-a-a-a-verin' and ~beckonin'.'
us that all? That was the moon
shinin' on the glass still. You wa
scairt, Ulie?"
Cloudy night last night, and you-urs
know it. Dark's the DEVILS pocket
Already. Wasn't even any stars, and
you-uns knows 1t. And that light
shined wa-a-a-ay out on the snow,
maxim 1t look jest like blood. Oh, my
lord! And don't you ask me what I
heard. I can't stan 1t. My God, men!
Say, les talk about something else.
Say, Dan, when did yeh begin to feed
these hogs? Did ye-"
.'Wha was 1t, Ulie? What did yeh
hear?". There was an awed tone in
the voice.
We'll, sub, I heard most an awful
noise already. An awful noise!" HI
lowered his voice to a shuddering whis-
per.
How did it sound, Ulie?" Lem
Fishers face had turned to a tallow
white.
!, "A great, long laugh, like q crazy
mans laugh-a laugh that never come
from no living man's mouth: no sub
1t a my hair go right up straight
like a cats back. Their I heard the
awfulest swearin'-a kind OF hollow;
paar;p, swaorin, opd c,,ro{p, nc al