Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-07-30
The House of the Black
W Pate. Ring Copyright. 1906

Hes In here now. hen" exclaimed
the sheriff, getting excited. Lets %aa
what's In beyond there"
He cooked his revolver, and they
pushed on cautiously, pausing now and
then to listen. There was no sound
save the slow dripping of water some
where Off In the darkness, echoing in
the hollow void like blows on a tun.
The passage grew larger. At length
they came out into another chamber
somewhat broader than the other. At
n side of ii there seemed to be a door
In the solid rock.
They investigated closely. A branch
OF the cave had been walled up at some
time with stones and mortar, and a
narrow door made of two solid oak
logs hewn smooth was fitted into the
wall az IL a part OF It. II was evidently
locked; for there was a large key hole.
They kicked on Ii and pounded on II
with stones. but 1t was like pounding
on the side of a rock.
Wei let his go for a WHILE said
the sheriff decisively. Lets see what
else there is" Again they pressed on
and on through the narrow passages.
Then they came apparently to the end.
Another doorway II was, but this one
yielded easily, and they found them
selves In a spacious room with boarded
walls and floor. and a confusion of
AoHSihy ibduc luIuItuTS. q lduOer at
one end disappeared into the darkness
OF the roof. There were c~upboards and
closets, a bed and tables and chairs.
the nature Of the place was evident
at a glance. They were in the home
OF the robbers; there could be no doubt
or 1T. Blankets, clothes, shoes. canned
goods-everything that had been taken
turing the winter lay scattered about
the room. Amos hustled here and there,
feverishly opening cupboard and box,
and dragging out their contents, while
the sheriff identified them.
"Yessuh; there's the very blanket
they took down to Snyder's, and there's
the fur coat they got at Heisler's." It
was impossible TO identify the canned
goods, but canned goods had been taken
at nearly every place entered. Amos
at length pulled out a drawer In an
old, home made dresser.
Look here" he cried, holding up a
dingy book.
Here. let me see it," The sheriff
sprang toward him excitedly. MY God.
that's the Keichline stamp book. How's
this? There want two"
Let me see it, asked the old man
grimly.
TITS the same book. See there, and
there"
"Humphr'
There's something strange about
this. I'll take that right along with me.
The stamps are still in it,"
Here, look here, sheriff" Amos
voice came from high above them.
Where are yeh, Amos?'
up the ladder. Come up, quick, for
Gods sake"
Here, Squire, you keep your eye on
Jim. I'm going up" He disappeared
up the ladder as If on an errand~ of
mercy.
Where are you, Amos?"
Here" He looked up and saw the
excited face of the man peering down
at him through a round hole the size
of a barrel head. Come up through,
sheriff" In a moment they stood to-
gether in h seemed to be a cellar.
A round lid was standing up, hinged
at one part like the cover OF a coffee
pot.
Say. the whole things clearer N
daylight. Look here" He closed the
lid, which fitted with utmost nicely.
The top of II was of the same com
position as the earth floor. without
the most careful inspection one might
not tell there was any opening.
I've been here before. This is the
cellar of the old Heller house. The |
whole things clear IS mud, as Lem seq.
The gangs been here all winter, and Of |
course there needn't be any track in
the o Here's where they went the
night Dan M / chased EN-. / 'spose
they had to do their cookin' up there
on account of the smoke. Pshaw, it's
easy amt 1t? The reason why snow
don't lay around the house is on ac-
count OF the warm air that comes up
from the cave My senses. won't I
knock, out LENS pow'wowin'? Come,
let's go down n tell the Squire"
They found him wrathful and excited.
He tried to Kill me-" he cried. IF
he hadn't had his hands tied ned have |
murdered me. sure"
You see that stamp book?" Jim was |
standing by the table, the book before
him. The minute O got out OF sight
the Squire took out his knife and begun
TO scrape Off some OF the marks. 1
stopped him. that's all. Iona said you
found that stamp o. In our barn,
and I don't want this one altered
It's a lie,' shouted the old man. HE
tried to XIII me-"
Wal. Amos, you take charge OF ii
now, m you be careful of 1t. It's a
valuable find" There was a business
ring in the sheriff's voice. Come on.
Wen go back now" They started out
together through the winding passages.
the sheriff explaining TO the Squire
what they a found at the end of the
ladder.
THAT clears the whole thing up
hHcn. ne StoppSu suuucIty anu ldCcu
them with animation. "Al Farthing
knew all about this, of course. He rae
these two old partners OF his in there,
and could sneak In and out just as he
wanted TO. You remember, Amos, how
he slipped In onto you and Dan that
night in April. Clear enough now you
see IL. amt it?"
The others made 10 reply. They
wound silently on through the marvels
of the cavern, out into the dark warm
of the summer night. There was no
hint as yet OF light in the east. All
was silent save the boon of the Run,
and the signing OF a little breeze In the
rhododendrons and cedars.
CHAPTER XIX.