The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-07-29
The House of the Black
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He's In here now, then?" exclaimed
the sheriff, getting excited. Lets see
what's in beyond there"
He locked his revolver, and they
pushed on cautiously, pausing now and
! then to listen. There was no sound
where off In the darkness, echoing In
the hollow void like blows on q tun.
The passage grew larger. At length
they came out into another chamber
somewhat broader than the other. AT
one side of 1t 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 as If a part Of 1t. 1t was evidently
locked; for there was a large key hole.
They kicked on it and pounded on it
with stones, but it was like pounding
on the side of a rock.
Wei let this 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 it was. but this one
yielded easily, n they found them
selves in a spacious room with boarded
walls and floor, and a confusion of
roughly made furniture. A ladder at
one end disappeared into the darkness
OF the roof. There were cupboards 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 IT. Blankets, clothes, shoes, canned
goods-everything that had been taken
during the winter lay scattered about
the room. Amos hustled here and there.
feverishly opening cupboard and box.
81 ~ hrn O f. OF NtYt tl~s- u n
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." 1t
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
dtngy book
Here. let me see it," The sheriff
sprang toward him excitedly. MY God.
that's n Keichline stamp book. How's
this? There want two"
Let me see it," asked the old mar
grimly.
It's the same book. See there. and
there"
"Humph!"
There's something strange about
this. I'll take that right along with me.
~ olallApo dIG SILL III 1t. 4fa
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. o keep your eye on
Jim. I'm going up" He disappeared
up the ladder as il on an GRAND of
mercy.
Where are you, Amos?"
Here" He looked up and saw the
excited face Of the man peering down
at him through q round hole the size
OF a barrel head. Come up through.
sheriff" In a moment they stood to-
A round lid was standing up, hinged
at 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 It was Of the same COM
position as the earth floor. Without
the o 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 8 mud, as Lem seq.
The gangs been here all winter. and of
course there needn't be any track in
night Dan and I chased 'em. I 'spose
they had to do their cookin' up there
on account OF the smoke. PshaW. it's
easy amt it? The reason why snow
don't lay around the house is on ac-
count OF h warm air that comes UP
from the v 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.
H tried to kiln me-" he cried. err
he hadn't had his hands tied he'd have
murdered me. sure
You see that stamp book?" Jim was
by the table. the book before
the Squire took out his knife and begun
to scrape off some Of the marks. I
stopped him, that's all. Iona said YOU.
found that stamp book in our barn.
and I don't want this one altered
It's q lie shouted the DC man. HE
tried to kill me-
Wal, Amos, you lake charge of 1T
now, and you be careful Of 1t. It's q
valuable find" There was a business
ring in he sheriff's voice. sCome on.
Well go back now" They started out
together through the winding passages.
the sheriff explaining to the Squire
what they had found at thee end of the
ladder.
THAT clears the whole thing mn
then" He stopped suddenly and faced.
them with animation. TAI Farthinr
knew al, about this, OF course. He had
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 Oar that
night In April. Clear enough now you
see 1t. amt it,"
The others made no reply. They
wound silently IN 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 saw the boom of the Run.
and tho sighing OF a little breeze In the
rhododendrons and cedars.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE LAST OF THE HARTsWICKs.
at seems to be q rule of nature that
like shall seek like, and that they shall
move together in swarms. Hence q