The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-02-04

we still had some distance to go, the
darkness was profound, could see
nothing in front of me, and the
branches OF the trees knocking against
each other, filled the night with I'M
earthly sound. Finally | perceived
light, and soon my companion
knocked at door.
Piercing cries coming from with
IN responded to our knock. Then a
half-smothered voice of man asked:
Who is it?' My guide gave his name,
and we entered-then we witnessed
strange sight An old whitehaired
man, with the wild eye of maniac,
loaded gun In his hand, awaited our
entrance in the kitchen, while two
immense fellows armed with axes
Kept watch by the door. could see
IN the dark the kneeling figures Of
TWO women, their faces hidden against
the wall. They gave no explanation.
The old man put his gun down. and
ordered the women to prepare my
room. AS they did not move, he ad-
dressed me abruptly:
You see, monsieur, killed my man
this very night two years ago Last
year he returned here and called me.
await him again tonight he added
in manner that made me smile: We
are little bit upset
Il did my best to quiet them, glad
that happened that night and would
be able to witness the superstitious
fear of these people. told them story
after story Near the fire place lay
an old, half-blind dog. Outside the
mad tempest ragged, shaking the little
house. looked out of small peep
hole, near the door, and saw by the
sudden glare Of the lightning the
trees bending in two. Notwithstand-
ing my efforts to keep cool, felt my
self possessed of the wild terror that
cowed the others. Whenever
stopped talking they sat up, listening
breathlessly.
Wary OF watching, their stupid
fears, l was about to bid them good
night and retire for sleep, when the
old man made leap from his chair,
seized his gun, suffering in broken
voice:
"'There he is-there he is. hear
him.
The women fell on their knees and
buried their heads in their hands, and
the sons took up their axes. The
dog awoke, sat up, pricked up his
ears. stretched his neck, and let forth
long, continued, uncanny howl. We
all turned our eyes on him. He re-
manned motionless, as though contem-
plating vision. His hair stood on
end, foam came to his mouth and he
uttered the most terrifying yells con-
ceiyable. He seemed to Sc something
invisible The old man, livid with ter
ror. whispered:
, He knows the scent He knows
it-he was there when | killed him!'
The wretched women began to
} groan in the same hideous fashion as
the dog.
Il felt cold perspiration break out
all over my body, and shivers ran up
and down my spine. The sound of
the wind, the sight of this mad, howl
ing dog and frantic people was really
. narrowing.
For an hour the dog kept up his
noise without intermission; he
: moaned and cried as if in agony Fear,
> the most overpowering fear, took pos.
session of me. Fear of what? l know
not. 1t was simply paralyzing. unrea.
soning fear. That was all.
I'VE remained immovable, listening
our hearts humping, upset at the
; least sound, expecting something
which seemed to come nearer and
y nearer. Then the dog rose. walked
/. about the room smelling the walls and
! uttering groans and howls This ami
NAL drove us wild. Suddenly my
. guide, with a sort &c paroxysm of ter
y !, ror, grabbed him, opened the door and
u threw him out into the fearful dark
: Then he sank back half dead None
of us moved, terrlied even more thar
/ before. Suddenly, like an electric
l. shock, we all felt a sort of TREMBLING
n pass through us. Something glided
$ against the outside wall, toward the
u fr est. 1t passed the door, at which
t it seemed to feel hesitatingly; ther
l, again all was silent, such silence as
q to make you lose your very mind
l. Again it returned, rubbed against the
t walls, scratching as child Nigh. d.
S with it's nail.
AT this moment head appeared
II at the peephole-a white head Will
d blazing eyes, like a wild animals. w,
heard long. ptiful. indistinct sound
like an agonized whisper, then wer,
l. deafened by a sharp report. The OLE
man had pulled the trigger of his gun
y Immediately the sons precipitatet
e themselves on the door. stopped III
l. the peephole by overturning the tabl
3 against it, and sank. Gown behind i
|e themselves. l swear to you that Z
q the noise of that gun, which was no
y prepared for, experienced such an
IT guisf of mind, of heart. soul and body
is that felt as though were about t.
u die.
y We remained there until daylight
+. unable to move or to speak word
~ doubled up and half insane with te,
~ ror. We dared not open the door ur
:. til the rays of the sun came throug
:, the cracks
"At the foot of the wall against tn
~ door lay the old dog-dead-the jay
81 broken by bullet"
d, Cinematograph in Elections.
In Australian candidates for the parlis
n ment on the labor ticket expect to us
&c the cinematograph on large seal
I'd in the general election. Each Iaho