The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-05-12

Ezra Tuttle was a methodical man
He regarded the old adage, "A place
for everything, n everything IN us
place. as a precept second In lmpor-
lance only to the ten commandments;
therefore, awakening suddenly one
night haunted by the vague but UNI
easy consciousness of something left
undone, his mind was troubled.
Staring into the darkness, he racked
his brain as to what he had forgot
ten, n mentally checked off the list
OF the evening duties. Brought in the
wood" he thought: put out n dog,
certain of that, COS 1 recollect gittin'
the broom-locked the door; wound up
the"- With a resigned sigh Ezra
Tuttle slid gently out of bed; for the
first time during his married life he
clock.
Cautiously the old man groped for a
match, listening apprehensively; but
his wife's regular breathing rose from
the bed un~disturbed. With a sigh of
relief he lighted the little glass lamp,
and. taking a firm grip on the waist
band of his trousers, crept softly in the
direction of the chamber door, keep
Ing h dim glimmer of light carefully
shaded from the bed. II wouldn't have
Eliza wake up for the world" he
thought, with a dry smile: IF she knew
l forgot that clock I'd never hear the
last Of 1t"
With much care, lest the creaking
Of the worn and carpetless boards
should betray him to his wife, Ezra
Tuttle proceeded, and had arrived safe
-ly at the fourth step when a startling
noise from behind caused him to nearly
drop the lamp.
He heard distinctly the tap OF a stick
and the shutting, sliding step of some
ne-a ma rant1v old and in frrn-Ialih.
erately feeling the way downstairs at
ter him. Raising his light, he turned
and stared at the landing he had just
quilted. 1t was absolutely vacant.
What a fool 1 be-" he calculated I'M
der his breath. II might ha' known
there wasn't nothin' there"
a trife ashamed, yet feeling decid-
edly shaky, he faced about to continue
his journey--and his very first step
brought a repetition of the ghostly
sounds; the invisible stick struck the
stair sharply. followed by the same
curious. shuffing footstep.
lnvoiuntarily a vision rose out of
the past Of a stout Did lady, short
breathed. n bent with age and rheu-
matism. making her way l~aboriously
over the same stairs; even the stick
whose uncanny tapping was rending
his nerves to shreds should have been
81 rights resting quietly aga:ast-sh the
wall OF the spare room cupboard-he
remembered placing it there himself
the day it's owner had taken to her bed
for the last time.
A cold sweat broke out on the old
man's forehead and he leaned weakly
against the banister. It's Aunt Nab
by" he thought. striving vainly to
steady the shaking lamp, while I'M
up and down his spine, "she always
vowed she'd come back"
rs that you, Aunt Nabby?" he whis-
pered hoarselv ZOOS If it is, JUS say
what tits o WANT amt afraid, not
bit"
Their was no reply. Gathering cour-
you're put out c 0 I sold that lower
meado of your'n? You always de-
clared you'd appear to me If I did. but
! don't think it's quite right to blame
me for dom it-'twasn't nuthin' but a
marsh anyhow, eating itself up in
taxes-you'd have sold it yourself in a
for it,.
Cant you say nuthin'?" he quav-
cred mtserably. You used to be ready
enough with YOU tongue when things
didn't suit you. Maybe it amt the
after ALL" a sudden prophetic fear
Chilling. him to the marrow; maybe
mel Have you come to warn me
that I'm going to be took. Aunt
From the floor of the landing came
instantaneous explosive crack.
undin on Mr.. Tuttle's ear like a loud
emphatic affirmative. ooh,
mercy!" he gasped with a jump, that's
1t. I'm going to be took; father and
mother both died suddenly
Anxiously he waited further confr-
but it was not forthcoming:
even a tentative sideways step down
ward failed to produce an answering
stick-tap. Overwhelming conviction as
the truth of his suspicion came home
with crushing force to Ezra's mind.
She's gone" he said aloud, shes Civ
her warnin' and gone back; twasn,t the
meadow h came about; but I kind O,
wish after all I hadn't sold it amt
Ielt Well the whole spring, but I never
Y 1t would come to this"
A dismal groan burst from his uuiy-
ering lips. Needless of his unfinished
errand and the creaking stairs, he hast
lily retraced his steps.
y hope 1t amt goin' to be tonigAat -
ne mediated as he climbed. Maybe I'll
drop on the landing, same as father did
the bayfield,, there's no telling;
there's always been heart disease In
the family. and mine feels frightful
queer now-sort o. f1utters Ike
A strange moisture dimmed his eyes.
It's a cruel shock for Eliza to wake
up and find me laying here dead; Is
don't want to go without seeing her
again, eitherlsides, I might smash the
lamp and set the house afire."
MT. futile held his breath as he
crossed the landing. hut the dreaded
was mercifully withheld, and he
reached the bedside still in the flesh.
y hate to have to tell her" he thought
ruefully, looking down on the face OF
his sleeping wife. She'll take it mighty
hard; We've been together a good many
years, Eliza and l."
a lump swelled painfully In the
throat, and setting down the
lamp ne dropped his hand gently on
the gray head buried In the pillow:
Wake up, Eliza he said m~ournfully.
Mrs. futile opened her eyes and then
sat up. staring With Increasing be-
w~tiderrnent at her husbands detected
figure. -
What on earth are you talking about,
Ezra futile ?" cried his wife, getting
energetically to her feet. II verify be-
heve you've gone crazy, waking me
up In the middle OF the night talking
warnins'! II you're i'll why can't
ynilzGSay aa&an lat ma Git svo1I Gonna