Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1910-12-01

walking. We were to dine and sleep
at the house Of one Of the foresters.
| was going there to hunt. My guide
once In awhile looked UP and NUT
tered Bad weather Then he told me
OF the people with whom we were to
so1ourn. The father had murdered q
wood chopper two years previous, and
since then he was morose, as though
haunted with the remembrance of It,
His two married sons lived with him.
We still had some distance to go, the
darkness was profound, l could see
nothing In front of me, and the
branches OF the trees knocking against
each other, filed the night with un-
earthly sound. Finally perceived
q light, and soon my companion
knocked at a door.
Piercing cries coming from with
In responded to our knock. Then q
half-smothered voice of a man asked:
Who Is it?' My guide gave his name,
and we entered-then we witnessed
strange sight. An old white-haired
man, with the wild eye of maniac.
a 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.
l await him again tonight he added;
In q manner that made me smile: We
are a little BIT upset
Il did my best to quiet them, glad
that happened that night and would I;
be able to witness the superstitious,
fear Of these people. l told them story
after story. Near the fre place lay;
an old, half-blind dog. Outside tie.
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, l felt my
self possessed OF the wild terror that
cowed the others. Whenever I
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 a, leap from his chair,
seized his gun. suffering in broken
voice:
There he is-there he Il. I 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-
NAMED motionless, as though contem-
plating vision. His hair stood on
end, foam came to his mouth and he
uttered the most terrifying yells con-
ceivable. He seemed to SO something
Invisible. The old man, livid with ter.
ror, whispered:
He knows the scent. He knows
The was there when I killed him!'
THE wretched women began to
yroan 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
ng dog and frantic people was really
For an hour the dog kept up his
noise without intermission; he
noaned and cried az II in agony. Fear.
he most overpowering fear, took pos
session Of me. Fear of what?' know
lot. 1t was simply paralyzing, unrea-
ioning fear. That was all.
I'VE remained immovable, listening.
'ur hearts humping, upset at the
east sound. expecting something
which seemed to come nearer and
learer. Then the dog rose, walked
bout the room smelling the walls and
Ittering groans and bowls. This AMI
nal drove u0 wild. Suddenly my
,uide, with sort Z paroxysm of ter!
or, grabbed him, opened the door and;
brew him out into the fearful dark.
hen he sank back half dead. None;
4 us moved. terrified even more than,
'efore. Suddenly, like an electric;
hook, we all felt sort Of trembling,
ASS through us. Something glided;
gainst the outside wall, toward the
: est. 1t passed the door, at which
seemed to feel hesitatingly; then
gain all was silent, such a silence as;
0 make you lose your very mind.
gain 1t returned, rubbed against the;
rails, scratching as a child might do
nth its nail.
AT this moment a head appeared:
I the peephole-s white head with,
la2ing eyes, like wild animals. We;
card long, pitiful, indistinct soun1.:
Ike an agonized whisper, then were:
eafened by a sharp report. The old;
ian had pulled the trigger of his gun: