The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-03
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dreamed. as pale girls do. Of the amorous tyranny
and the crushing arms of big red man. And
all the while Red Olaf followed her about like
moon-struck yokel. Until the Ingerbredsen
brothers, taking counsel with Astrid and with
lila. found another man to help them with their
travis.
Then Red Olaf sailed away on the fishing
schooner. kristen-and. strangely. i was Astrid
who seemed to miss him most Of all.
Christmas night there was terrific storm of
the New England coast, and the Kristen was
damaged. and put into Windham for repairs. She
was there for three months while Red Olaf ldled
ir the town. restless and Ill at ease.
One day Olaf sat on the wharf and whitfield.
and saw the lngerbredsens sailing into port. The
thrifty brothers had risen with the dawn--a cold,
travis. and come to Windham to sell their fish.
and get bait which was coming by train from
Boston. Red Olaf greeted them from the wharf.
Bats not coming in til midnight" he told
them. Guess you won't get home tonight"
Peder asked him to help them with their work.
and he agreed. Then. three times before sunset,
Red Olaf asked the brothers il they were going
back to the island that day. AS matter Of fact.
the bait did not arrive until very late. and Pcder
and Jorge spent the remaining hours Of the night
at work on their travis. looking more than once
for the shiftIess Olaf. Nobody could find him.
At the foot Of Salmon Way fisherman left
his dory at supper time. When he had eaten his
supper and returned for the boat. it was gone.
Red Olaf had taken It to row to Bloody
Guilty. Ten miles on winters sea. with the
night full of snow. and the wind shriekhg like
a demon gone mad in the marshes.
TIME. three women were alone on the island.
midnight White. and cold. and frightening.
Had Ian seen some dark figure peering in at the
frosty window? Or smelled the great Red Olaf,
sinking Of fish and rum2 Ulla. in her bed up
stairs, cried out: 'Peder. is that you2"
And Anethc. shivering. drew the little dog
beneath the covers. and answered seepiy:
''Peder frightened me. = So that Ulla. expecting
her husband. explored the icy place beside her
tentatively, to warm it for her man.
But as she shifted the warmth of her big soft
body. there came horrible sound from the
kitchen. Anethe's voice. high and shrl And
the great deep bass Of roaring man. A crash.
And mufled sound. And glass spntering into
fragments. Blows on blows and woman's
scream for pity. =.
"Jesusl Jesus. !. Mercy!"
Ulla ran to the door. and as she opened it,
Astrid. bloody as butcher, fell across the
threshold. Then Ulla. tortured with horror and
fright. ran down stairs to the kitchen. The room
was dark. and Ulla felt her way. holding her
hands before her face. Anethe's bed was empty.
Ulla clutched at the bedclothes. And her
fingers closed on 6shermans jacket. She turned
from the couch, and stumbled toward the mantel.
There were matches and lamp there AS she
reached she stepped on something soft. Her
match Aickered in the darkness. And at her feet
she saw pale Anethe. her Aaxen hair in a crimson
pool. Anethe in her white nightgown.
On the stove was an AK dripping blood. and
wound with strand of golden hair-the ak that
had been used that day to break the ice at the
we'll And Ulla saw iaunty cap with gold
braid and brave brass buttons-Red Olat's cap,
on the floor where Anethe lay.
Then Ulla opened her mouth and emitted fear
full sounds. and fell to her knees, groveling in
Anethe's blood and gnawing at her blood-soaked
braid.
Astrid, while this horrible thing was happen
ing in the Kitchen looked from her bedroom win
dow, and saw man skulking across the dunes.
And she knew him for Red Olaf. Then she
threw flannel pettcoat about her shoulders and
fed from the carnage into the night.
She ran at FIRST to the hen house, to hide in
cellar beneath that but blind terror held her back.
She knew that Olaf would hunt for her all
through the buildings. and that Jan would bark.
And Olaf did. They found his footprints next
day where he had tramped back and forth.
swinging the bloody AK There were drops Of
blood in the snow where they splashcd from the
blade. like crimson polka dots on a white dress.
Blndly Astrid ran-on and on. Through the
cemetery that made her blood run cold. Break
ing through the crusty snow. Scratching her
ankles on the bare stubble Of prickly vine. and
bushes In the rocks near the ocean she found
refuge. And. claspine Jan to her breast. waited
for the dawn.
TACK in the old gray house light burned
r. Olaf had returned to the slaughter
Then Astrid held Jan closer. and ran like
crazy woman. And when she reached the house
she tiptoed like mad sleuth to the window. and
peered through the frosty pane. And the sight
she saw haunted her all the days Of her life. For
Red Olaf knelt in the candle liQht and cradled