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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1933-10-19, Page 6gasps. "There's trouble in the wind," said the Master. "Ay," answered his laconic son. All day there had been no breath of air, and the sky dangerously blue. But now a world of 'black was surging up from the horizon, smothering the star lit night; and small dark clouds, like puffs of smoke, detaching themselves from the main 'body, were driving tempestuously forward — the van- guard of -the storm. In the 'distance was , low tumbling like heavy tinhrils on the floor of heaven. All about, the wind sounded ;hollow like -a mighty scythe on corn. The air was oppressed with a leaden! 'blackness—no glimmer of light on any 'hand; and as they began the ascent ,of the 'Pass they rea'c'hed out blind hands to feel along the rock -I, face, v'A111jJt A sea -fret, coal and wetting, fell. A 'few big rain -drops splashed heavily dawn, The wind rose with a leap and roared past them tip the rocky 'track.' And the water -gates of heaven were 'flung wide, Wet and weary, they battled on; thinking som'etimes of the cosy parlor behind; sometimes of the home in front; wondering whither Maggie, in flat contradiction of 'her father's or- ders, would be up to welcome them; or 'whether only 10'wd 'Bob would PAGE SIX THE SEAFORTH NEWS. fru "Na, na. No cant, if ye please, James Moore. That'll eiblins go down wi' the parsons, but not wi' me. t ken youand you ken me, and all the whitewash i' th' warld'll no de- ceive us." The Master turned away, and .his lace was hard as the nether millstone. 'But the little ratan pursued him; "I was nigh forgettin'," he said. "I've a surprise for ye, James Moore. 'But 'I hear it's yer 'birthday on Sunday and I'll keep it till then—hel he!" "Yell see me before Sunday, 11\f' - _Adam," the other answered. "On Saturday, as +I told yo', I'm cumin' to see if yo've done yer duty." "Whether ye come, James Moore, is your business. Whether yell iver go, once there, I'll mak' mine. :I've warned ye twice noo"—and the little man laughed that harsh, cackling laugh of his. At the door ofthe hall the Master met .David. "Noo, lad, yo're comin' along w•i' :Andrew and 'nee," he said; "Maggie'll niver forgie us if we dinna bring ,yo' home wi' us." "Thank you kindly, Mr. Moore," the boy replied. "I've to see squire 'first; and then yo' may be sure 1'11 be after you." The Master faltered a moment. "David, ha'n yo' spoke to yer father yet?" he asked in a low voice. "Yo' should, lad." 'The boy made a gesture of dissent. "I canna," he said petulantly. I would, lad," the other advised. "An' yo' don't yo' may be sorry after." :As he turned away he heard the 'boy's steps. dull and sodden, as he crossed the hall; and then a thin, would-be cordial voice in the empti- ness: "I declar' if 'tfsna David! The re- turn o' the Prodeegal—he! hel So ye- ve seen yer aul.d dad at last, and the last; the proper place, say ye, for yer father—he! he! Eh, lad, but I'm blithe to see ye, D'ye mind schen we. was last thegither? Ye was kneelin' .on ma chest: 'Your tune's come, dad,' says you, and wangs me o'er the face —he! he! 'I mind it as if 'twas yester day. Weel, weal, we'll say nae mair about it. 'Boys will be boys. Sons will be sons, Accidents will happen.: ,And if at first ye don't succeed, why,' try, try gain-hel he!" Dusk was merging into ,darkness when the Master and Andrew reached! the Da'fesman's Daughter,- at had: been long dark when they emerged from the cosy parlor of the inn and plunged out into the night, As they crossed the Silver Lea and trudged over that 'familiar ground,' where a 'fortnight since had been fought .otrt the battle of the Cup, the: wind fluttered past them in spasmodic! S THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1933. come oust to 'meet them, The wind volleyed past 'them like salvoes of artillery. The rain stormed at them ifront above; spat at them from .the rock -face; and lept vp at then from their feet, Once they.halted for s, moment, finding 'a miserable :shelter in a 'cre- vice of .the rock, • "It's a IB•lack'Kil'ler's night," panted the Master. "I reok'n he's oot." "Ay," the boy gasped, • "reok'n he is." Up and up they climbed through the blackness, blind and buffeted. The eternal thunder of the rain :was all about them; the clamor of the gale above; and far beneath, the roar of angry 'w'aters. iOnce, in a. lull in the .storm, the Master turned and looked back into the blackness along the path' they had come. "'Did ye hear onythin'?" the roared above the muffled soughing of the wind. "Nay!" Andrew shouted ,back, "I thowt 'I heard a step:" 'the Mas- ter cried, peering dawn. ,But ,nothing could he see, Then the wind 'lea -ped to -life again like a giant 'from his sleep, drowning all sound with its hurricane voice; and they turned and bent to their task a- gain. Nearing the summit, the Master turned once more. "There it was again:" he called; but his words were swept away on the storm; and they buckled to the struggle afresh. Ever and anon the moon ,gleamed down through the riot of tossing sky. Then they could see the wet .wall a- bove then, with the water 'tumbling down its sheer face; and 'far below, in the roaring gutter of the Pass a brown -stained torrent. 'Hardly how- ever, had they time to glance around when a mass of .cloud would hurry jealously pp, and all again Was ,black- ness and noise. At length, nigh spent, 'they tapped the last and steepest pitch of-the+Pass, and emerged into the iDevil's IB'owl. There, overcome with their .exertions, they flung themselves on to the soak- ing ground to draw breath. !Behind them, the wind rustled with a sullen roar up the funnel of the Pass,- 'It screamed above them as though ten million devils were a -horse and blurted out on to the wild Mar- ches 'beyond. As they lay there, still panting, t'h'e 'noon gleamed down in momentary graciousness. lIn front, 'through the lashing rain, they could discern the hillocks that squat, .hag -like, round the Devil's ;Bowl; and lying in its bosom, its white waters, usually 'so still, ploughed now into a 'tlsousand fur- rows the Lone Tarn. The Master raised 'his 'head' and craned forward at the glhostly scene. Of a sudden he reared 'himself on to his arms, .and stayed motionless a- while. Then he dropped as 'though dead, forcing down 'Andrew with an iron hand. "Lad, did'st see?" 'he whispered, "Nay! what was't?" 'bh'e boy replied, roused by his father's Colne. "There!" IBut as the Master pointed 'forward, a'b'lur of cloud intervened and all was dark, Quickly it passed; .and again the lantern of the night shone down. And Andrew, looking with 'all .his eyes, saw indeed. There, in .front, by the fretting waters of the Tarn, packed in a solid phalanx, 'with every head turned in the same direction, was a 'flack of sheep. They were motionless, all - intent, staring with ,horror -'bulging eyes. A 'column of steam rose from their bodies into the rainepierced air, Panting and palpitating, yet they stood with their.backs to the water, as though determined to sell their lives dearly. !Beyond them, not fifty yards away, crouched a bump -hacked boulder, casting a long, misshapen shadow in the 'moonl'ight. And be- neath it 'were two black objects, one still struggling feebly. "The 'Kibler:" 'gasped the 'boy, and, ail ablaze with excitement, 'began for- • ging forward. "Steady, lad, steady:" - urged . his father, d'rop'ping a restraining hand on the boy's shoulder. Above them a 'huddle o'f clouds flung in furious riot across the night, and the moon was. veiled. "Follow, lad!" ordered the Master, and began to crave' silently forward. As stealthily ._Andrew pursued. And over the sodden ground they crept, one behind the other, like ,two night- hawks on some foul errand. lOn,'they crawled, lying prone dur- ing ,the 'blinks of 'moon, stealing for- ward in the dark; till, at length, the sw'is'h of the rain on the waters Of the Tarn, and the sobbing of 'th'e 'flock in front, warned them they were near. They ,skirted the trembling pack, passing so close as to brush against the flanking sheep; and yet unnoticed, for the sheep were :sone-alesorlbed itt the tragedy id .front. !Only, when the moon was in, ,Andrew could hear them huddling and sltamping ilii, the d'ark- ne'ss, And again, as it ,shone out, 'fearfully they edged olo:ser to watch the 'bloody play. Along the Tarn edge the two crept. And still the gracious 'moon hid their approach, and the drunken wind drowned with its revelry the sound of their c'ominlg, ISo they stole on, on hands and knees, with 'hearts aghast and flu'tter- ing breath; until, of a sudden, in a dell o'f ,wind, they could hear, right 'before them, the smack and .slobber of bloody lips, chewing their ,bloody meal. "Say thy prayers, :Red 'Wulf. Thy bast minute's come!" muttered the :faster, rising to his knees, Then, in Andrew's . ear: •°''When I rush, lad, follow!" For he 'thought, when th'e moon rose, to jump in on 'the great dog, and, surprising him as he lay gorged and unsuspicious, to deal ,him one terrible swa'shin'g,'b'lblw, and end forever the •lawless, doings of the Tailless Tyke, The moon flung off its veil of cloud. White and gold, it stared down into the Devil's IBo'wl, on murderer and murdered. Within a h'and's cast of the aven- gers of bioiod humped the black bawl - der. 'On the 'border .o'f its shadow lay a dead sheep; and standing beside the body, his coat all ruffled by the 'hand of the storm'-Owd 'Bo'b-On'd Bob o' Kenmuir, Then the light went in, and dark- ness covered the land. thing worse 'Mian- sheep -murder i'n th dreadful lonesomeness of the Devil' Bowl upon that night; ibut of a sud den, there so'un'ded the splash of m'an's foot falling heavily behind; hand bike •a falling tree smote th Master on the shoulder; and a eso'ic roared above the noise offthe storm "Mr. Moorel Look, than! look!" The Master tried to shake off than detaining grasp; but dt-'pinn ed 'h'!1 where he was, immovable. "Look, S tell yo'!" cried that grea vaice again. A hand pushed past hien and point ed; and sullenly he turned, ignorin the ;figure at his side and looked, 'Tile wind had ,dropped suddenly a it 'had 'nisei; the little 'nnain on th m!oun'd :had ceased to chuckle; And rew's sobs -were :tushed; and in th baolcground the huddled flock edge closer. The world thong balanced o the ,p'innpoint o'f 'the 'nvo'ment, •Ever 'eye was in the one directioon. With dull, uncomprehending gaze James Moore stared as 'bidden. There was !the gray dog naked in the moon- light, heedless still off any w'itnesses there the murdered sheep, lying with in and without thlat .distorted shade andthere the humpb'ac'ked boulder. IH'e stared into the shadow, and stili! stared. Then he started as though struck. The shadow of the boulder had mov- ed.l Motionless, with head shot forward and b'ud'ging eyes, he gazed. lAy, ay, ay; the was' sure of it—a huge dim ou'bline• as of a lion coudh- gnit, in the very thickest of .the blac'k- nes's. At that he was seized 'wit'h such palsy of trem'bl'ing that •he must hay .fallen 'but for ,the s'tron'g arm ahoy his waist Clearer every moment grew that crou'c'hing' figure; till at length they plainly could discern the zine of arch- ing' loins, the crest, thick as a s'tal- lion's,' th'e massive, wagging -head. No mistake this time, There he lay in the deepest 'blac'k, gigantic, revelling in 'his 'horrid debauch—lfhe 'Black Killer! And they watched ltitn at his feast. Now 'he 'burrowed into the spongy flesh; Doer turned to 'lap the dark pool which glittered in the moonlight at his' side like claret in a silver 'cup. Now lifting his 'head, he snapped ir- rltably at the raindrops, and the moon ,c'au'ght hisnvi'cked, rolling eye and the red shreds of ,flesh dripping from his jaw, And again, raising his great nuzzle as if about to howl, he let -the delicious nectar 'trickle down his throat and ravish his palate. So he went on, all unsuspicious, wisely nodding in slow -mouthed glut- tony. And in the stillness, between the claps of wind, they could hear the shacking of his lips. While all the time the 'gray dog stood before✓him, motionless, as though carved in stone. At last, as the ni,urderer rolled his great 'head from side to side, be saws that still ifigure. At the sight he 'leap- ed back, dismayed. Then with a deep - mouthed roar that shook the waters of the Tarn he was up and across his victim with fangs bared, his coat 'standing erect in wet, rigid furrows :from topknot to tail. ISo the two stood, face to. face, with perhaps a yard of rain -pierced air 'be- tween them. The Wind hushed its sighing to lis- ten. The moon stared down, .white and dumb; Away .at the back the sheep edged c'lo'ser, While save for the ev- erlasting thunder of 'the rain, there was utter stillness. An age, it seemed, they Waited so. Then a voice, clear yet low and far away, like a bugle in a distant city, broke the silence: "'Eh, '\Vul'lie l" it said. There was no anger in the tones, only an incomparable reproach; the sound of the cracking of a man's heart. At the call the great dog leapt round, snarling in hideous passion. He sew the small, familiar 'figure, clear -,cut against the- tumbling sky; el 1Go elle mound above stood his s Inas'ter.. The little malt's white hair was 'bared to the night wind; the rain a trickled down his face;':and :his hands a were folded ibehind his back, He Stood e there, looking do't•n into the dell be- e low hien, as a man may stand at the toan'b of leis lately buried wilfe. And. there was such an expression on 'his t ifaee as I cann'o't describe. t1 "Wuilte, Wnt't1ie, to mel" he cried at 'length; and his voice sounded t :Iwcalc and fair, like a disitamt memory. At that, the huge br'u'te came ,crawl- - ing toward hhn on his 'belie,, whimp- ering as he came, very' pitiful in his distress: 'II'e' knew his. fate as every sheep -dog knows it. That .troubled him not. +His insufferable ,pains was that this, his friend and father, who nhal trusted him, should have found him its his sin. ISo he crept up to his master's feet; y and the little mart never uuaved. - "'Wtfll'ie—era W1.1.111el" •ire said very genitly, "Th'ey've aye bin agin nae— and non yout A man's atiithel—'a m'an's wife -a :man's dog! they're,- ail I iver had; end noo ain o' They ;three has turned Agin reel af'udeed I am alone!" At that the great dog raised hien self, and placing his forepaws •on his masters chest tenderly, lest he 'should hurt him who was already hurt past healing, s'too'd towering above him; while- the little man laid ..his two cold hands on the dog's shoulders. !So they . stood, looking at one alt - other, like man nand his love. e d n a e CHAPTER XXIIX !It was .O'wd 'Bob. There could he no mistaking.`' In the wide world there was •but. one 'Owd 'Bob o' !Kenmtuir. The silver moon gleamed dawn on the dark head and rough gray coat, and lit up the white •escutcheon on his chest. And in the darkness 'James Moore was lying with his face pressed down that he might not see. Once 'he raised himself on his arms, 'His eyes were shut and face uplifted, like a •blind man praying. 'He 'passed a weary hand across itis brow; his head dropped again; and he moaned and moaned like a man in everlasting pain. Then the darkness lifted a moment, and he stole a furtive glance, like a murderer's at the gallows -tree, at the scene in front. It was no dream; clear and cruel in the moonlight the hu'mp'backed boulder; the dead sheep; and that gray ,figure, beautiful, motionless, damned for all eternity. The :faster turned his face and looked at Andrew, a .dumb, pitiful entreaty in his eyes;; but in the boy's whi te, horror-stricken countenance was no comfort. Then his 'head lolled down again, and the strong man was whimpering. "Hel hel hel ,Scuse ma laffin', Mr. Moors—hel hal the l" A little man, 'all ,wet and shrunk, sat h'unc'hing on a mound above them, rocking his shrivelled form to and from in the agony .of his merri- ment, erriment, "Ye raskil—hel he! Ye rogue—hel he!" and he shook his fist waggishly at the u'ncons'cious gray dog. "'I owe ye anither grudge for this—ye've an- ticipated me"—and he leant 'b'ack and shook this way and that in convulsive mirth. The man below him rose heavily to his feet, and tumbled toward the mocker, 'his great 'figure swaying from side to side as though in blind delir- ium, moaning still as he went. And there was that on his face which no m,an can mistake.' Boy that the was, Andrew knew it. "Feytherl feytherl do'ee note" he pleaded, running after his father and Paying impotent hands on 'hian. 'But the strong man shook him off like a fly, and rolled on, swaying and groaning, with that awful expression plain to see in the moonlight, Ian front 'the little man squatted in the rain, b'o'wed double stilly and took no thought to flee; 'Come on, Janes Moore! Come on I" he laughed, malignant joy in 'his voice; and something gleamed bright in his right ]rand, and was hid again. "I've bin 'wa'itin' ,this a Weary while noo. Come on!" Then ,had there been done s'o'me- and for the only time in ,his life Red, Wull was afraid, His blood -foe was forgotten; the dead sheep was forgotten; everything was sunk in the agony o'f that mom- ent, 'He cowered upon the ground and a cry like that o'f a lost soul was wrung from him; it rose . on the still !'tight air and fl'o'ated, wailing, away; and the •w'hite waters of the Tarn thrilled in cold pity; out of the lonely hollow; .over the desolate Marches; into the night. At M'A'dan's word, O•wd Bob l'oo'ked up, and for the first time saw 'his master, IHe seemed tel nowise startled, but trotted over to him. There was noth- ing fearful in his carriage, no haunt- ing bIood,gu'iltiness in the true gray eyes which never told a lie, -which never, dog -like, .failed to look you in the face. Yet his tail was low, and, as he stopped at his master's feet, he was quivering. For he, too, knew, and was not ,unmoved. " 'For weeks be had tracked the Kill- er; for w-eeks he had followed: ;tint as 'he crossed Kenlnuir, bound on his bloody errands; yet always had 'lost hien on the marches. Now, at last, 'he had run him to the ground. Yet his heart went out .to his enemy in :his distress. • thowt Chad 'been yo', lad," the Master w'his'pered, 'his hand on the dark head at his knee—•"I thowt .Chad bin yo'!" (Rooted to the ground, the three Watched the scene between. M'A'dann and his (Wall .In 'the end the Master was whimp- ering; Andrew crying, and David turned his back. "Had 'I--skould (I go to ;him " ask- ed David (coarsely, nodding toward his father, "Nay, nay, 'lad," •the 'Master replied, "Yon's not a •matter for a mop's friends," ISo they m'arc'hed out 'o'f the Devil's Bowl, : and left those two 'alone toge- ther, A little later, as they trampled M- eng, James Moore heard little patter- ing, staggering footsteps behind. 11•Ie' stopped, and the other two went an. "Man," a voice whispered, and a face, White and pitiful, like a mother's pleading for her child, looked into his —'Man, ye'll n•o tell them a'? fI'd no like 'em to ken 'teas ma Wullie !'drink an. Oiled 'bin yer ain dog." "You may trust mei" the other, an- swered thickly. The little man stretched out a pal- sied 'hand, 'lGie us yer hand out. And God bless ye, James Moore!" - ISo these two shook 'hands .!'n the moonlight, with none to witness it' but the God who made them. And that is why the -mystery of the'. !Black Killer is yet unsolved in the Dlatleland, Many 'have surmised; be- sides .those three only one other knows—knows now which .o,f those two he saw ,upon a summer night was the gu'il'ty, which the innocent , And, Po's'bie 'J'im tells no .man. 'GH!AIPTE'R XXX lOn the following morning there was h ,sheep -auction at the ,Dale'sntan's Daughter. 'Early as many of the farmers ar- rived, there was one e'a'rlier. Tupper, WWWWWWWW A DOLLAR'S WORTH Clip this coupon and mail it with Si for a six weeks' trial subscription to THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR Published by Tire CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SocfarY • Boston, Massachusetts, U. B. A. In It you will find the deny good news of the world. from Its 600 special writers, a6 well se elepartmeats devoted to women's and children's interests, sports, mimic, finance, edacatlon, radio, etc You Will be glad to welcome into your home eo fearless an advocate of peace end prohibition. And don't miss Snubs, Our Dog, and the Sundial and the other features. Tx! CHRISTIAN Screens MONlros, Back Bay Station, Boston, Mass. Please send me a sir. weeks' trial subscription. 3; enclose one dollar (s1). J‘ ' (ToNn) (State) (Nene, AIRBAG print) (Address) a1 PROFESSIONAL CARDS`. Medical DR. H. HiUGH ROSS, 'Phyairien and Surgeon. Late of London Hos- pital, London, England, Special attention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and . resi- dence behind, Dominion Bank, Celt+ ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3rd Monday in Phone No. 5; Residence Ph'one 104. • DR. F. J. BURROWS, Seaforth Office and residence, Goderich s'treetc, east of the United Church, Ooeoper for the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46, DR. F. J. R. 1 ORRSTER- Eye, Ear Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medi- cine, University of Toronto 1897, Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Ins'titute, Moorefield's: Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London, England. At Comm- ercial Hotel, !Sea!for.th,.3td !Monday iso each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m; DIR. W. C. SP!RIOIAT,--'Graduate od Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London. Member of College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Ontario. Office in rear of Aber'hart's drug store, Sea'forths Phone •90. Hours 1.304 p,m., 7.30 -9 p.m. OR'her hours by appointment,. Dental DR. J. A. M'U'N'N, Successor to. Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North— western University, Chicago, I'll. Li— centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. Office over Sills' hardware, Main St, Seafdrth. Phone. 151. DR. F. J. BIECIdELY, graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeon, Toronto. Office over W. R. Smith's grocery, Main St., Seaforth. Phones, office 185'W, residence 185j. Auctioneer. GEORGE ELIJIDOTT, . Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. 'Arrangements can be made for Salt Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guran'teed. WATSON AND REID'S REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Succssors to James 'Watson) bLAUIIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies, THE McKILLOP Mutual tuai Fire Insurance Co, HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont OFFICERS *Geo.. R. McCartney, "'Seaforth Pres, James Connolly, Goderich - Vice -Tres. Merton A. Reid, Seaforth-Sec, Treas. ' AGENTS: W. E. Hinchley, Seaforth; John Murray, R. R. 3, Seaforth; ' E. R. G. Jamm'outh, Brodhagen; James Watt, 'Blyth; C. IF. Hewitt, !Kincardine; Wm, Yeo, HblmesviLle, DIRECTORS: William Knox,'Lond'esboro; George Leantardt, Brod'hagen; James !Con- nolly, Goderioh; Alex, Broa'dfoot, No. 3, Seaforth; Robert Ferris, Blyth; George McCartney, No. 3, Seaforth; John Pepper,'Rruoefie1d; James S'ho1- dice, Walton; 'Phomas. Moylan, No. 5, Seaforth. Parties desirous to effect insurano, or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers ad- dressed to their respective post offices. the first man to enter the sand -'floored parlor, found MTAd'a'in before 'him. IHe was sitting a little forward in his chair; his thin hands rested on his lances; and on :his face was a gentle, dreamy .expression such as no lean had ever seen there before. All the !iansh' wrinkles seemed •to have fled in the night; and, ithe sour face, stamped deep with the bitterne's's of life, was softened new, as if at length at peace. (To Be 'Continued,) Far .Rheumatic Tains.—The l„ pains and aches of Sciatica and Rheuma- tism should be treated with Dr. Thomas' Eclectric ION. The soothing and healing properties of this famous remedy have been, demonstrated for fifty years. Use it also for inflam- matory pains, cuts, scratches, bruises and sprains, either in 'human beings or the lower animlals.