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Speaker 1: Though well by Julian Killman Jeremiah Hubbard toiled with a

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team of horses in a piece of ground some distance

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down the road from his dwelling. When it neared five

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o'clock in the autumn afternoon, he unwound the lines from

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his waist, unhooked the traces, and started home with his horses.

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He was a heavy man, a bit under middle aged,

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with a dish shaped face and narrow set eyes. He

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walked with vigor. One of the horses lagged a trifle,

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and he struck it savagely with a short whip. They

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came presently to the Eldridge dwelling, abandoned and tumbled down

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on the opposite side of the road. The farm was

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being worked on shares by a man named Simpson, who

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lived five miles away, and drove a tin Lizzie. An

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ancient oak tree, the tremendous circumference of its trunk, marred

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by signs of decay, reared splendid narled branches skyward. These

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branches shaded a disused well, a well that had been

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the first one in Nicholas County, having been dug in

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the early fifties by the pioneering Eldridge family. It went

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forty feet straight down into the residual soil characteristic of

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the locale, but owing to improve drainage, it had become dry.

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Nothing remained of the old pumphouse, save the crumbling circle

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of stonework around the mouth to give evidence of its

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one time majesty. A child of eight ran from the

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rear of the premises. Hubbard frowned and stopped his team.

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You better get away from there, he growled, or you'll

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fall into the well. The girl glanced at him impishly.

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You and missus Hubbard don't speak to each other, do you.

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Hubbard's face went black. His whip sprang out and caught

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the girl around the life les. She yelped and ran

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an eighth of a mile further along the road. Hubbard

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turned in and drove his team to a big barn

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he fed his stock. It was after six when he

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entered the house. This was a structure that, by comparison

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with the gigantic barn in the rear, seemed pigmy like.

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A sallow, flat chested woman with a wisp of hair

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twisted into a knot took from Hubbard the two pails

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of milk he carried she set them in the kitchen.

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The two exchanged no words. Hubbard strode to the washstand,

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his boots thumping the floor, and performed his abolitions. He

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rumpled his hair and beard, using much soap and water,

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and blowing stenerously. In the dining room, a girl of

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twelve sat with a book. As her father came in.

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She glanced at him timorously. He gave no heed to

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her as he slumped down into a chair, standing before

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a death. The desk was littered with papers, among which

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were typewritten sheets of a sort referred to as pleadings.

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There was a tidal search, much bethumbed and black along

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the edges where the setouts had been scanned with obvious care.

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The man adjusted a pair of antiquated spectacles to his

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dish face. To do this, he was compelled to pull

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the ends of the bows tight back over the ears,

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as his nose afforded practically no bridge to support the glasses. Presently,

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he spoke to the girl, tell your mother to bring

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on supper. The girl hastened out, and shortly thereafter the

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mother appeared carrying dishes. Food was disposed around the table

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in silence. The farmer ate gustily, and in ten minutes

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finished his meal. Then he addressed his daughter, keeping his

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eyes averted from his wife. Tell your mother, he said

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that I'll want breakfast at five o'clock tomorrow morning. Where

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are you going, pa, asked the girl. I'm going to

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drive to the county seat to see lawyer Simmons. Hubbard's

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gaze followed the girl as she helped clear the table.

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Look at here, he said, you've been a talking to

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the Harper child. No, returned the daughter with a trace

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of spirit. But I just saw her father over by

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the fence. What was he had doing there? I didn't stay.

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I was afeared he'd catch me watching him. Hubbard glowered

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and reached for his hat. I'll find out, he snarled.

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Walking rapidly, he crossed a field of wheat stubble, keeping

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his eyes fixed sharply ahead. It was dusk, but presently

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at the northern extreme of his premises, he made out

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the figure of a man. Hey, Harper, he shouted, you

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let that fence be. He ran forward swiftly. The men

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were now separated by two wire strand fences that paralleled

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each other only three feet apart. These fences matching one

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another for a distance of about two hundred yards. Each

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farmer claimed title to the fence on the side furthest

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from his own represented the basis of the litigation over

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the boundary claim that had gone on between them for

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four years. The odd spectacle of the twin fences had

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come to be one of the show places in the county.

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It had been photographed and shown in agricultural journals. I

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don't trust ya, Harper, announced Hubbard, breathing hard. You got

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the inside track with Jedge Bissell, and the two of

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you as a schemen to beat me. A laugh broke

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from the other. I'll beat you, all right, he said coolly.

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But it won't be because Judge Bissel is unfair. His

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manner enraged Hubbard, who rushed swiftly up to the fence

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and threw himself over With equal celerity. He clambered over

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the second fence. Startled by the sudden outburst of temper.

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Harper had drawn back. He held aloft a spade. Hubbard

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leaped at him. The spade descended. Harper was slightly built, However,

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the force of the blow did not halt the infuriated man,

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now swinging at him with all his might. They clinched.

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Hobbard's fingers caught at the throat of the smaller man,

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and the two stumbled to the ground. Hubbard, a top

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the fall, broke his grip with his huge fists. He

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began to hammer the body. He continued until it was

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limp Then his rage suddenly appeased. He drew back and

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stared at the inert figure lying strangely quiet, so he gasped.

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There came the sound of someone singing, the voice floating

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distinctly through the night air. Hubbard recognized it for that

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of an itinerate free Methodist minister whose church in Ovid

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he and his family occasionally attended. The song rolled forth

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as the Man of God drove along the highway. In

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his rig was Jesus, Lover of my soul. For the moment,

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Hubbard shielded his face with an arm as to ward

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off an invisible thing. Then, bending over the prostrate form,

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he ran his hands inside the clothing to test the

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action of the heart. He performed the act mechanically because

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he knew he had killed his man. He discovered the

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hand bag. Evidently, Harper was on his way to Ovid

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to catch the train to the county's seat. Or the

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trial on the morrow. This meant that he would not

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be missed by his wife for at least twenty four hours.

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The murderer studied his next move where to secrete the body.

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A piece of wood lay back of him, but he

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was aware that it was constantly combed by squirrel hunters.

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He thought of the railroad. Why not an accident killed

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by the very train he was bound for. He started

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to lug the body toward the track, which passed half

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a mile to the north. Realizing, however, that for the

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time at hand the distance was too great, he let

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the body slide to the ground. Next, he stole along

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the twin fences to the highway and peered both ways.

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No one seemed abroad. He came back on the dead run,

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and in twenty minutes he had carried the body to

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the Eldridge premises and flung it down the ancient well.

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When he returned, he found his wife and daughter together

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in the parlor, where with the itinerate preacher, all three

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were kneeling on the floor in prayer. Hubbard unceremoniously nudged

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the clergyman. That'll do, he said. The minister rose, his tall,

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lanky frame towering over hubbard brother, he began in an

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orotoned voice. Come with the lord. Yes, I know, returned

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Hubbard with a patience that surprised his wife. But I've

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got something to talk over with my family, he paused. Here,

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he added, feeling in his pocket and producing a small coin.

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Take this and go. When the preacher had left, Hubbard

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called to his daughter. Harper was gone when I got

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over to the fence. What kept you so long? I

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walked over to the woods. There's a nesta coons. They're

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going to play havoc with the corn, he smiled, unnaturally.

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Look here, if we catch him, I'll give you the

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money they're pelt to bring. Hubbard divined that his acting

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was poor. Both the girl and his wife were frankly

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regarding him well. He shouted, what's the matter with you? Oh?

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Nothing paught nothing, whimpered the girl. Then go to bed,

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the two of you. Next morning, Hubbard started for the

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county seat, a ten mile drive. He returned that evening

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and complained that the case had been adjourned because Harper

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had failed to appear in court. The following day, he

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went back to his field far down the road for

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more plowing. Twice. He was called to the roadside by

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a passer by to discuss the disappearance of Harper. One

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morning a week later, when he came along the road

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with his team, he discovered the Harper child on the

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Eldridge premises. She was sitting at the edge of the

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well with a suppressed oath. He dropped the lines and

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half walked, half ran to where the little girl sat.

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Didn't I tell you to stay away from there, he exploded.

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The girl stared at him but made no move, though

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her lips quivered. Hubbard glanced back to observe the road.

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Then he caught her arm. Go home, he shouted. He

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spun her roughly. She continued to stare at him as

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she retreated homeward. All that morning, Hubbard worked his horses hard.

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He realized that he was eager to go back by

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the Eldridge dwelling promptly at twelve o'clock. Therefore, he tied

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his team and started up the road. A flash of

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relief came to him when he did not observe the

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little girl. It left him cold. However, eat and dinner,

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he mumbled. He moved off without looking into the well

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until four o'clock. That afternoon, he labored. On the way home,

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he discovered the girl again, seated by the well. She

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was bending over and acting queerly. Hurrying his horses to

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the roadside, he looped the lines over one of the

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posts in the old snake fence. As he approached, he

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saw her toss a piece of stone down the hole.

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Hubbard waited until he was sure of his voice. Come

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with me, he said, Gripping the girl, he started with

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her toward her home a short distance away. When they

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arrived the front door was Ajar, A woman with red

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eyes from weeping, looked at Hubbard in silence. Here, he

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said gruffly, this child ought to be kept home. She'll

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fall into the well. Missus Harper merely reached out her

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arms for her daughter. Hubbard remained standing awkwardly. Have you

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heard anything of Harper yet? He asked. I don't want

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to talk to you, replied the woman. Hubbard turned on

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his heel. Waiting for him by his horses was a

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deputy sheriff. The two of them further discussed the disappearance.

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If you yourself wasn't so well known, Jeremiah finally declared,

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the official they'd be thinking you was in it some way? Why,

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grunted the farmer as he untied the lines, Well, everybody

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knows you and Harper been a lawn at it for years.

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Over the boundary line, Hubbard achieved a laugh. I'll tell

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you where Harper is. He cleared out, that's what I think.

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Deserted his family. That night and many following nights, Hubbard

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did not sleep. Some weeks later, a tremendous electrical storm

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broke in the night. One peculiarly heavy clap so startled

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the wakeful Hubbard that he leapt from his bed and dressed.

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In the pouring rain, he started out. Inevitably, his steps

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took him toward the well. It was black. He could

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not see it first, but another flash came and he

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observed the strange thing. The huge oak standing at the

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side of the well had been split in two by lightning,

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and one portion of the tree had fallen over the

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mouth of the hole. Next morning, Simpson, the man with

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the tin Lizzie, stopped at Hubbard's place. He was a

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blunt spoken, red faced man whom Hubbard hated. That was

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a bad storm last night, he said. The lightning struck

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the big oak tree by the well. What of it,

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snapped Hubbard. There was a skeleton in the center of

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that tree, explained Simpson. I was talking this morning with

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the sheriff over the telephone. He said. Seventy five years

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ago a man was murdered and ovid and they never

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found his body. This skeleton must be his. Hubbard cleared

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his throat, sharply, what did you do with it? The

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skull and one of the leg bones fell down into

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the well when I tried to gather him up. I

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want to borrow some ropes so I can climb down

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in there for a bare second. Hubbard was silent. What

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you ought to do, he said, gathering himself, is to

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fill up that hole. It's dangerous. Yeah, that's so, But

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I'm gonna get the skull first. It'll be a good exhibit.

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I'm wonderin whether we'll ever find Harper's skeleton. Wait a moment,

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said Hubbard, huskily, starting for the barn. I'll get some

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rope and help you. The two returned to the Eldridge farm.

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They found there the dead man's child. She had perched

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herself on the fallen tree. Damn fool, muttered Hubbard, her

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mother letting her play around here A pulley was rigged

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over the branch and the rope inserted with a board

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for a rest. I'll go down, vouchsafed Hubbard. Simpson looked

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his surprise as he assented. It took Hubbard five minutes

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or so to retrieve the missing skeleton parts. He brought

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them up, the leg bone and the grinning skull. He

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was pale when he hauled himself over the edge. I'm

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going to fill up that hole myself, he said, all right,

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retorted Simpson, handling the skull curiously, Go to it. The

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word traveled of the finding of the ancient skeleton, and

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the inhabitants began driving thither to see the sight. Simpson,

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a man of some ingenuity, had wired the bleach white

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bones together and suspended them from one of the branches

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of the fallen tree. The skeleton dangled and swung in

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the wind. Hubbard, maddened by the delay and publicity, felt

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himself wearing away. He had become obsessed with conviction that

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if the hole were filled, his mind would be at rest.

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The nights of continued sleeplessness were ragging his nerves, and

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he was by this time unable to rein in bed

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he would throw himself down, fully dressed, waiting until the

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others were asleep, then he would steal out. At first,

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he had merely walked to the rose, swinging his arms

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and mumbling, but as the night progressed, his stride would quicken,

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and frequently he would take to running. He would run

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until his lungs were bursting and a slaver fed from

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his mouth. Late, travelers began to catch glimpses of the

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fleeting figure, and the rumor grew that a ghost was

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haunting the locality of the well that the skeleton walked.

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Hubbard grew haggard, but he found himself unable to discontinue

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his nocturnal prowls, some of which took him miles, but

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all of which invariably wound up in one place the well. Here,

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fagged and exhausted, he would sit until the approach of dawn,

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staring at the swiminging skeleton, mouthing incoherencies, praying, singing hymns

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beneath his breath, Laughing. At the approach of dawn, he

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would steal home. At last, after the interest in the

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skeleton has subsided and Simpson had consented to its removal,

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Hubbard loaded his wagon with stones and small boulders and

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started for the well. The first four afternoon he made

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three trips, dumping each time a considerable amount of stones.

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Next morning he worked in an additional trip. He began

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to experience circes, but on the afternoon of the second day,

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when he made another trip, Simpson came over from his

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work in the adjoining field. I wanted to see you yesterday,

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he said quizzically regarding Hubbard. Missus Harper was here. She said,

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her little girl was playing around here and dropped a

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pair of aderons on the well. What of it, Hubbard

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jerked out. You gotta get him out? Why? Because them

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aderons is relics. But you gave me permission to fill

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the hole. I was kidding, you, laughed Simpson. I'm only

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renting the farm. I ain't got nothing to do with

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the house in the yard. Without a word, Hubbard returned

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to his wagon. He got into the seat and drove off.

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In an hour, he came back with the same rope

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that had been used to recover the missing portions of

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the skeleton. Also, he brought with him a farm laborer

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who did occasional work for him. Simpson regarded Hubbard amusingly.

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As the latter adjusted once more, the pulley arranged the

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bucket and then hitched his team to the end of

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the rope. Patiently, bucketful by bucketful, the stones were elevated

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and dumped down below in the black interior. Hubbard labored

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for an hour. At six o'clock, he had not found

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the Aderons. Twice he had been compelled to come up

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for fresh air. His last trip left him so white

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faced and weak he was forced to go home that night.

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He resorted to sleeping powders, but he lay and tossed,

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wide eyed through the dark hours. Some time after midnight,

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he got up a light was still burning in his

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wife's room, and tiptoeing down the hall, he paused at

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her door. In low voices, the mother and daughter were conversing.

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To his heated imagination, it seemed certain they were talking

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of Harper's disappearance. Mumbling to himself, he left the house.

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He ran down the lane to the highway, and along

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this until he came to the Eldridge place. He determined

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not to stop, and succeeded in running by like a

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frightened animal. His gait accelerated. It was one best described

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as scurrying. As he ran, crouched and low, he thought

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he saw someone approaching. This turned him back. He fled

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with the speed of the wind. Drawn by an irresistible force,

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he made straight for the Eldridge pathway. He came to

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the well, the entrance of which gaped at him. For

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a moment he stood with eyes wide open, staring into

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the black depths. Then screaming, he plunged in headfirst. His cry,

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long drawn and eerie, hung quivering in the night air.

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In the Hubbard home of a mile away. The mother

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and daughter heard it. The two listened with palpitating hearts.

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They caught one another's hand in a hoarse whisper. The

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mother exclaimed, what's that? The End of the Well by

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Julian Kilmen