Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-01-17
THE BLASTED PINE.
louisville Courier-Journal. !


woods, at midnight traveller is walk
ing slowly, with bridle-rein over his
arm, followed by weary horse "
The moon seemed to be fitting in
and out from passing ragged clouds,
now throwing patches of light on the
road, and again leaving it in darkness
on the uncertain shadows of the pines.
A breeze, with faint, sishing sound,
swayed the lighter pine boughs.
Tho traveller walks slowly, peering
anxiously into the distance, and Won
ders where he is. Weary, nervous Oh
q strange road at late hour, he scans
the brush at every turn of the winding
road.
The moon, uncovered for a moment,
throws volume of light on blackened
pine, standing grim and bare, ut an
abrupt turn of the road.
A man steps from behind the black
ened pine with step that is deadened
by the pine needles which imbed the
sand. He stops in the middle of the
yoad, motionless, facing the traveller,
half dozen PAGES distant.
The traveller stops his horse comes to
halt before he feels the slight touch
of the rein, and. raising HIS head, looks
wonderingly at the motionless figure in
the road
The travellers eyes are fixed upon the
human figure, and he lightly tosses the
rein over the horses head and drops his
other hand to his hip-pockct.
He waits for n greeting from the ri
lent figure, which seems to grow larger
with every ftful lighting up by the
moons wavering rays. His heart beats
rapidly and his horse is breathing
hard.
who arc you9" asks the traveller, hi.
voice shaking in unsurpassed dread.
The figure on the road makes no re-
sponse From his sleeve drops into
his hand long knife, on the blade OF
which q fugitive moon ray glanccs for a
moment.
he traveller sees the flash ng babe,
the grasp upon the handle and the
braced figure. He slowly draws from
his pocket revolver, never losing sight
Of the threatening figure.
The figure in the road moves toward
the traveller, but makes no response.
Stop, or Ill hre!" exclaims the
traveller, as he intuitivcly rcccdes, his
horse backing, with dilated nostri.s and
eyes atiame.
The figure with dread purpose and
cautious step advances.
a shot rings out in the pine wools,
and smoke Is curling from the travel
ers revolver. The startled horse
bounds back, carrying his master with
Then both horse and man stand still,
and the cooking Of the revolver only
breaks the silence.
Man and horse stare down the road
where the figure was. There is nothing
there now, and, rs if to assure horse and
man, a bank of clouds pass by and leave
the full face of the moon to light up the
road.
The traveller, in cautious terror, backs
his horse step by step, sea ching the
roadside with staring eyes.
No sound of step, no sign of figure,
recumhent or crouchlnS is seen. Only
All owl hoots in dismal pine top.
Carefully feeling the pommel of the
saddle, and gathering the reins over the
neck Of tie trembling horse, the traveller
mounts, his eyes still searching for the
vanished figure.
With nerves at awful tension the
traveller strikes his responsive horse,
and they bound down the road, expect
ant Of assault from the unseen foe.
A the cross roads store the traveller
tells the story of his escape to half n
do en- helated listeners.
He describes the blasted pine tree
and the figure that confront. him with
knife in hand.
His curious listeners grow still, and
look into each others faces.
Stranger, that's Joe Blewitt YOU
saw. He was stabbed to death at that
tree three months ago. by his twin
brother jim"
No one leaves the store until day
light. Ghosts have right of way that
night in Tie pine woods.
In the morning they all 60 back over
the sandy road with the traveller. They
reach the blackened pine tree. The
impress of hoof and foot is in the sand
about.
Half dozen yards to the right,
scarcely shielded by the underground,
lying on his face across a fallen tree, is
Jim Blewi't, with bullet hole in his
throat. his still hand clutching long
knife driven to the heft in the rotten
wood.