Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-01-11

else of this gift whatever variety of growth
was most convenient. He explained that
the sap in the wood had some kind of
electric affinity to the water He would
take an apple tree sprout or withe of witch
hazel and firmly grasp the ends, thus
forming q little arch.
Then he would move slowly over the
suspected territory, calling attention to
and interpreting in very favorable way
the severe strain under which the sprout
seemed to be laboring. When the arch
finally turned downward at the exact spot
where the farmer had announced his in
tention of digging DR.. Cotton Q a sigh
of relief
You can see how it is yourself, " said
he 1.-The magnetism in the sap draws it
right down TO the water. It'll draw to
iron the same way an to gold. I've found
a heap O. good mines.
June Tarpey, who had always been a
sort of leader among the Caroway Pene-
traitors had lost his influence since his
drubbing at the hands of Catfish Jones.
The Taylor boy, who had witnessed part
of the affair from a safe hiding place, told
the story in such way as to bring June
into common ridicule. Everywhere he
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trouble. 1t was of such common remark
that to June it became after awhile I'M
bearable. When the matter reached this
state, DR.. Cotton was on hand with COM
fort and suggestions.
eff was you, June, I wouldn't let no
niger git the best of me. He might lick
me today, but / would be after him to
morrow"
But you don't know that niger. No
body never knowed him. He looks easy
an soft enough, but he'd kill feilor."
''Hc wouldn't kill me. l wouldn't take
any chances. I'd put a cunjer on him.
You don't think 1 could cunjer, do
you, doc?"
DR.. Cotton gave June a look in which
there was pity and indulgence.
Don't bother your head about that,
June" he said. you do jest as l say,
an I'll help you out. I'll put the blight
on him."
But don't want to have any more
trouble with him"
Its him that'll have all the trouble.
You do jest what l tell you. Git his bed
an burn it. Burn it around black oak
tree. What do you think'll come o. the
Niger when the tree dies? What would
naturally come of a Niger? When tho
tree dies, he'll die. Who'll know any
thing about that JunyP All you have to
do is to git his bed an burn it around a
black oak If it was a white man, you'd
have to pick white oak. I'll do my part,
June"
For several days June pondered over DR..
Cotton's suggestion. Sometimes he was
skeptical and then again he reasoned it
through to its logical conclusion. 1t was
useless to deny that good many "ha'nts"
In different forms had been seen on Caro-
way. June's granny could remove warts
by Incarnation. Again, how came Yam
cey Smiths horses to die unless they were
'cunjered?" By and by he somewhat
drifted into watching the little cabin on
Stony creek at such times as he expected
its owner to be away. He wondered if DR..
Cotton, who had disappeared would re-
member to do his part. 1t seemed to him
probable that DIR. Cotton had already
worked the spell, and that it only remain
ed for him to do the fimsy thing that per-
tanned to mere matter.
One afternoon while watching the cabin
he saw the fisherman drive up an OK cart,
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After the cart had jolted off down the
rocky road June's mind was made up. He
pried out the staple, to which was attach
ed the paddock in which Catfish reposed
SO much confidence, and entered the cabin.
The floor was strewn with trumpery,
through which there were avenues hardly
wide enough for free passage. A little
fire still smoldered on the hearth, close
beside which sat a skillet and black cot
feepot with an improvised spout. A wide
shelf served the purpose of dining table,
and just above a sumptuous pile Of corn
dodgers hung Catfsh's banjo. The bed
stead was another shelflike affair made Of
rough plank.
Everything that might be thought to
minister to Catflsh's physical reposo June,
after replacing the lock and staple, carried
off into the woods to a previously selected
spot. There was piece of fish net, which
had apparently served as a pillow. To
June, a mere novice in incarnation, it
seemed essential to leave nothing on
which the negro could rest a chance for
escape, and so the fish net was taken
along. He constructed a girdle of dry
leaves and sticks around the base of the
u
tish's ravished couch was added piece by
piece. When the last article was consum-
ed and the fire had died away, June sat
and pondered. The black oak tree, with
its charred belt, seemed suddenly to have
taken on startling appearance. Some
how he had not thought of that. What if
some ono should see the tree? 1t was deep
in the woods, but he knew that no locali-
ty was safe from exploration, and if it
should be seen what reason could anybody
assign for such an uncommon spectacle
1t would certainly become known and
would become the subject of talk and Gu
rious speculation.
Suddenly he became very much fright
ened 1t dawned upon him that he had
stolen and destroyed the negroes property,
and the real motive, if it should become
known, was equivalent to murder. When
the old man died-of this result he all at
once felt sure-could he be hung for his
murder? With a frightened look all
around he plunged deeper into the wood.
1t was II O'Clock at night when Catfish
Jones arrived IL che vicinity of his home.
The steer suddenly veered into the open
space usually allotted to him on such &C
,asions and made direct for little cone
Of fodder. The old darby, realizing at
1nce the peril of his store Of rough feed,
Jumped from the cart and headed the steer
off.
whoa. darl You des wait can't your