Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-03-25
THURM0NT, Frederick County, Maryland Thursday March 25 1897

half the stock was taken, lot lone jest
ernough white stuff an black ter dress
the Kukluxers like they oughtcr be.
Fact, it'd be tho best sort or Joke, an
ef the ole man dnres ter cheep-why.
tell him ter 60 ter Halifax"
.
Some half an hour later there was
grotesque procession down the road and
over the creek. Two and two tho men
rode, their horses half covered with
white cloth. The riders had black cloths
over the face and carried stout sticks,
from which other cloths, black and
white. foated and tapped as they moved
along. Teddy. riding in the rear with
Noch, gave low. satisfied whistle.
"Huh! Don't b'leeve the ra-ale Kuklux
looked any horribler'n US fellers," he
said. "Hey, thar, all er you! Stop yere
at tho creek MI git your mouths full er
gravel. Then tho devil that owns you
oain't tell by listenin who you air."
When they were again in motion,
Noch rode at tho head, and Teddy
brought up tho rear. They had changed
face aud We're going straight toward
Roscoe When some one asked confused.
ly where they were bound and who was
to be disciplined. Noch answered, with
an oath, "Oh. we'll show you befo' wo
toll you."
Then they rodo In silence for ton
minutes or more. Speech was not easy
with those Disgusting pebbles. More
than one OF the gang made to spit them
out and discourse with drunken gravity.
but was stopped by the man at his el.
bow. Presently Noch fell buck and
spoke with Teddy in hushed under.
tone. The conference was brief. and at
tho end Teddy said: "No whence. Re.
member that 'bove MI things We jest
wanter make the witch woman swaller
some or her own stuff, then take her ter
the swamp MI leave her. MAyby she'll
find herself; mayby she won't That's
none or our lookout.
"The swamp" Noch echoed. 1T is
er good place an convenient. Nobody
never thinks nothin out er the common
CT they do see buzzards a-fyin round
over it..
In little while they began to ride
in Indian iilc along An overgrown path.
1t came out upon tho brink Of the spring
before Aunt Phemy's cabin. There was
q little clear space set with grass about
the we'll head, and there they saw what
spurred them to swifter action. Though
the moonshine flooded it, leaping fire
glowed at the waters odge. 1t was new.
ly kindled aud fed with dry thorns. Be.
fore 1t, with thorn III the breast. hung
u waxen image slowly wasting in tho
heat. 1t had been SO placed that the
moon shadow Of it fnll in the grave
posture. feet to the sunrise, head to the
sunset. Aunt Phemy stood watching
breuthlessly the melting away. Now
and again she mutterod strange. guttur-
al words and cast fresh thorns upon the
FIRE.
Its the full or the moon ternight
She's workin the dead man conjure
sho's er gun," Teddy said, his teeth
chattering Hc would have run away at
once, for all his masking. but Noch's
hand fell over his in grip he dared not
misunderstood.
Its all the better We've caught
her in the act" he said in Teddy q car.
A horse ncighed impatiently. Aunt
Phemy looked up, saw the grotesQue
mummers, and with ono sweep Of her
foot scattered the fire, then darted TO-
ward her house. But before she bad
made three steps Noch had gripped her
shoulders, her throat, and was bearing
her earthward in spite Of her struggles.
saying over his shoulder to Teddy: "Go
in. Find her bags m bottles Wo'u
serve her US she does the rest er the
world"
The old woman writhed and moaned.
She could make no other outcry. They
had borne her to her threshold. Sho
could hear them rummaging within.
Then the grip on her throat was relaxed
. trihe as thick honey paste, full OF
acrid, pungcnt flnvors for all its sweet.
was thrust within her mouth.
dunno what it is; some er devil
stuff. it'll do, l reokon,' Teddy
said thickly. His teeth were chattering.
Still he was wishing himself we'll out
Of it all. even that he had never EN-.
barked in such enterprise, though refu.
sal might have cost him Mr.. Topmark's
favor.
Look for snake p'ison. She's got it,
know. Two heared tell she kills folks
sometimes with briers dipped in it,"
Noch said aloud. In the brutal joy Of