Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-22

Ton, IQe cigar SdleSnldu, was COut1H-
uing a conversation that had begun at
the supper table short while before.
Gentlemen" he said impressively,
al know it sounds mighty fishy, but 1
actually did see what they call The
Witch of Dahlgren!
"whenT' asked Cooper, the clothing
drummer.
ION my last trip to this forlorn
hole" was Benton's caustic reply. I
And that was?-
Last April. It's a short story. Want
to hear about tit"
YES, go ahead" urged the third
member of the group, Joel Clifford,
who represented a great wholesale
grocery house. He was a tall. good
looking, quiet sort of man, well liked
everywhere There had been a trag-
edy in his life which many had guess
ed at, but few knew the real facts in
the case.
Benton passed the cigars around and
lighted one for himself.
Now, gentlemen" he began, please
understand that 1 shall not feel in the
least offended If you do not believe
what I am about to tell you, but it
really happened to me in this town.
Last April 1 arrived here in the regu-
lar course of my travels and put up at
this same hotel. 1 was the only guest
that night, and after supper 1 got to
talking with our host, whom you may
have sized up to be just what he is
a narrow minded country pumpkin"
You're right" agreed Cooper
promptly.
Joel Clifford smiled and shook his
head 81 can't express an opinion,
Benton, because 1 haven't seen the
chap. This is the first time I've COW
cred this territory"
You haven't missed much in not
making his acquaintance" growled
Benton, continuing his narrative. "As
I said, fell into conversation with
Linden and asked him a question that
had been on the t1p of my tongue for
several hours-in fact, ever since 1 had
heard a woman threatening her chill
dren with the wrath of the old witch
on the crossroads. You certainly
udFOn kOI u WllCA III lul5
place town. asked him jokingly.
For a moment he was silent, and
then he stroked his long black beard
and muttered: We certainly have, Mr.
Benton. The crossroads is a good place
to keep away from
"'Whyr demanded.
because there is an old woman
10 oh oek
an evil spell over anybody. Man,
know itr And the old fellow got quite
excited.
YOU'RE joking. Bill Linden I
laughed
HE scowled like the villain that he
must be from his looks. Mr.. Benton,
when 1 tell you that that woman has
ruined my life you'll understand that !
know what I'm talking about. She
ought to have been hanged years ago
that's the way they did with the
witches in the olden days. If 1 had
my way she'd hang high nowv And
he fell to muttering to himself and
cursing.
"'Guess I'll go and have a look al
| he-i, Il Sdlu hulL
"'You better not l was warned
She keeps a gun and winged Mason
Smith when he got drunk one day and
attacked her house. Just opened her
window and took aim, and Mason
went around with his arm in a sling
for three months after that
els she an old woman?' asked.
| l.
white as snow
"'Where did she come fromY 1 in
quired.
Nobody knows Suddenly appear
ed in that little deserted house on the
crossroads about five years ago New
er comes out in daytime, but I've seer
her face at the window, and some say
that she rides at night on a snow white
horse. l don't know whether to be
lieve that or not
"'You might as well believe the
whole thing while you're about it, my
friend 1 grinned at him, and l i'm
mediately went down to the crossroads
and took a stroll along the lonely way
that cut through dense woods. Why
they must be back of this hotelw
Benton paused to relight his cigar
and to marvel for a moment on the
idea that had just taken possession Of
him. Then he resumed: about a mile
down the road l saw a lonely little
house-more of cabin than a house
set back In the woods and overgrowr
TO the very door with underbrush
Smoke curled from the chimney. anC
l was staring at the windows when al
at once face appeared at one of them
could not see whether she was younl
or old, but the face was white as {
sheet and on either side of 1t huns
two heavy braids of snow white hair
The great dark eyes were turned to
ward me, and two arms were liftet
either IN supplication or malediction.
For an instant was rooted to tn
spot, and then I rubbed my eyes II
wonderment, for suddenly she jerke,
backward. almost as If some one wa
behind her compelling her away from
the window She disappeared from
view. and walked on, quite convinG
ed that the apparition 1 had seen wa
that of some crazed person. Neverthe
less there was an air of mystery abou
I ,l