Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-11-07


less there was an air OF mystery about
the whole matter, and the village Cos
sip concerning the so called witch de-
termined me to stroll around there late
in the evening ! did so near mid
night and was rewarded by a strange
sight
Just as | paused in front Of the
little house. which | could locate only
by a CLINT OF light from one crrtained
window, heard the trampling Of
horses hoofs and there broke from the
tangled growth in front of the house
dim white shape that / knew to be
horse and a suggestion ~ dim white
above that | was convinced must be
the face and hair Of the witch OF Dahl
gren. Beside her rode a black bulk
that must have been another rider on
a black horse, and for the instant
thought the witch must be riding with
her master. the devil himself
II had TO fall back in the bushes to
save myself from being trampled upon,
50 furious was their dash into the road.
They turned away from the village
toward the open country and disap-
peared. Gentlemen, | was curious
enough to remain there until their re-
turn an hour later, when a pale moon
peeped from the drifting clouds,
They were riding slowly now, and
the woman was pleading with the
other rider, a man. | could see her
wringing her white hands, and her
voice, a low, sweet contralto, did not
sound like that Of a deranged person.
Her accents were cultivated. but the
man spoke roughly in reply, and |
heard her break into sobs as he hus-
tied her toward the house and they
disappeared beyond it. Later | heard
the crashing of branches as If the
horses were being led OFF through the
woods back Of the hut, and, now that
think of It, it must have been in the
direction of this hotel"
Benton frowned as he opened the
stove door and tossed in the end OF
his cigar. I've often felt that I'd
like to investigate the matter. You
see, l had to leave early the next
morning, and this is the first time I've
struck this town since then. but ICY
first question when l met a man
knew was, Is your witch still here?'
And he said she was. There's a mys-
terry in the matter, BECAUSE Benton
paused and stared thoughtfully at the
toe of his polished boot
Because suggested Cooper impa-
tiently.
Because the voice of the black
rider that night sounded mighty like
the voice Of mine host here Bill Lin
den," returned Benton in low tone.
Joel Clifford aroused himself from
the half lounging position he had as
sumed when Benton began his nara
tive. and, although he had been a
close listener TO the story, his own
thoughts must have made sad run
ming accompaniment to the tale. for
his eyes were full of troubled reminis-
cence.
He lifted his eyes to the mantel-
piece, whore an old fashioned mirror
hung In such position that II reflect
ed the door into the hall Joel GIFT
ford saw a picture framed In that
doorway, ard he half rose from his
chair and pointed with a shaking fin
ger at the face he saw in the glass.
1t was the face of a tail. black
bearded man, with a narrow head and
little black eyes cleaning wickedly be-
meath bushy brows. He was staring
at Joel Clifford as II fascinated by the
younger mans face. There was te-
rocity in his gaze, as well as surprise
and fear.
who is that MANI" cried Joel Gif-
ford excitedly as he whirled around
toward the doorway.
TITS Bill Linden. our landlord
cried Benton. And then he pulled
Clifford violently aside, for there was
the deafening report OF a pistol, aud
the bullet that had been intended for
Clifford found another mark and shat
tered the mirror There was another
report, and the landlord OF the Dahl
gren hotel dropped dead upon the floor.
killed by his own wicked hand.
Clifford reached him first and turned
him over and looked closely at the
dead mans face. He is dead" he
said briefly, and then, rising he con
tinued to the little crowd of people
that had gathered at the sound Of the
pistol shots: Gentlemen. this man is
not Bill Linden. That must be an as
sumed name, for he has been well
known 10 the world as Chadeld Chap
man, a well known banker who disap
penred five years ago aud who was
supposed to be dead At the same
time he disappeared my young wife.
who was his only daughter. also dis
appeared from my house. and from a
note that reached me a few days later
could only judge that both Of them
were dead. The note was signed by
my father-in-law. and he said that as
he had failed in business be would end
all and that he would take Gertrude
with him. My search for them both
has covered five years, and it must
end tonight. fox / believe | have found
the solution 20 the mystery.
"Chafleld Chapman was passionately
fond OF his only child and always
hated me because | loved and married