Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-02-17


ed that the apparitiOn had seen was
that OF some crazed person. Neverthe.
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 l paused In front OF the
little house. which l could locate only
by CLINT OF light from one curtained
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 OF dim white
above that was convinced must be
the face and hair of the witch of Dahl.
gren. Beside her rode black bulk
that must have been another rider on
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.
so 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 pale moon
peeped from the drifting clouds.
They were riding slowly now. and
the woman was pleading with the
other rider, 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 Il
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 II the
horses were being led Off through the
woods back of the hut, and. now that
| think of 1t. 1t 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 1--WE 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 my
first question when l met a man
knew was. is your witch stlll hereT
And he said she was. There's a mys-
terry In the matter. ecause''- 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 a 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 a sad run
ming accompaniment to the tale, for
his eyes were full of troubled reminls-
cence.
He lifted his eyes to the mantel-
piece, where an old fashioned mirror
hung In such position that it reflect
ed the door into the hall. Joel GIf-
ford saw a picture framed in that
doorway, and he half rose from his
chair and pointed with shaking fin
ger at the face he saw In the glass
1t was the face of tall. black
u
little black eyes cleaning wickedIy be-
meath bushy brows. He was staring
at Joel Clifford as IL fascinated by the
younger mans face. There was fe-
rocity In his gaze, as well as surprise
and fear.
who Is that mann cried Joel Gift
ford excltedly as he whirled around
toward the doorway.
Its Bill Linden. our landlordw
cried Benton. And then he pulled
Clifford violently aside. for there was
the deafening report of a pistol and
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 h
known to the world as Chafied Chap
man, a well known banker who disap- 4
peared Eve years ago and who was
supposed to be dead At the same Y
time he disappeared my young wife. 4
who was his only daughter. also dis
appeared from my house. and from
note that reached me few days later
could only judge that both of them
were dead. The note was signed by u
my father-in-law, and he said that as
he had failed In business he would end
ali and that he would take Gertrude
with him. My search for them both
has covered Eve years. and it must
end tonight. for I believe have found
the solution to the mystery.
"Chafield Chapman was passionately
fond of his only child and always
hated me because loved and married
her. 1t is my belief that he lured her
away and has kept her prisoner In this
hut In the woods back here. allowing
her to ride forth only at night for air
and exercise. Gentlemen. the witch of
Dahlgren is my wifer'