Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-03-25
tbn.,asm with a sly wink to bis mother

thusissm with sly wink to bis mother.
Presently he lighted pine torch and
went out to inspect the sheep before ne
should prepare for bis all-night bath in
the lev water. He left Laddie sleeping
by the fireplace where he was accustomed
to remain for the night. Full OF obedi-
ence and courage he made ready for the
task. Not for an instant would ne ques.,
tion bis fathers authority, right and
wisdom, to command him, but-why
should this particular method OF appeas-
ing the family gods be necessary more
than some other means? - what was the
connection, anyway? Yet, wouldn't
some other way work all rightP He'd
try! His face frightened as he continued
the doubling thoughts, =" Hurrah! ~
do it then I'll know. But what II IL
should fail! Heigh-O, then III know
something smarter when Dad mas IL
ont, for he's sure to do that"
1t was typical night for the deed ;
rain, snow, slush. The trough he built
out In the open. 1t soon filled with
water. Into this he was supposed TO
cast himself and remain till day light:
Did he shiver at the thought? 1t did
not trouble him. He found some old
skins and filled them with straw from the
rick near by, till they assumed rough
resemblance to himself. he weighted
and put them 10 the trough. He then
hid himself in the straw rick for the rest
of the night.
There had been a change in the
weather since the evening. The rain
came in gusts for while, then the wind
shifted to southerly. Presently the light.
ming began to play vividly about old
Gray Top, followed by terrific peals OF
thunder. Adama sprang to his feet In
stantIy. Peering out from the old TICK
to see if the house and other buildings
were intact, he uttered smothered ex-
clamation at what he saw, not OF light,
ming wreck, but of figure outlined
against the blackness of the night.
Adama's eyes bulged, and his jaw fell,
for, standing less than forty feet from
him hard by the test trough, was what
appeared to be ghost. He gasped one
ord -" "Banshee! With every muscle
tense he forced himself to watch that
pale blue light shimmering in outlines OF
a man. He could easily see the move.
ments of the spectre as it slowly stepped
towards the house. Its hands were lifted
high. From the fingers ends came
streaks of light. It waved the hands In
semicircles like torches; it whirled on
its heels for a moment and made fantas-
tic motions with its hands, fascinating
the onlOoker. -,
"It's the sick ghost, sure" said
Adama to himself again, drawing deep
breath, teeth chattering, and the whole
body trembling at the sight. "He's-er.
er cursing the house se-oh!" continued
he as family there came the words,
" Auathema maranatha," to him.
"O!" groaned Adama, as he withdrew
to the straw rick, "he's the ghost must
lay BY the heels - what shall doP' Was
he afraid? Yes; but his experiences
taught him that fear could be overcome.
He acted al once on that fact. He fun
bled about in the straw till he found his
cherished rope-lassoP-, then adjusting
it to his needs he came softly out of the
rick to join issue with the banshee.
"By Saint Swithin, you rogue OF a
banshee," he said softly, "I'll take your
measure within the hour or I'm no
hunter of wolves!"
Agility with trembling nerves usually
make an uncertain combinations; but in
this instance, com bined with pluck, they
worked all right. Advancing cautiously
to within ten feet of the self-engrossed
banshee he threw the rope and, true to
it's aim it fell over the shoulders, down
over the arms and was hauled taut with
powerful jerk to the utter astonish-
.,l l;.,ooy Of hiu nhncf.phin In
twinkling the rope was doubled about
him the second time.
This sudden onslaught fairly dazed him
| for the space of five seconds. then there
sounded sharp yell of baffied rage, a
snarl of fury; then he whirled toward
his invisible foe, uttered a weird, blood
curdliug cry that quailed the stoutest
heart when heard in that region the
cry OF the banshee.
Adama's heart beat fast, but be was
on the alert for what he knew was c'm-
| ing. The banshee gave mighty leap in
the dark following the line to reach his
antagonist Adama missed the impact
with a spring, at the same instant he
added another coil of the rope about the
legs and feet of his embarrassed victim,
and the more violent the struggles, the
harder the banshee strained at the cords
around him, the tighter grew the run.
ming moose. In two minutes more the
red ubtable banshee was helpless. Dur
| ing this time the uncanny lights were
flashing from the body feebly. Mid his
rawlings aud struggles he swore roundly
It was humanity profane for a banshee.
As fate must have ordained the ban
shee's fall was hard by the test trough
and it took but q moment to complete
the capture by rolling the unfortunate
banshee into the trough OF water. The
tbreatenings, pleadirgs and remonstran
ces were pungent, pathetic, forcefui, u
not polite. By this time Adams had for
gotten to be frightened. He turned the
bansh ee's head up in spite of resistance
and gazed at the face in its uncanny
light. That banshee vented one more
soul piercing panther cry.
| With a shout Adama dropped The
head. g" Banshee '-nothing!" he criec
with disgust, "It's old BottOnal th'
sheep slealer." Lights exhaled from hii
own hands now, and the odor was sug
gestive of other experiences to him.
"Fish," he exclaimed, rubbing his hands
together" dead fish lights-pshawf
With unutterable contempt he turned Il
the floundering, spluttering man.
i "Pll turn you over to Dad in the morn
ing. In the meantime you can play dis
ease and ghost charmer in that puddle
of ice water and much good may 1t dt
YOU. You killed Miriam's lamb yester
! day-Laddie will know when let hin
out, and Dad will know, too. Heigh-O
I'm off for the straw rick till morning.
In the morning "Dad" laughed. b.
laughed in sheer joy, he laughed will
plee, for before him, dishevelled, boun'
aud water.soaked, stood bis quarry a
|, last, Bottonal the renegade, the sheep
stealer. "Adama, we'll call council
/ sun-up. Boy, you've made the spell
? over night, all right. Iguess we're sal
from ills for one more year. There's
? reward of twenty dollars offered for th
, capture of the Banshee Of Gray To
Mountain. You've done q good night
: work"
r And the " "Baushee's last agonizin
panther cry curdled the blood OF hi
8 captors as be fell in faint at the feet
!. his pitiless captors.
Methuselah.
81 About 22OO B. c., King Mahalale.
~