Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-12-19
NUMBER 81

for one to work himself up q due by
his knees on one side and his back on
the other was impossible. Conrad must
have hung himself, and there was no
accounting for the disappearance Of
the body except that the witches had
carried 1t Of.
The jailer's suggestion saved him
from punishment, and the count was
obliged to forego the ransom. He was
becoming reconciled to his disappoint-
ment when one day a neighbor Of Con-
RAIDS came across the border and re-
ported the suicide living at home in
comfort with his wife and children.
The count was astonished. Indeed,
he would not believe the report until
he had sent a spy into the enemy's
country to learn the truth. When the
spy returned and said that he had seen
Conrad sitting before his door, the
count was convinced that he was there.
But the spy, believing that witches had
assisted Conrad to get away. supposed
himself to be under the influence Of his
tionless at the time, and the spy got the
! Idea into his head that he was a corpse.
He reported that he had watched the
figure ten long minutes, in all Of which
time 1t made no motion.
The count. disgruntled at having lost
his ransom and not satisfied with his
spy's report, sent another, who saw
| Conrad chopping wood. This disposed
Of the theory that witches had carried
back the corpse Of suicide. and the
count determined to make raid into
| the domains Of Count Elginbrod with
a view to again carrying of the wealthy
Conrad.
Now. Conrad's home was near the
border, and all the count had to do
was to send force across, kidnap Con-
rad and carry him away before any OF
the baron's forces could be brought to
protect him. But 1t happened that
Joan had been looking out of the win.
dow when the second spy saw her hus-
band chopping wood and watched the
man slipping away. as he supposed.
unnoticed. Joan suspected what this
meant and straightway took precau.
tons. She sent one Oldershow.
nelghbor, to Count Hastings domain
to win the confidence Of the count and
agree for consideration to entice Con.
rad away from his home so that he
could be readily captured. This man
succeeded in his object. At the same
time he was instructed by Joan to re-
| port that Joan was a witch.
This confirmed Count Hastings be-
| Lief In the jailer's suggestion that
witches had been instrumental in Con.
RAIDS disappearance. but he attributed
| the removal to one witch. Conrad's
wife. Nevertheless. he was so averse
to being beaten even by witch that
he accepted Oldershow's offer and.
having paid him a round sum, sent
dozen men with him to kidnap Conrad.
The expedition approached COnrad's
house In the evening cleaning. and
what was their horror to see the man
they were after hanging by the neck
| to q tree near his house. They at once
| took to fight and never stopped run
ming till they had reached their start
ing point. having left Oldershow be-
hind them. They reported what they
had seen to the count and Oldershow,
returning. entered Conrad's house and
poured q heap of gold he had received
| for his work in Joan's lap
This ended Count Hastings efforts
| to regain possession of Conrad, for he
was convinced Of his being managed
| by q witch. that witch being Joan.
| But he sent a messenger to Baron e.
| ginbrod to say that the baron had q
witch in his dominions, and II he did
not get rid Of her she would infect the
whole country.
Upon this the baron sent for Joan
and asked her what truth there was
In the counts charge.
"Please, your worship" replied Joan,
when Count Hastings raided your do
main he carried of my husband and
held him for ransom. When the pris-
oner wrote me that II l did not pay
| the ransom by certain date he would
hang himself In the chimney I knew
that there was a chimney in the room
where he was confined and that be
meant that I should on a certain night
send some one or 60 myself. get on the
roof and let a rope down by which he
could climb. sent one Oldershow.
who succeeded in doing that. and my
husband escaped.
"Suspecting that the count would try
again to make my husband his prison.
.. er, I sent Oldershow to win his con-
6dence and pilot party to make the
capture. ] made stuffed figure Of my
husband and hung It to tree near the
house. When they came to take him
they were frightened and ran away.
Instead of the count getting ransom.
got the money he paid my messenger
to lead his men into trap"
The baron was so well pleased with
loans story that he gave her tract
Of land near his castle. where she and
her family would be in less danger
from Count Hastings incursions.
+ i. i. j. II !. !. i. 4. i. i. 4. I. + 4. 4. 4. 4.