The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-07-05

carried OUT his threat, went LO tuo
chimney. fearing that he might see his
body dangling there. There was moth
Ing In the lower part, and. looking up.
he saw only small patch of blue sky.
With fear and trembling the jailer
sent word to the count that his prison
er had vanished. In order to shield
himself, he declared that he had heard
strange sounds overhead during the
night. He believed that his prisoner
had carried out his threat to hang him
self and that witches had carried OF
the body.
That was an age when people, instead
of looking for natural causes. inferred
everything to supernatural interfeS-
ence. The count so far leaned to the
jailer's opinion that he did not look far
for means Of the prisoners escape. He
examined the only outlet. the chimney,
and satisfied himself that Conrad could
not have climbed the flue. In those
days chimneys were very large, and
for one to work himself up flue 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 it 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 n 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 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
imagination. Conrad was sitting mo-
tionless at the time, and the spy got the
idea into his head that lie was corpse.
He reported that he had watched the
figure ten long minutes, in all of which
time it 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
rad and carry him away before any Of
the baron's forces could be brought to
protect him. But it happened that
Joan had been looking out Of the win
dow when the second spy saw her hns-
band chopping wood and watched the
man slipping away, as he supposed.
unnoticed. Joan suspected what this
meant and straightway took precau-
| tions. She sent one Oldershow, Il
neighbor, to Count Hastings domain
to win the confidence Of the count and
agree for n 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 be was instructed by Joan to re-
port that Joan was witch.
4 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 $
wife Nevertheless, be was so averse
to being beaten even by a witch that
he accepted Oldershow's offer and
having paid him 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 mar
, they were after hanging by the necl
TO a tree near his house. They at Onct
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 the,
, had seen to the count. and Oldershow
returning. entered Conrads house ant
!, poured heap OF gold he had receives
! for his work in Joan's lap.
This ended Count Hastings efforts
!. to regain possession Of Conrad. for h
was convinced of his being manage'
: by witch, that witch being Joan
! But he sent messenger to Baron El
) ginbrod to say that the baron had
witch in his dominions, and II he di'
not get rid of her she would infect tn
y whole country.
Upon this the baron sent for JOa
4 and asked her what truth there wa
o IN the counts charge.
i please, your worship" replied .loaT
n when Count Hastings raided your Dc
o main he carried Off my husband an
q held him for ransom When the pri.
= oner wrote me that if did not pa
/, the ransom by certain date he woul
r hang himself in the chimney kne,
that there was a chimney in the roo!
4 where he was confined and that b
). meant that should on certain nigi
send some one or go myself, get on th
. roof and let rope down by which i
could climb. l sent one Oldershov
n who succeeded in doing that and m
husband escaped.
n "Suspecting that the count would tt
n again to make my husband his prisol
er, | sent Oldershow to win his col
i fidence aud pilot party to make IL
). capture made stuffed figure Of n
70 husband and hung 1t to a tree near Il
. 1 house. When they came to take hi
:. they were frightened and ran ava
4. Instead OF the count getting ransOr
!. got the money he paid my messeng'
- to lead his men into a trap.