Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-12-12
THE WlTCH-GlRL
BY AGNES C. BROGAN.

IN IN" darkness. Near it's foot stood
til" old DINGHY mansion. To which the
iamily returned each Summcr. Sojourn-
tng there until fall.
Inc DINGHY mime w:'S one known IN
hrancial circles. Jim Forest was not
surprised that the iinancier himself
FOUND pleasure in the relaxation of
country hills. Forest counted upon the
light from the windows Of the man.
sion to show him his way He was
driving. ut this late hour. To the iso-
lated home OF client who felt called
upon hurricdly To make his will. But
as Forest slowly approached. the
great house lay in darkness. the fam.
lily evidently having departed for the
city earlier than usual. Well, there
was noticing for 1t but to try the turn
TO the right. with headlights on. which
the lawyer proceeded tn do No sooner
had the briliiancy strcamcd out before
him than he drew back astonished.
At the entrance to the mansion. in
the silence of this midnight hour,
alone and waving toward him dcsper-
ately, stood Il slight girlish figure. He
,
black fur which seemed to frame her
face and bring out its wistful beauty.
"Win You please" she called, give
me lifr?"
Forest sropped the car. The girl i'm
mediately spraug into it. hugSing in
her arms small bag.
You do not ask .ny destination" he
said. Il am travelling down an unfre-
Quented way.
The girl nodded
but YOU will have to go back to the
city" she snid.
Il may he detained" he warned her
His passenger settled back with a
sigh.
Then I'll just have to wait for you,"
she said. ITS my only hope of get
ting to the city tonight"
And it is necessary that you re-
turn
She motioncd toward the desolate
house.
Zone couldn't stay there" she re-
Sponded.
Forest bent toward her. earnestly
zone might wonder ut YOUR being
there alone ut this hour" he sug-
gcS;ed"
And one might explain" the girl re-
piled. that coming from the city TN
eXpectedly on the trolley, one was dis
appointed in finding the family away
from home Ones only hope of return
ing to shelter being dependent upon
some generous driver"
"You might" Forest said. "bc some
witch OF the night, bringing me under
your spell"
"And YOU might" she retortcd. "bc
daring hiGhwaymnn, intent upon
stealing my purse"
He wrapped the rug about the girl
when he; went into the home of his
client, and it was with strange reluc-
lance that he left her. His erraDd &C.
cupying more than an hour he
hnstened, after its accomplishment,
back to his waiting car.
The girl Ind completely disap-
peared. A thorough search failed to
reveal her presence anywhere. Slow
~. ever hopclessly searching. Forest
drove his way cityward. But when he
reached his apartment sleep was i'm.
possible.
AnXionsly, eagerly, thought OF the
witching girl possessed him. Why had
she come to him? Where had she
gone?
Weary-eyed, he opened next MORN
ing his paper, breakfast untastcd be-
fore him. In glaring headlines SEN
tcnce caught his eye:
Emerald necklace stolen from
DINGHY country residence willie family
spend evening in city"
Jim Forest turned cold So he had
been fhe dupe To assist i'm the get
away Not for moment. remember
ing that appealing face. did he blame
tIIc girl. She must in some way have
been IMPOSED upon by the real culDrit.
Perhaps she had tried, in invading his
car. TO "lude her prosecutors, only TO
be discovered during his absence in his
clients home
IN" heretofore calm heart of james
FOREST contracted painfully Upper.
most in his conflicting emotions was ~
detcrlDination 10 project this little I'm
known girl He reached for the teIe.
phone and called the house Of DINGHY.
"AS I" the necklnccI oh. yes, They
were sorry that they had been so haSty
in notifying the police. Isobei. their
only daughter, being in the city upon
n visit had decided TO hurry out TO
her home 10 procure tho necklace to
wear nj an evening affair. She had her
own key and was surprised at the alb
scncc Of her family. Awaiting their
return until late in the evening. she
had nj Inst despaircd Of It, and sought
assistance from passing autost. who
drove her TO a certain house where he
was detained. A second chance driver