The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-02-12
THE WITCH-eIRL
By AGNES G. BRoGAN.

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Forest pioted his car down the hill
In the darkness. Near its foot stood
the old DINGHY mansion, to which the
/ family returned each summer. sOjourn-
| ing there until fall.
! The DINGHY name was one known in
! financial circles. Jim Forest was not
surprised that the financier 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, at this late hour. to the iso-
lated home Of q client who felt called
upon hurriedly 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 nothing for 1t but to try the turn
to the right, with headlights on, which
the lawyer proceeded to do. No sooner
had the brilliancy streamed 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 desper-
ately, stood a slight girlish figure. He
noted her broad black hat, and soft
black fur which seemed to frame her
face and bring out its wistful beauty.
"will you please" she called, give
ne lift?'
Forest stopped the car. The girl i'm
mediately sprang into 1t, hugging in
her arms a small bag.
"You do not ask my destination" he
said. II am travelling down an unfre-
quented way.
The girl nodded.
"But you will have to 90 back to the
city" she said.
Il may be detained" he warned her.
His passenger settled back with
sigh.
Then I'll just have to wait for you"
she said. It's my only hope of get
ting to the city tonight"
And it is necessary that you re-
turn:"
She motioned toward the desolate
house.
Zone couldn't stay there" she re-
sponded.
Forest bent toward her, earnestly
searching the sweet. upraised face.
zone might wonder at your being
there alone at this hour" he sug-
gested."
And one might explain" the girl re-
piled, that coming from the city un-
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, be some
witch of the. night, bringing me under
your SPELL"
"And you might" she retorted, "be
a daring highwayman, intent upon
stealing my purse"
He wrapped the rug about the girl
when he went into the home Of his
client, and 1t was with strange reluc-
tance that he left her. His errand oc-
cupying more than an hour he
hastened, after Is accomplishment.
back to his waiting car.
The girl had completely disap-
peared. A thorough search failed to
reveal her presence anywhere. Slow
ly, ever hopelessly searching. Forest
drove his way cityward. But when he
reached his apartment sleep was i'm
possible.
AnKiously, 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 untasted be-
fore him. In glaring headlines a SEN
tence caught his eye:
Emerald necklace stolen from
DINGHY country residence while family
spend evening in city"
Jim Forest turned cold. So he had
been the dupe-to assist in the get
away. Not for a moment. remember
ing that appealing face, did he blame
the girl. She must in some way have
been imposed upon by the real culprit
Perhaps she had tried, in invading his
car. to elude her prosecutors, only to
be discovered during his absence in his
clients home.
The heretofore calm heart Of James
Forest contracted painfully. Upper
most In his conflicting emotions was q
determination to protect this little un-
known girl. He reached for the tele-
phone and called the house Of DINGHY.
"As to the necklace? Oh, yes! They
were sorry that they had been so hasty
in notifying the police. Isobel, their
only daughter, being in the city upon
visit, had decided to hurry out to
her home to procure the necklace to