The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-08-09
THE WITCH
By EDWIN cARLILE LITeEY
CONTINUED FROM PAGES

Rough and strong he stood before
her, his face flushed now and his graz
eyes burning. When she saw the havoc
she had wrought with his emotions,
chord of vanity must have touched
or her real feelings may have leaped
UP in answer.
At any rate, her features softened
and she nodded her head without
speaking, regarding him half-fearfully
as though timid of the wooer who had
turned master.
When he saw her submissive, Jirl
was all tenderness again, and, draw
ing her hand through his arm, began
to walk slowly toward the cabin.
AS they went he told her his plans.
And she, though born and reared to a
code which held life cheap and the
might of right fair dealing, tried to
dissuade him from his purpose. But
when Jim guilefully spoke Of the
many pleasures this money he was go
ing to get would bring; Of the beau
tiful dresses, and ribbons, and slip
peers, and stockings, to say nothing of
nice things for the cabin which was
waiting, the untaught soul of the
mountain girl yielded, and she grew
enthusiastic over the future.
Then, reckless In his happiness.
Cant told her of the shot which had
come so near getting him the night
before.
Instead of expressing alarm and ap-
prehension, the girl with the gray
green eyes and red squirrel hair burst
into a peal of laughter, and elapped
her hands in glee.
Jim stopped in his tracks with
something like a scrowl of wonder
But still the Witch laughed, bending
forward in her merriment and sway
ing from side to side.
"Juneyl" cried Cant, aghast, fear
ing that something had happened to
Der mind.
They were quite near the cabin now
but invisible from 1t on account OF
a clump of low cedars. behind which
they stood.
AS the man stared with mouth agape
the girl suddenly Strengthened up, and,
with laughter yet bubbling from her
throat, came forward and put her
hands upon his shoulders.
T-done-that-Jim she said
jerkily, so filled with the spirit of fun
she could scarcely speak. "Ps pass'n'
down tn road, m seen yo', m lowed
it'd be tur'ble good joke! I aimed
plenty fur to tn right SOS MOTTO hit
yo'. NJ when l seen yo' drop out o.
yo' cheer / run fur home, cause rs
skeered yo' mought come out m ketch
me. Yo' amt mad, air yo', boy?"
AS she talked the wonder of Giants
face gave place to anlazement, which
in turn was followed by anger. He
felt that he had been made fool of
by woman, and this knowledge Is
far more CALLING to man of the moan
tains than to one more civilized.
Juney saw the portents of storm.
The mirth faded from her face. And
then her arms went sliding further
around Jim's neck, till her hands met.
With quick motion she threw her
body against him, and drew herself up
till her mouths warm breath beat up
on his ear. For few moments she
chung there, talking in hurried whis-
pers, and the loom on the mans face
quickly gave way to an expression of
supreme happiness.
But when she dropped back to earth
and he fain would have caught her
once more in his arms, she lodged
among the cedArs, laughing again,
and calling back:
"Be keerful tonight! Be keerfuI!"
Jim Cant went from the place with
feet which stumbled, scarcely know
ing whether she loved him or not
Laurel Grove is in one county and
Chester, in another. Each is coun-
ty seat. There is no railway connec-
ton. and twenty-five miles of bad
mountain road lie between them.
Quarterly Court was In session at
Laurel Grove, and Lawyers from
Chester were coming and going day
and night There were number of
big cases being tried, so counsel from
the neighboring town had been en-
ployed.
One night there was hold-up. A
masked man with bull's-eye lantern
and a revolver stopped buggy and
compelled its occupants to turn over
their cash. Three nights later the ex-
plot was repeated.
Those who were forced to travel the
road now went armed, but this In no
wise daunted the intrepid highway
man. He continued to collect, choos-
ing different spots for each adventure.
and appearing in unlocked for local
tiles. He akxsSs covered his victims
before hed his light upon them
and ordzfed them to halt.
So it was that Jim Giants pockets
began to bulge with greenbacks and
jingle with silver. The Witch danced
in delight when he sought her with
story after story sof-success.
Prf IL hefall fiat a certain sheriff in