White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-06-01
BY Hugh Pendexter
Niustrations by
Irwin Myers
Copyright by Hugh Pendextsr.
WNU Service

a man; and he turned to shake mis-
clinched hand at the cabin on the hill.
But she'll witch us no morel Wen
burn that nest. Fight the devil with
fire! Der Hexenkopf has bred witches
long enough. We've sent for John
Hokes, sir. He's rare wizard. He'll
soon take the spell off this poor suf-
ferer."
us George Croghan in the valley"
"Gone yesterday for Willis creek"
The sufferer did not fancy any shift
Ing of attention and renewed her
screaming and kicking.
1.-THE devil hates water. Bring me
bucketful," l commanded.
rolled up the wide sleeves of my
hunting shirt as If intending to battle
my hands before attempting even q
partial cure. A bucket of water was
placed before me. picked it up and
dashed 1t over the woman. Splitting
like cat she came to a sitting pos.
ture. When she could get her breath
she began calling curses down on my
head.
"The devil hates cold water" re-
peated "The woman is all right now
If she will keep out of the moonlight
for three nights"
"Then you are q wizard and can
remove spells?" eagerly asked the
gray-haired woman. Others were star.
Ing at me with much respect.
"Some SPELLS" admitted. NOV
tell me how this woman was
Spelled"
1t seemed that Elsie Dinwold, who
lived with her uncle in the cabin on
Der Hexenkopf, or the Witches Head,
as the little hill was called, had laid
a most malevolent trap for the woman
now hobbling to her cabin for a dry
shift. 1t consisted of barrel and q
witch snake.
The narrator was here interrupted
by several, who insisted Elsie Din.
void had changed herself into snake,
or had entered the body of the snake
preferably the latter as the snake
was still in the barrel and the &C.
cused was in her cabin. The victim
had been induced by some magic arts
to pause and look into the BARREL She
behed large rattlesnake with Elsie
Dinwold's eyes.
The barrel was pointed out to me-
walked to It and looked inside. My
flesh crawled as encountered the re-
lentless malignity of the serpent's
staring eyes.
directed the men to kill the snake
| and would have remained to make
sure it was done had not the appear.
ance of slim figure in the cabin door
set the crowd into wild uproar. The
woman stepped outside and was fol
lowed by man badly crippled, for he
walked with difficulty even while
using two canes. Some in the gather
ing began gesticulating, and then they
were sweeping up the hill, frantic
mob.
"Why all this fuss over a snake In
q barrel?" l asked, fearing some harm
would be inflicted on the woman and
the cripple.
"She is woman Of Der Hexen-
kopf!" accused woman, pointing q
trembling finger.
"She comes of foul BROOD" ex-
citedly explained man.
took time to look more closely
The woman, scarcely more than q girl
had suddenly taken alarm for the
mans safety, and had interposed her
slim figure between him and her &C
cusers. Her loosened hair was blow
ing about her face and half-veiling hel
thin features. She leaned forward as
she watched u.s. her body 1.-THE and
wiry as a boys, her lips parted in 6
little feline snarl.
| Knowing me to be stranger ant
yearning for an impartial Judge, she
centered her wild gaze on me an6
painted:
"I'm no witch. These folks be fools
live here alone with my uncle. HI
is old, cripple with rheumty pains
Several years ago the beastly Ger
mans named this place Der Hexen
kopf. My poor mother died from fea
and sorrow Ny two sisters, Older'l
me, were driven out of the valley.
am last of the women to live on thu
Witches Head, and they won't let M
live in peace"
keep your wicked Jaws close
tight, or Wen pin 'em together,
rOared the red-faced man.