The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-05-25
~ Hugh Pend dexter
Alusfrnfions 81
Irwin Myers
Copyright by Hugh. PendexteE.
WNU Service

"Witched by Elsie Dlnwold." growIed
q man; and he turned TO shake mis-
clinched hand at the cabin on the bill.
"But she'll witch US no morei Wen
burn that nest Fight the devil with
fire! Der Hexenkopf has bred witches
long enough. We've sent for John
Hokes, sir. Hes a rare wizard. He'll
soon take the spell of this poor suf-
ferer."
lis George Cr0ghan In the yaIleyT'
"Gone yesterday Cor wins creek"
The sufferer did not fancy any shift
Ing of attention and renewed her
screaming and kicking.
"1'he devil hates water. Bring me
bucketful." | commanded.
rolled up the wide sleeves of my
hunting shirt as If intending to battle
My hands before attempting even a
partial cure. bucket Of water was
placed before me. picked II up and
dashed II over the woman Splitting
like cal she came to a sitting pos
ture. When she could get her breath
she hegan calling curses down on my
head
'sThe devil hates cold water | re-
peated. ''The woman is. all right now
If she will keep out of the moonlight
for three nights"
'.Then y0u are a 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
II 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
most malevoIent trap for the woman
now h0bbling to her cabin for a dry
shift. Il consisted of a barrel and
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 ac-
cused was 10 her cabin. The victim
had been induced by some magic arts
to pause and look into the barrel. She
beheld a large rattlesnake with Elsie
Dinwold's eyes.
The barrel was pointed out to me.
| walked to 1t and looked inside. My
flesh crawled as | encountered the re-,
lentless n1alignity of the serpent's
staring eyes.
directed the men to kill the snake
and would have remained TO make
sure 1t 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
We're sweeping up the bill. q frantic
mob.
"Why all this fuss over snake 10
"A barrelY asked. fearing some harm
would be Inflicted on the woman and
the cripple.
"She is q woman OF Der Hexen.
kopf!" accused a woman, pointing
trembling finger.
ssShe comes OF foul BROOD" ex-
citedly explained man.
took time to look more closely.
The woman. scarcely more than a girl,
had suddenly taken alarm for the
mans safety, and had interposed her
slim figure between him and her &C.
cusers. Her l0osened hair was blow
Ing about her face and half-veiling her
thin features. She leaned forward as
she watched US, her body 1.-THE and
wiry as boys, her lips parted In a
little feline snarl.
Knowing me to be stranger and
yearning for an impartial Judge, she
conferred her wild gaze on me and
panted:
"rm no witch. These folks be fools
| live here alone with my uncle. He
is old, cripple with rheumty pains.
Several years ago the beastly Ger
mans named this place Der Hexen.
kopf My poor mother died from fear
and sorrow. My tive sisters. older'n
me. were driven out of the valley.
am last of the women to live on the
Witches Head, and they won't let me
live In peace.
Keep your wicked jaws closed
tight, or wen pin 'em together"
reared the red-faced man.