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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5462258 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #66394 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66394) diff --git a/old/66394-0.txt b/old/66394-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 0950222..0000000 --- a/old/66394-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,769 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Dangerous Scarecrow, by Carl Jacobi - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Dangerous Scarecrow - -Author: Carl Jacobi - -Release Date: September 27, 2021 [eBook #66394] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DANGEROUS SCARECROW *** - - - - - They were two very ordinary strawmen on - adjacent farms. Nice playmates for a couple of - imaginative kids. Then Jimmy gave a knife to-- - - The Dangerous Scarecrow - - By Carl Jacobi - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy - August 1954 - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Both Mr. Maudsley and Mr. Trask were resplendent that October evening. -Mr. Maudsley stood deep in the cornfield, overall trousers ballooning -in the wind, one hand nailed to a pie-tin that caught the moonlight -and reflected it like a mirror. While across the road the hat of Mr. -Trask was bright with the strip of foil Jimmy had fastened to it that -morning. - -From the rear seat of the car Jimmy looked down upon the two figures as -the road wound between the shocked fields. - -Next to him his sister, Stella, said, "Mr. Trask looks fine tonight. I -think he likes the silver ribbon you gave him." - -Jimmy nodded. "Mr. Maudsley looks good too. See the way his hand -shines?" - -In the driver's seat as he twisted the wheel to avoid a rut in the -road, grey-haired Mr. Tapping coughed and glanced at his wife. - -"What are those kids whispering about?" - -The whispers died abruptly, and the car rattled over Goose Creek bridge -and began the long climb to the Tapping farm. - -They stopped at the roadside mailbox, but there was no mail; then they -were rolling up the cedar-lined lane, past the silo, past the barn, -into the farmyard. - -Stella went into the house with her mother, but Jimmy remained with his -father to open the garage doors. He snapped the big padlock shut after -the car was put away, made a vain attempt to catch Higgins, the cat, -and followed Mr. Tapping up the porch steps into the house. Upstairs -in his room half an hour later, he undressed reluctantly and climbed -into bed, wide awake. He lay there listening to the old house creak and -groan in the night wind. - -From the distance came the mournful wail of a train whistle. - -Presently Jimmy got out of bed, crossed to the window and stood looking -out into the moonlight. Below him he could see his ball bat leaning -against a tree, looking strangely white against the shadows. Beyond -was the outline of a mounted horseman, the pump, and beyond that the -grey circular walls of the silo pointed upward like a castle tower. -Something caught Jimmy's eye, made him look to the east. He looked -again, then moved to the table and rummaged through the drawer until he -found the silver spyglass his father had given him last Christmas. He -carried the glass back to the window, pushed the window open and peered -out. - -In the bright moonlight he could see Mr. Maudsley clearly. And a little -farther on he could see Mr. Trask. Two silent figures alone in the -cornfields. - -The boy lowered the glass, wiped the lens on his sleeve, and carefully -focused again. A puzzled frown furrowed his face. Save for the flapping -of his trousers in the wind, Mr. Maudsley stood motionless, as of -course he should. But Mr. Trask.... A passing cloud slid over the -moon, darkening the landscape. In the few seconds before it brought -complete blackness Jimmy thought he saw Mr. Trask kick up his heels, -leap high in the air and begin to dance a rigadoon over the shocked -corn. - - * * * * * - -At breakfast next morning Jimmy waited impatiently for his sister to -come downstairs. He hoped she would get to the table before his father -because with Papa present he couldn't talk, and he wanted to talk. When -at last Stella took her chair, he stretched his foot under the table -and kicked her slightly. - -"I've got a secret," he whispered. - -"Tell it to me," said Stella. - -"It's a big secret." - -"If you won't tell, I won't give you any of my Flinch candy." - -Jimmy was silent a moment as he gave this thought. Then he leaned -forward and whispered, - -"Mr. Trask moved last night." - -"He always moves," replied Stella, unimpressed. - -"I mean really moved. Toward Mr. Maudsley." - -Stella choked on her porridge and the spoon all but slipped from her -hand. She stared with wide open eyes. "He didn't." - -Their whispers broke off as Mr. Tapping strode across the kitchen and -took his place at the head of the table. A heavy-set unimaginative man -who seldom entered into conversation with the children, he eyed them -speculatively. But he said nothing and began to eat his eggs and thick -strips of bacon. He ate slowly and methodically, keeping his eyes to -the table. When he had finished his coffee, he settled back to light -his pipe. He passed the match back and forth across the bowl with quiet -deliberation. - -"Who's Mr. Maudsley and who's Mr. Trask?" - -His wife smiled. "Those are just the names the children have given the -scarecrows." - -"What scarecrows?" - -"The one in our field and the one on Edmund's land." - -Mr. Tapping considered this while strong curls of strong tobacco smoke -rose about him. - -"Why those names? Why not Brown and Smith?" - -"Because those are their names," explained Stella patiently. - -Mr. Tapping cogitated on the mysteries of the juvenile mind. Abruptly -he remembered the section of pasture fence that needed repairing and -got to his feet. - -But it was nearly noon before he got around to fence fixing, and then -he had but one wire stapled when he heard a "halloo" and, turning, saw -old Jason Southby hobbling across the field toward him. - -Jimmy, who was holding the wire for his father, let go the pliers and -joined Stella who was trying to capture a bumble bee in a fruit jar. - -"Howdy," said old Jason, reaching the fence. "Got a couple of helpers, -I see." - -Mr. Tapping smiled and nodded his greeting. - -"I came over to ask if you're goin' to post your property for -no-huntin' this year." - -"Don't think so," replied Mr. Tapping. "Aren't many grouse, and I don't -expect there'll be many hunters." - -"No," agreed old Jason, "the birds are dyin' out. It ain't like the old -days." - -Mr. Tapping nodded. - -"Remember when Maudsley was here. Things was different then." - -"Who did you say?" said Mr. Tapping. - -"Maudsley," repeated old Jason. "He owned your farm twenty ... thirty -years ago." - -Mr. Tapping shook his head. Maudsley, eh? Jimmy and Stella must have -heard the name from one of the neighbors' children. - -"Yep," continued old Jason. "Maudsley had this place, and Trask rented -the strip across the road." - -"So?" - -"Quite a story about them two." - - * * * * * - -Mr. Tapping said nothing. There would be no hurrying old Jason; and -no stopping him either. The man obviously had a tale to tell, and he -was enjoying every moment of this prelude. He bit off a piece of plug -tobacco, chewed a moment and spat. - -"It was corn that started it," he said. "Maudsley was a great one to -fool around with hybrids, and he worked out an early variety he called -Maudsley Number two. That ain't bein' planted any more, but in those -days it was well thought of. - -"Then Trask moves into the farm across the road. Trask was from down -south, from around New Orleans way, and he was fired up with all sorts -of backwoods stuff. Pretty soon he began to fight with Maudsley about -how good his hybrid corn was. Seems Trask believed the only way to -grow good crops was by usin' voodoo spells. Got so them two couldn't -come into sight of each other without startin' an argument. One day -Trask got so mad he let his cattle loose in Maudsley's cornfield. -That settled it. Maudsley headed for Trask's place, armed with a -double-barreled shotgun. But before he got there, Trask made himself -invisible." - -"He did what?" demanded Mr. Tapping. - -"Well anyway, that's the story Maudsley spread around. Funny thing is, -folks believed him. He said Trask, bein' from New Orleans country, knew -all sorts of voodoo spells, and he said that Trask, bein' afraid, had -cast a spell over himself to make himself vanish. 'Course some persons -were suspicious and the sheriff asked Maudsley some questions. But -Maudsley proved his shotgun hadn't been fired, and no one had seen him -commit any crime. Trask was never seen around these parts again. After -that Maudsley got to actin' sorta queer: lookin' over his shoulder, -talkin' to himself. Then one day he up and cleared out, and the next -anything was heard of him he had moved south to New Orleans, the very -place Trask had come from. Maudsley is still down there; he wouldn't -come back even long enough to complete the sale of his farm." Jason's -voice died off as he reached the end of his story. - -"Did you hear what he said?" said Jimmy in a low voice. - -"Sure." Stella rose triumphant from capturing her bumble bee. "I knew -it all the time." - - * * * * * - -It rained the next night and even with the spyglass Jimmy could see -nothing in the cornfields. But he knew the two scarecrows were out -there, and he could imagine them standing in the rain with beads of -water dripping from their hats. The muddy water would be running in -rivulets between the rows of shocked corn and when the lightning -flashed the shocks would gleam dully like so many stacked guns at an -army encampment. - -Next day after lunch Jimmy drew his sister aside. - -"If you don't tell anybody I'll show you the present I've got for Mr. -Maudsley. Promise?" - -"I promise," said Stella. - -Jimmy led the way into the barn and in the rear near one of the horse -stalls, swept aside a covering of hay. He picked up a long rusty knife -and displayed it with an air of pride. Stella was disappointed. - -"Just an old knife." - -"It's a voodoo knife, that's what it is. See the way the handle is -carved." - -Stella looked and saw a yellowed handle of what once might have been -ivory, carved in the shape of a running goat with several quasi-human -faces low down near the hilt. - -"What are you going to do with it?" she said. - -"I told you. Give it to Mr. Maudsley. It's his." - -"How do you know it's his?" - -"This is Mr. Maudsley's barn, isn't it? Besides, it was near his other -stuff." - -Stella was not enthusiastic. "Papa won't like it. He got mad when you -nailed that pie-tin to Mr. Maudsley's hand." - -"Papa won't know a thing about it. Come on." - -It was hot in the cornfield. The morning sun beat down fiercely and the -air smelled of damp earth. The ground between the rows of stubble was -marked with tiny channels the running water had cut the night before. -But the shocks were dry again and in the slight breeze they whispered -and rustled gently. The two children made a bee-line for the center -of the field until they came to the two cross boards that served as a -framework for the scarecrow. - -The scarecrow was fashioned of some old clothing which had once -belonged to a fat man--overalls, a coat of what might have been a -Sunday suit at one time, and an ancient felt hat--castaways which the -children had found in the barn. The cardboard face, marked in black -crayon, a little blurred now from the rain, had been copied by Jimmy -from an old photograph the boy had come upon among some old papers -when he had cleaned out the attic. Jimmy had decided that even a crow -wouldn't be fooled by a faceless scarecrow. - -Jimmy was about to climb the upright shaft when Stella stopped him. - -"Wait," she said. "Let's not give Mr. Maudsley the knife." - -"Why not? It's his." - -"_Let's give it to Mr. Trask._" - -The boy's jaw dropped as the enormity of the idea grew upon him. Then -he uttered a squeal of delight. - -Laughing and giggling, the two children turned and ran down and vaulted -the fence that enclosed the aisle of shocks to the road and adjacent -field. - -Five minutes later the second scarecrow brandished a knife at the end -of one of its handless sleeves. - -But as Jimmy came out on the road again, he looked across at Mr. -Maudsley. In full view in the sunlight, it wasn't a cardboard face now; -it was a round full face, with great folds of fat, and it was twisted -in an expression of stark fear. - - * * * * * - -For three nights the skies over the Tapping farm were black, and a cold -wind huffing down from the north kept the children indoors where they -played endless games of parchesi. On the fourth night the moon broke -through the clouds. - -Jimmy, squatting by the window, the spyglass to his eye, stared out at -the two scarecrows. At intervals he thought he saw Mr. Trask descend -from the mounting pole, leap up over the shocks and begin his strange -dance. But at the instant those capers began, the clouds always managed -to blot out the light, and the boy never could be sure if it was a -trick of his eye or the glass. - -And then Jimmy observed two things. With him in his gyrations Mr. Trask -carried the knife, and as he darted back and forth, he edged almost -imperceptibly toward Mr. Maudsley. - -The boy watched a long time to confirm his fears. Then he turned and -ran to his sister's room. - -"Mr. Trask is getting closer," he said. "You'd better come see." - -At the window Stella spent several moments focusing the glass. Slowly -her body went rigid, and she uttered a hoarse exclamation. - -"He's going to kill Mr. Maudsley." - -The boy nodded, his eyes shining with terror. - -"We've got to try and stop him!" - -She turned and ran down the stairs and through the lower floor rooms -to the back door. Jimmy ran after her. Crossing the yard, they sped -halfway down the lane, then pushed through the cedar windbreak and -veered toward the cornfield. Pumpkins, golden in the moonlight, rose up -on either side as they raced up the incline. - -Suddenly Stella drew up short. "Look!" - -Mr. Trask had crossed the road and now was coming full tilt through the -row of shocks. Jimmy, arms spread wide, threw himself forward to block -the onrushing figure's path. He had a brief impression of a blurred -shadow bowling toward him and passing through him while he struck out -with his small fists ineffectually. Behind there was a ripping of cloth -and a hoarse scream. - -Stella came running to where Jimmy stood. Together they saw two shadows -locked in an incredible embrace. Like a scythe raised aloft, Mr. -Trask's knife swept downward in a wide arc and with a quick stroke cut -off Mr. Maudsley's head. Mr. Maudsley's hat flew up, Mr. Maudsley's -head rolled off, and a thin cry of triumph welled up and faded. - -And then there was nothing, except that Mr. Trask was back on one side -of the fence, and Mr. Maudsley was on the other, minus his head, of -course. - -"Gee!" said Stella. - -"Golly!" said Jimmy. He ran over to pick up Mr. Maudsley's hat; Jimmy -tried to put Mr. Maudsley's head back but somehow it wouldn't stick. - -"We'll fix it in the morning," said Jimmy. - -At the edge of the field Jimmy paused and caught his sister's arm -anxiously. "You won't tell, Stella?" - -"No of course not." - -"Cross your heart...?" - -"Cross my heart and hope to die." - - * * * * * - -It was night of the next day and the children sat playing parchesi. -Mrs. Tapping was knitting. Mr. Tapping, settled back in the platform -rocker, was reading the newspaper aloud, as was his custom. Outside, -Mr. Trask was in one field, and Mr. Maudsley was in the other; his -head was back in place, but only tied on--it was not the same; it -looked very dead, even though Jimmy and Stella had done their best. - -"Any news?" asked Mrs. Tapping. - -"Same old stuff. New taxes, one of them foreign countries talkin' big -and threatenin' war," said Mr. Tapping. "One thing here, though--they -found a fellow with his head cut off right in the middle of a city -street." - -"My land! Not here in Akerstown?" - -Mr. Tapping laughed. "Lord, no! Happened way down in New Orleans." - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DANGEROUS SCARECROW *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Dangerous Scarecrow</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Carl Jacobi</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September 27, 2021 [eBook #66394]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DANGEROUS SCARECROW ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>They were two very ordinary strawmen on<br /> -adjacent farms. Nice playmates for a couple of<br /> -imaginative kids. Then Jimmy gave a knife to—</p> - -<h1>The Dangerous Scarecrow</h1> - -<h2>By Carl Jacobi</h2> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy<br /> -August 1954<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Both Mr. Maudsley and Mr. Trask were resplendent that October evening. -Mr. Maudsley stood deep in the cornfield, overall trousers ballooning -in the wind, one hand nailed to a pie-tin that caught the moonlight -and reflected it like a mirror. While across the road the hat of Mr. -Trask was bright with the strip of foil Jimmy had fastened to it that -morning.</p> - -<p>From the rear seat of the car Jimmy looked down upon the two figures as -the road wound between the shocked fields.</p> - -<p>Next to him his sister, Stella, said, "Mr. Trask looks fine tonight. I -think he likes the silver ribbon you gave him."</p> - -<p>Jimmy nodded. "Mr. Maudsley looks good too. See the way his hand -shines?"</p> - -<p>In the driver's seat as he twisted the wheel to avoid a rut in the -road, grey-haired Mr. Tapping coughed and glanced at his wife.</p> - -<p>"What are those kids whispering about?"</p> - -<p>The whispers died abruptly, and the car rattled over Goose Creek bridge -and began the long climb to the Tapping farm.</p> - -<p>They stopped at the roadside mailbox, but there was no mail; then they -were rolling up the cedar-lined lane, past the silo, past the barn, -into the farmyard.</p> - -<p>Stella went into the house with her mother, but Jimmy remained with his -father to open the garage doors. He snapped the big padlock shut after -the car was put away, made a vain attempt to catch Higgins, the cat, -and followed Mr. Tapping up the porch steps into the house. Upstairs -in his room half an hour later, he undressed reluctantly and climbed -into bed, wide awake. He lay there listening to the old house creak and -groan in the night wind.</p> - -<p>From the distance came the mournful wail of a train whistle.</p> - -<p>Presently Jimmy got out of bed, crossed to the window and stood looking -out into the moonlight. Below him he could see his ball bat leaning -against a tree, looking strangely white against the shadows. Beyond -was the outline of a mounted horseman, the pump, and beyond that the -grey circular walls of the silo pointed upward like a castle tower. -Something caught Jimmy's eye, made him look to the east. He looked -again, then moved to the table and rummaged through the drawer until he -found the silver spyglass his father had given him last Christmas. He -carried the glass back to the window, pushed the window open and peered -out.</p> - -<p>In the bright moonlight he could see Mr. Maudsley clearly. And a little -farther on he could see Mr. Trask. Two silent figures alone in the -cornfields.</p> - -<p>The boy lowered the glass, wiped the lens on his sleeve, and carefully -focused again. A puzzled frown furrowed his face. Save for the flapping -of his trousers in the wind, Mr. Maudsley stood motionless, as of -course he should. But Mr. Trask.... A passing cloud slid over the -moon, darkening the landscape. In the few seconds before it brought -complete blackness Jimmy thought he saw Mr. Trask kick up his heels, -leap high in the air and begin to dance a rigadoon over the shocked -corn.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>At breakfast next morning Jimmy waited impatiently for his sister to -come downstairs. He hoped she would get to the table before his father -because with Papa present he couldn't talk, and he wanted to talk. When -at last Stella took her chair, he stretched his foot under the table -and kicked her slightly.</p> - -<p>"I've got a secret," he whispered.</p> - -<p>"Tell it to me," said Stella.</p> - -<p>"It's a big secret."</p> - -<p>"If you won't tell, I won't give you any of my Flinch candy."</p> - -<p>Jimmy was silent a moment as he gave this thought. Then he leaned -forward and whispered,</p> - -<p>"Mr. Trask moved last night."</p> - -<p>"He always moves," replied Stella, unimpressed.</p> - -<p>"I mean really moved. Toward Mr. Maudsley."</p> - -<p>Stella choked on her porridge and the spoon all but slipped from her -hand. She stared with wide open eyes. "He didn't."</p> - -<p>Their whispers broke off as Mr. Tapping strode across the kitchen and -took his place at the head of the table. A heavy-set unimaginative man -who seldom entered into conversation with the children, he eyed them -speculatively. But he said nothing and began to eat his eggs and thick -strips of bacon. He ate slowly and methodically, keeping his eyes to -the table. When he had finished his coffee, he settled back to light -his pipe. He passed the match back and forth across the bowl with quiet -deliberation.</p> - -<p>"Who's Mr. Maudsley and who's Mr. Trask?"</p> - -<p>His wife smiled. "Those are just the names the children have given the -scarecrows."</p> - -<p>"What scarecrows?"</p> - -<p>"The one in our field and the one on Edmund's land."</p> - -<p>Mr. Tapping considered this while strong curls of strong tobacco smoke -rose about him.</p> - -<p>"Why those names? Why not Brown and Smith?"</p> - -<p>"Because those are their names," explained Stella patiently.</p> - -<p>Mr. Tapping cogitated on the mysteries of the juvenile mind. Abruptly -he remembered the section of pasture fence that needed repairing and -got to his feet.</p> - -<p>But it was nearly noon before he got around to fence fixing, and then -he had but one wire stapled when he heard a "halloo" and, turning, saw -old Jason Southby hobbling across the field toward him.</p> - -<p>Jimmy, who was holding the wire for his father, let go the pliers and -joined Stella who was trying to capture a bumble bee in a fruit jar.</p> - -<p>"Howdy," said old Jason, reaching the fence. "Got a couple of helpers, -I see."</p> - -<p>Mr. Tapping smiled and nodded his greeting.</p> - -<p>"I came over to ask if you're goin' to post your property for -no-huntin' this year."</p> - -<p>"Don't think so," replied Mr. Tapping. "Aren't many grouse, and I don't -expect there'll be many hunters."</p> - -<p>"No," agreed old Jason, "the birds are dyin' out. It ain't like the old -days."</p> - -<p>Mr. Tapping nodded.</p> - -<p>"Remember when Maudsley was here. Things was different then."</p> - -<p>"Who did you say?" said Mr. Tapping.</p> - -<p>"Maudsley," repeated old Jason. "He owned your farm twenty ... thirty -years ago."</p> - -<p>Mr. Tapping shook his head. Maudsley, eh? Jimmy and Stella must have -heard the name from one of the neighbors' children.</p> - -<p>"Yep," continued old Jason. "Maudsley had this place, and Trask rented -the strip across the road."</p> - -<p>"So?"</p> - -<p>"Quite a story about them two."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Mr. Tapping said nothing. There would be no hurrying old Jason; and -no stopping him either. The man obviously had a tale to tell, and he -was enjoying every moment of this prelude. He bit off a piece of plug -tobacco, chewed a moment and spat.</p> - -<p>"It was corn that started it," he said. "Maudsley was a great one to -fool around with hybrids, and he worked out an early variety he called -Maudsley Number two. That ain't bein' planted any more, but in those -days it was well thought of.</p> - -<p>"Then Trask moves into the farm across the road. Trask was from down -south, from around New Orleans way, and he was fired up with all sorts -of backwoods stuff. Pretty soon he began to fight with Maudsley about -how good his hybrid corn was. Seems Trask believed the only way to -grow good crops was by usin' voodoo spells. Got so them two couldn't -come into sight of each other without startin' an argument. One day -Trask got so mad he let his cattle loose in Maudsley's cornfield. -That settled it. Maudsley headed for Trask's place, armed with a -double-barreled shotgun. But before he got there, Trask made himself -invisible."</p> - -<p>"He did what?" demanded Mr. Tapping.</p> - -<p>"Well anyway, that's the story Maudsley spread around. Funny thing is, -folks believed him. He said Trask, bein' from New Orleans country, knew -all sorts of voodoo spells, and he said that Trask, bein' afraid, had -cast a spell over himself to make himself vanish. 'Course some persons -were suspicious and the sheriff asked Maudsley some questions. But -Maudsley proved his shotgun hadn't been fired, and no one had seen him -commit any crime. Trask was never seen around these parts again. After -that Maudsley got to actin' sorta queer: lookin' over his shoulder, -talkin' to himself. Then one day he up and cleared out, and the next -anything was heard of him he had moved south to New Orleans, the very -place Trask had come from. Maudsley is still down there; he wouldn't -come back even long enough to complete the sale of his farm." Jason's -voice died off as he reached the end of his story.</p> - -<p>"Did you hear what he said?" said Jimmy in a low voice.</p> - -<p>"Sure." Stella rose triumphant from capturing her bumble bee. "I knew -it all the time."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It rained the next night and even with the spyglass Jimmy could see -nothing in the cornfields. But he knew the two scarecrows were out -there, and he could imagine them standing in the rain with beads of -water dripping from their hats. The muddy water would be running in -rivulets between the rows of shocked corn and when the lightning -flashed the shocks would gleam dully like so many stacked guns at an -army encampment.</p> - -<p>Next day after lunch Jimmy drew his sister aside.</p> - -<p>"If you don't tell anybody I'll show you the present I've got for Mr. -Maudsley. Promise?"</p> - -<p>"I promise," said Stella.</p> - -<p>Jimmy led the way into the barn and in the rear near one of the horse -stalls, swept aside a covering of hay. He picked up a long rusty knife -and displayed it with an air of pride. Stella was disappointed.</p> - -<p>"Just an old knife."</p> - -<p>"It's a voodoo knife, that's what it is. See the way the handle is -carved."</p> - -<p>Stella looked and saw a yellowed handle of what once might have been -ivory, carved in the shape of a running goat with several quasi-human -faces low down near the hilt.</p> - -<p>"What are you going to do with it?" she said.</p> - -<p>"I told you. Give it to Mr. Maudsley. It's his."</p> - -<p>"How do you know it's his?"</p> - -<p>"This is Mr. Maudsley's barn, isn't it? Besides, it was near his other -stuff."</p> - -<p>Stella was not enthusiastic. "Papa won't like it. He got mad when you -nailed that pie-tin to Mr. Maudsley's hand."</p> - -<p>"Papa won't know a thing about it. Come on."</p> - -<p>It was hot in the cornfield. The morning sun beat down fiercely and the -air smelled of damp earth. The ground between the rows of stubble was -marked with tiny channels the running water had cut the night before. -But the shocks were dry again and in the slight breeze they whispered -and rustled gently. The two children made a bee-line for the center -of the field until they came to the two cross boards that served as a -framework for the scarecrow.</p> - -<p>The scarecrow was fashioned of some old clothing which had once -belonged to a fat man—overalls, a coat of what might have been a -Sunday suit at one time, and an ancient felt hat—castaways which the -children had found in the barn. The cardboard face, marked in black -crayon, a little blurred now from the rain, had been copied by Jimmy -from an old photograph the boy had come upon among some old papers -when he had cleaned out the attic. Jimmy had decided that even a crow -wouldn't be fooled by a faceless scarecrow.</p> - -<p>Jimmy was about to climb the upright shaft when Stella stopped him.</p> - -<p>"Wait," she said. "Let's not give Mr. Maudsley the knife."</p> - -<p>"Why not? It's his."</p> - -<p>"<i>Let's give it to Mr. Trask.</i>"</p> - -<p>The boy's jaw dropped as the enormity of the idea grew upon him. Then -he uttered a squeal of delight.</p> - -<p>Laughing and giggling, the two children turned and ran down and vaulted -the fence that enclosed the aisle of shocks to the road and adjacent -field.</p> - -<p>Five minutes later the second scarecrow brandished a knife at the end -of one of its handless sleeves.</p> - -<p>But as Jimmy came out on the road again, he looked across at Mr. -Maudsley. In full view in the sunlight, it wasn't a cardboard face now; -it was a round full face, with great folds of fat, and it was twisted -in an expression of stark fear.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>For three nights the skies over the Tapping farm were black, and a cold -wind huffing down from the north kept the children indoors where they -played endless games of parchesi. On the fourth night the moon broke -through the clouds.</p> - -<p>Jimmy, squatting by the window, the spyglass to his eye, stared out at -the two scarecrows. At intervals he thought he saw Mr. Trask descend -from the mounting pole, leap up over the shocks and begin his strange -dance. But at the instant those capers began, the clouds always managed -to blot out the light, and the boy never could be sure if it was a -trick of his eye or the glass.</p> - -<p>And then Jimmy observed two things. With him in his gyrations Mr. Trask -carried the knife, and as he darted back and forth, he edged almost -imperceptibly toward Mr. Maudsley.</p> - -<p>The boy watched a long time to confirm his fears. Then he turned and -ran to his sister's room.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Trask is getting closer," he said. "You'd better come see."</p> - -<p>At the window Stella spent several moments focusing the glass. Slowly -her body went rigid, and she uttered a hoarse exclamation.</p> - -<p>"He's going to kill Mr. Maudsley."</p> - -<p>The boy nodded, his eyes shining with terror.</p> - -<p>"We've got to try and stop him!"</p> - -<p>She turned and ran down the stairs and through the lower floor rooms -to the back door. Jimmy ran after her. Crossing the yard, they sped -halfway down the lane, then pushed through the cedar windbreak and -veered toward the cornfield. Pumpkins, golden in the moonlight, rose up -on either side as they raced up the incline.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Stella drew up short. "Look!"</p> - -<p>Mr. Trask had crossed the road and now was coming full tilt through the -row of shocks. Jimmy, arms spread wide, threw himself forward to block -the onrushing figure's path. He had a brief impression of a blurred -shadow bowling toward him and passing through him while he struck out -with his small fists ineffectually. Behind there was a ripping of cloth -and a hoarse scream.</p> - -<p>Stella came running to where Jimmy stood. Together they saw two shadows -locked in an incredible embrace. Like a scythe raised aloft, Mr. -Trask's knife swept downward in a wide arc and with a quick stroke cut -off Mr. Maudsley's head. Mr. Maudsley's hat flew up, Mr. Maudsley's -head rolled off, and a thin cry of triumph welled up and faded.</p> - -<p>And then there was nothing, except that Mr. Trask was back on one side -of the fence, and Mr. Maudsley was on the other, minus his head, of -course.</p> - -<p>"Gee!" said Stella.</p> - -<p>"Golly!" said Jimmy. He ran over to pick up Mr. Maudsley's hat; Jimmy -tried to put Mr. Maudsley's head back but somehow it wouldn't stick.</p> - -<p>"We'll fix it in the morning," said Jimmy.</p> - -<p>At the edge of the field Jimmy paused and caught his sister's arm -anxiously. "You won't tell, Stella?"</p> - -<p>"No of course not."</p> - -<p>"Cross your heart...?"</p> - -<p>"Cross my heart and hope to die."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It was night of the next day and the children sat playing parchesi. -Mrs. Tapping was knitting. Mr. Tapping, settled back in the platform -rocker, was reading the newspaper aloud, as was his custom. Outside, -Mr. Trask was in one field, and Mr. Maudsley was in the other; his -head was back in place, but only tied on—it was not the same; it -looked very dead, even though Jimmy and Stella had done their best.</p> - -<p>"Any news?" asked Mrs. Tapping.</p> - -<p>"Same old stuff. New taxes, one of them foreign countries talkin' big -and threatenin' war," said Mr. Tapping. "One thing here, though—they -found a fellow with his head cut off right in the middle of a city -street."</p> - -<p>"My land! Not here in Akerstown?"</p> - -<p>Mr. Tapping laughed. "Lord, no! Happened way down in New Orleans."</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DANGEROUS SCARECROW ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. 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