The Witch’s Bone as told by Edward E . French

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Baron of Grey matter Edward E. French delivers more gravy for the brain!

The Witch’s bone written by William Croft Dickinson told to you by Edward E French Michael Elliot M lldd FSA Scotland frowned at the letter which had come from the honorary curator of the local Museum it was quite a short letter and quite a simple one merely asking him if he would allow the

Museum to borrow his witch’s bone for a special exhibition covering folk beliefs and Customs but Michael Elliot found the letter far from welcome short and simple as it was it revived and increased all the fearful Troubles of his mind more than that dare he now let the bone pass

Out of his own keeping even if only for a little while every day for the the last week that witch’s bone had preoccupied his mind to the exclusion of all else The Witch’s bone that brought an end to all his quarrels with McKenzie Grant The Witch’s bone that had possibly given him

A Revenge far more terrible than anything he had sought or expected in a fit of anger he had thought only of testing its efficacy never really believing it would work now he knew that the bone had worked only too well or had it had he indeed compassed Grant’s

Death all he knew was that Grant had died and that now he found it hard to recover his Peace of Mind of course he had only himself to blame he had shown the bone at the last meeting of their local antiquarian Society just after he had acquired it

And pleased with himself he had expatiated upon its awful power McKenzie Grant had contradicted him as usual Grant had always treated his theories with contempt there was his paper on Lake dwellings and after that his paper on the Iron Age forts in the central Highlands upon both occasions Grant had

Stood up and poo pooed everything he had said at the meetings of the council too the man could be relied upon to speak against everything he proposed but all that was past history Grant had poured scorn upon his story of the bone and now Grant was dead

Yet how unbounded would be the relief of his tortured mind if Grant had been right and if the story of the bone were stuff and nonsense and nothing more the very night that Grant had ridiculed his story he had put the bone to the test directing its malevolent Powers against McKenzie

Grant and Grant had died a horrible death a few hours later but could it not have been a ghastly Co incidents in which the bone had played no part at all it was only a short piece of bone probably sheep bone about 6 in long with

A narrow ring of Black Bog Oak tightly encircling it near its Center he had acquired it during his recent holiday in Southerland an old woman had died in a remote Glenn and because she had been reputed to be a witch and had been feared as such no one would bear her to

Burial the local Minister had called on him beseeching his help poor body was no witch at all the minister had said she was just old and ill-favored I’ve had a coffin made about the right size at any rate it will be large enough and if you

Could just drive me to the old bod’s Hut with the coffin in the rear of your Estate Wagon maybe we could manage to coffin her and give her a Christian burial a strange request to make of any man but the minister had won him over and his reward had been the witch’s bone

They had found it on a shelf in the old woman’s Hut the minister had seen it first and had prodded it gently with his finger so he said softly The Witch’s bone I’ve been told of it there are those of my people who say that she would utter a curse upon

Some man or woman and then would make a wax figure and stick a pin into it then they say that if this bone rattled on its Shelf she knew that her curse had taken effect and that the person portrayed in the wax would be seized with pains in that part of the body

Which corresponded with the place of the pin in the wax some have even said that she could kill by sticking her pin in the heart or the head for the power is in the bone it can wound or kill any who are cursed by its possessor and never are they

Spared he had listened and looked with with astonishment until suddenly The Minister’s face had changed and he had cried out but what am I saying to you there is no Witch of Endor in southernland indeed there is not no such devilry is possible I’m not believing

One word of it and the minister had boldly picked up the bone and offered it to him take it with you he had said it may interest some of your friends in the South and wondering he had taken it yes it had interested some of his friends but McKenzie Grant had laughed

At him a witch’s bone he had said contemptuously stuff and nonsense anyone can see by just looking at it that it’s a handle and nothing more that ring round its Center simply means that when it is grasped two fingers go on one side of the ring and two fingers on the other

Any boy flying a kite grasps a piece of wood and exactly the same way at the end of his string witch’s bone indeed I believe Elliot I could persuade you that a handkerchief with a hole in it is a witch’s Veil to be worn at meetings of

Her coven and the whole of course would be symbolic indicative of her lapse from the Christian faith and so the man had gone on laughing at him before his friends he had kept down the anger which had surged within him but when he had returned home and had taken the bone

From his pocket all his pent up feelings had broken their bounds he had marched straight into his study and placing the bone upon a bookshelf near the fireplace had resolved to prove its power to hurt aloud and deliberately he had cursed McKenzie Grant but searching for ceiling

Wax could find none then he had recalled the photograph of McKenzie Grant in a recent volume of the transactions of their society he had recalled too his aversion to destroying any photograph to tear up a photograph it always seemed to him to be akin to tearing the living Flesh and

Bones so much the better McKenzie Grant should be torn aunder with a Vengeance he had ripped the fullpage photograph from the book and had deliberately torn it to pieces in the fury of his task he had for the moment forgotten the bone but as the torn pieces had multiplied

Between his hands suddenly there had come a rattling sound from the nearby shelf and at that his heart had turned to ice fearfully he had looked looked at the bone it lay exactly where he had placed it it lay inert and still he remembered assuring himself that he had simply imagined that

Rattle he was overwrought yes it was imagination and nothing more yet the next morning when reading the Scotsman at breakfast time again a chill had struck his heart and his whole body was numbed with fear for the paper announced with regret that a distinguished antiquary Mr

McKenzie Grant had been killed in a road accident according to the announcement Mr Grant when driving home about midnight after having dined with a friend had unaccountably run headon into a heavy Lorry that had stopped for some minor adjustment on the opposite side of the road it was a bad

Accident Grant’s car had been completely telescoped but in the opinion of the doctors he must have been killed instantaneously for their examination showed that he had suffered multiple injuries and that practically every bone in his body was broken no wonder his mind was Ill at ease he had striven to

Persuade himself that it was pure coincidence that those multiple injuries had not to do with a photograph torn into many shreds he had labored to free himself from a haunting burden of guilt yet the torturing thought was still there had the bone indeed the power of killing those who were cursed

By its possessor since then he had locked it up in his coin cabinet he had even been afraid to open the cabinet to make certain it was still there now the museum had asked to be allowed to borrow it to put it on display to say that he had lost it or

Had destroyed it would be childish yet dare he lend it dare he allow it to pass out of his own keeping these were but some of the thoughts that troubled the mind of Dr Michael Elliott as he sat with a letter that lay before him on his desk about

9:00 in the evening of the same day when sir Steven renson cie the honorary curator of the museum was deep in a detective story his housekeeper knocked on his study door and announced Dr Michael Elliot somewhat surprised rowon put down his book and Rose to greet his

Visitor come in Elliot come in this is an unexpected pleasure Michael Elliot entered the room slowly and hesitantly man but you do look tired continued rowson as Elliot came into the light it’s these cold nights take that chair by the fire and warm yourself I’ll get you a whiskey ellot took the profer

Chair and sank down into it if indeed he was looking tired he knew full well that it was not due to the coldness of the night I’ve called about your letter asking for the loan of my witch’s bone he said turning to his host and gratefully accepting the whiskey which

Had been poured out for him I I thought I’d sooner bring it to you personally at your home rather than give it to you or leave it for you at the Museum why certainly replied renson concealing his surprise you think I might possibly leave it lying about in the museum and

Uh it might fall into the wrong hands rowon spoke with a smile but Ellie had colored slightly you have guessed correctly it may be more dangerous than we know renson looked more closely at his visitor did Elliot really believe that this bit of bone could exert a cult

Force he had been one of those standing by when McKenzie Grant had poured his scorn upon it and although he had not heard Elliott’s account of its supposed malignant power he knew full well that the man was apt to be too credulous but perhaps he had better humor him you

Are right he conceded Gravely I seen some strange things myself in India we must be careful would it make you happier if I promis that when I do put it on display I will put it in a locked case Elliot’s relief was too apparent to be disguised I was hoping for something

Like that he said taking the bone from his breast pocket it is good of you to go to so much trouble but I should feel reassured if it was under lock and key you can rely on me returned renson I will keep it safely here in the house

Until I have a locked case ready for it and I will tell no one it is here once more Elliot’s relief was so obvious that rowon taking the bone from him ostentatiously looked about his study for a safekeeping place not finding one he placed the bone on his desk I’ll find

A safe place for it later he assured Elliot you can rely on me and I will certainly keep it here until I take it personally to the museum and myself place it in a display case that can be securely locked thereafter for some 10 minutes or

So sir Steven rowson strove in vain to find some topic of conversation which would interest his visitor but Elliot answered only in monosyllables while his eyes constantly strayed to the witch’s bone lying on the curator’s desk and his only thought was whether he should warn renson of its dangerous power or whether

That would merely make him look foolish and at the same time make rowon less responsive and also more careless well said rowson as he wearied of his task I mustn’t keep you too late and don’t worry about your bone it will be quite safe Elliot Rose heavily to his feet

Thank you he said I’m sorry to be so fussy but you know I do believe it may be a witch’s bone and not as as McKenzie Grant maintained simply a handle of some kind the last words had come out with difficulty and rowon thought he understood yes poor fellow we shall miss

His skeptical comments we were all his victims at one time or another Elliot winced again his eyes stray to the witch’s bone you won’t leave it there will you he asked no no replied rowson quickly I’ll find a safe place for it all right seemingly reassured Elliot

Moved towards the door of the room rowson opened it and conducting his visitor through the hall led him out of the house for a minute or two he watched the retreating figure there goes one of the most distinguished classical scholars in Europe he said to himself

And yet with more antiquary and bees in his Bonnet than any man I know a witch’s bone indeed it may be but even so what harm can it do to anyone he returned to his study and picking up the bone from his desk examined it under the reading lamp but

His examination made him no wiser well well old Elliot was certainly Mighty concerned about it and I’d better do what I said but where shall I put the wretched thing I haven’t a safe and there isn’t a drawer in the whole house that would defeat a 10-year-old moving about the room with

The bone in his hand rowon finally stopped in front of an old-fashioned knickknack stand which bore on its shelves a medley of flints cylindrical seals Roman nails and other small archaeological objects of varying periods and kinds the very place he muttered not so much Po’s idea in the purloined letter

As chesterton’s idea a of hiding a leaf in a forest by moving some of the specimens closer to one another he cleared a small space on one of the shelves and placed the bone there stepping back he surveyed the results and found it good 2 Days Later sir Steven rowon entered his study

After a Frugal breakfast he was feeling thoroughly disgruntled his housekeeper summoned yesterday afternoon to nurse a sister who had suddenly been taken ill had left him to fend for himself and Sir Steven renson was not accustomed to domestic work he had managed to prepare his coffee toast and marmalade for

Breakfast and now the dead ashes in his study fireplace mocked him he would have to take out those ashes and lay the fire himself unwillingly he began his task and as he busied himself with paper and firewood his mind turned to the museum and to its forthcoming exhibition and

His thoughts made more disgruntled still why should everything go wrong at one and the same time for yesterday morning when one or two members of the society had come to the museum to help with the final preparations and when in accordance with his promise he had

Arranged for a place in one of the two locked cases to be reserved for Michael Elliot’s witch’s bone the interfering and officious Colonel Hogan had actually presumed to give contrary orders even asserting that the bone wasn’t worth a place in the exhibition anywhere he had had trouble with the colonel before the

Man seemed to think he was in command of everything but this time there had followed an unseemly Wrangle in which he had completely lost his temper more than that he had hotly argued that the bone might be more dangerous than any of them realized that heated altercation had

Made him look foolish and he remembered to his annoyance the glances that had been exchanged the word would now go round that he was becoming as credulous as Ellie himself but if Elliot hadn’t been so fussy the argument would never have started at all I could curse the old fool he

Muttered angrily as he thrust the sticks of firewood among the paper which he had crushed up and laid in the Hearth damn Michael Elliot and damn his bone he finished laying the fire and Rose up from his task when as he did so he heard a strange rattle which seemed

Seemed to come from somewhere within the room startled he looked around but nothing had fallen nothing seemed to be out of place probably a bird fluttered against the window he said dubiously but it didn’t sound like it it was a queer sound never heard anything like it before well what

Now he could go to the museum and work there then he could lunch at his Club back to the museum again dinner at the club and perhaps he could even collect together a bridge for for the evening yes he could manage without his housekeeper for a day or two but he

Hoped it wouldn’t be Longer everything had worked according to plan and Sir Steven renson was feeling much happier he had put in a good morning’s work he had had an excellent lunch at his Club and had even arranged a bridge for he had carried on with his exib exibition in the afternoon

And to his great relief the members who had dropped in to help had given no indication that yesterday’s Wrangle had affected them in any way at all it was nearly 5:00 and he was thinking of giving up for the day when he heard the bell ring that was unusual who could be

Ringing the bell the door was open and people just walked in somewhat puzzled he went to the door and found there a young man sirs Steven rowson yes my name is Robert Reed sir you won’t know me but I’m the local representative of the Scotsman and I was told you might

Be able to help me sir Steven rowson LED his visitor into the main room of the museum and what can I do to help you he asked I’m anxious to trace a photograph of Dr Michael Elliot the paper wishes to carry one tomorrow I do not like to call

At his house and it was suggested to me that probably you would have one here since or so I gather Dr Elliot was a prominent member of your Society but why can’t you call it his house the young man looked up quickly but of course how stupid of me you

Cannot have heard then in a slightly lower voice he continued I’m very sorry to tell you sir that Dr Michael Elliot is dead he was killed in a bad accident in Edinburgh about half 11 this morning and as you will understand we must car a fairly long obituary notice we would

Also like a photograph if possible Michael Elliot dead repeated Rowen and dully yes sir apparently he was walking along the pavement by a site where a new building was going up when for some reason a steel girder that was being lifted by a crane slipped from the

Chains which were holding it hitting the side of the building it slewed round and by sheer bad luck fell on Dr Elliot and crushed him to death how horrible yes sir but we are told that death must have been instantaneous for Not only was Dr Elliot badly crushed but also the girder

In Falling broke down a wooden screen which was shielding the sight and according to the doctors drove a wedge of broken wood from the screen straight through Dr Elliot’s heart for a brief space s Steven owenson remained silent it comes to all of us sooner or later he said at

Last but I wish it could have come in a way different from this a photograph yes I think I can help there was a photograph of Dr Elliot in our local paper the standard only the other day come up to my house and I’ll show it

To you then if you think it suitable I’m sure the standard people will be only too glad to lend you the block so Steven rowon led the newspaper man into his study where almost at once he apologized for the coldness of the room I’m sorry to offer you such a

Chilly reception he said but my housekeeper is away and I am looking after myself however we’ll soon have a fire and then I’ll hunt for that photograph although the young man held out a restraining hand renson struck a match and lit the fire then Crossing to

A pile of newspapers on a small table by his desk he began to turn over the papers one by one but the standard which he wanted was not there queer he said I could have sworn it was in this pile but warm yourself at what fire there is

While I have a look in the dining room I sometimes leave the paper there he went out of the room and the young man looked ruul at the fire the edges of the paper had burned but nothing more as one last wisp of smoke curled up towards the chimney the fire was

Out I can’t find it anywhere growled renson coming back into the room once more he went through the pile of papers on the table and still without success then he saw the dead Hearth oh I am sorry he cried the fire is gone out I must have packed it too tightly stupid

Of me but it’s years since I laid a fire then a new thought came to him and I’m willing to bet that the standard I’m looking for is there at the bottom of my wretched fire I just took the first paper that came to hand I really am

Sorry but look if you go to the offices of the standard in the High Street they’ll willingly show you the issue and then you can ask about the block say I sent you really I should have taken you there in the first place with many apologies for troubling the honorary

Curator of the museum the young newspaper man left sir Steven rowson returned to his study and then there looked bafully at the dead fire I suppose I shall have to relay the damn thing he muttered to himself I’d better do it now and have it done with

Kneeling down in front of the Hearth he removed the coal then the firewood and finally the paper yes he had packed it too tightly but he had learned his lesson straightening out a piece of the crushed paper he saw it was the standard for which he had been

Looking he might have guessed that he would use the one newspaper that was wanted ah here was the page that bore poor Elliot’s photograph he straightened the page it was still a good likeness even though the photograph was badly crushed and a splinter from the rough firewood had pierced in its very

Heart but all that held no significance for sir Steven rowson he relayed the fire went to his bathroom and there washed his hands