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Description
It was nearly midnight as all the folks of Sleepy Hollow were gathered round a bonfire. It had been nearly a year since the incident involving poor Ichabod Crane had taken place, and thus Sleepy Hollow needed a new schoolteacher. The applicant that fit the bill best was another new arrival to the town. An educated man from Boston named Gerald Smitty. He had recently arrived in town looking for employment, and as was customary, he was told the story of the legendary Headless Horseman that the residents were so fond of telling.

Now Gerald was among the educated, not the superstitious. Being from Boston, he graduated from Harvard, and that was not all he had going for him in the department of being amongst the educated. His father, Nathaniel Smitty, was an expert in physics that could recite all of Isaac Newton’s Laws of Physics and Mathematics backwards. His mother, Lauren Smitty, was just as intelligent. Her first husband was a doctor and a biology professor, and as such she knew much of the natural world.

All this meant that Gerald did not buy into this belief in a decapitated Hessian haunting a Revolutionary War battlefield in search of his own head. When he snorted his disbelief, he was then told of the incident involving their old schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane.

“Hmph! Balderdash and rubbish!” Gerald proclaimed, “There are plenty of logical explanations for what happened here! You mentioned a smashed pumpkin found near Mr. Crane’s hat at the end of the church bridge. Is it that stretch of the imagination that someone with a bone to pick against him put an oversized coat over his head, carved up and lit a pumpkin, then rode Ichabod Crane down through the misty…huh?”

Suddenly Gerald’s thoughts were cut off by the sight of someone. A tall, dainty, and voluptuous maiden the likes of which he had never seen before! She had long blonde hair, a sunny smile that seemed to make the darkness of midnight turn to blinding midday sun, and eyes that made the moon seem like it had just gone to its New phase.

“Hey, schoolmaster,” a voice spoke from behind, “Any reason for you to be looking at my wife?”

“Hmm?” Gerald spoke as he turned around to see a hulking brute of a man standing behind him with his arms crossed. Gerald made a face, “And just what are you supposed to be? An ox in a man’s body?”

At this, all in attendance just started laughing out loud much to this buff man’s chagrin. Even the lovely lady herself had her hand to her mouth and let out a few giggles. All the while, all that this giant of a man could do was blush in embarrassment and walk off gesturing for his wife to follow. She did as Gerald watched them leave. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by a youthful lad gesturing to him.

“Mr. Schoolmaster, I think you may have just made a very powerful enemy,” He began, “That there was Brom Bones. A war hero, the best rider in town, and a notorious trickster. He could ride a horse blindfolded! That maiden you were ogling over is his wife, Katrina. Daughter of Baltus Van Tassel. One of the richest men in town. It is bad luck to pursue her. Last person that did that was Ichabod Crane, and we haven’t seen him since that party he went to.”

“Really?” Gerald replied with a sudden intrigued smirk, “By any chance…did this Ichabod Crane flirt with Mrs. Bones during this party?”

“Well…yes, but…” the lad began then raised his eyes as realization hit, “Wait…are you thinking that…Brom Bones was the one that drove Ichabod Crane out of town?”

“You say that Brom is a prankster and the best rider in town, and that he could ride blindfolded,” Gerald started, “Now, does he own a black horse?”

“Indeed,” the youth answered, “Daredevil.”

“Then I have my prime suspect,” Gerald began, “All that remains now to do is to prove it, that’s the tricky part,” Then realization hit Gerald as he realized something. He did not know to whom he was speaking to. “Oh, I beg your pardon. To whom am I having the pleasure of making an acquaintanceship with?”

“Oh! Sorry!” The youth proclaimed, “I am Octavian Pearson. I am a carpenter here in Sleepy Hollow- “

“Mr. Schoolmaster!” Another youthful lad proclaimed, “Come! Quick! There’s been some sort of happening at the schoolhouse!”

“Hmm?” Gerald began, “I wonder what is going on?”

Gerald and his new friend followed the stranger to the schoolhouse and unlocked the door. When Gerald opened it, he let out a cry of shock! All the desks, chairs, books, and all were hanging and dangling from the ceiling! The place was a wreck, and there was red lettering on the walls that read, “Get out! Go away!” and other warnings. Octavian looked around and then crouched and shuddered in trepidation while Gerald, however, looked about with a raised eyebrow heading towards the lettering.

“Sir! What are you doing?!” Octavian sputtered in shock, but Gerald paid no attention as he, to the shock of the others, ran his finger along the wall until he picked up something. Then he turned to the one that brought them there and then furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance.

“Look, why don’t you go to Confession, and tell the priest that you are guilty of committing the sin of dishonesty, alright?” He began, his tone quiet but menacing, “And you tell whoever put you up to this…that it’ll take more than some ropes, pullies, and…” He then flicked what he was holding, a strand of fresh wool, at the man that brought them, “…sheep’s blood to drive me out of town. Now get out of my schoolhouse.”

The man looked flabbergasted as he backed away in surprise, then left. Octavian, recovered from his fear, looked in amazement.

“How did you know, sir?” He asked.

Chuckling, Gerald replied, “Simple my friend. What ghost could possibly leave footprints in the dust like that one over there?” He then pointed to a sizeable boot print in the dust as Octavian studied it with a nod.

“Yeah, this looks to be Brom Bones’s size,” He spoke.

“Then I say it’s time we show Sleepy Hollow that their Headless Horseman wears the head of their beloved hero,” Gerald replied.

“How do we do that, sir?” Octavian asked.

“Patience,” Gerald answered, “The solution will present itself. I think I know where to start.”

The man that had shown the two new friends what had happened at the schoolhouse made his way to a pub and went in. There waiting for him was someone sat with his back turned to him as he made his way to the table.

“How did it go?” the figure asked, “Is the new schoolmaster fearing for his safety like Crane was?”

Shaking his head, the man answered, “No. This kid is good. He ran his finger along the wall and found this,” He handed the man seated at the table the strand of sheep’s wool handed to him earlier, “He knew we used ropes, pullies, and sheep’s blood to ransack his schoolhouse trying to intimidate him.”

The man was silent for a moment, then squeezed his fist in annoyance as he spoke, “This new schoolmaster is nothing like Ichabod Crane! He doesn’t believe in ghosts, and spooks, and witches, and all that mumbo-jumbo that this Godfearing Podunk fears! Well…I guess if he won’t listen to intimidation…” He cracked his knuckles, “…maybe a little persuasion is in order. I’m not having some wimpy schoolmaster messing with MY fortune!”

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“So you say your son-in-law laughs out loud whenever one mentions that there was a smashed pumpkin next to Ichabod’s hat by the church bridge, Mr. Van Tassel?” Gerald spoke as he sipped his morning tea, “Why would Ichabod be by the church bridge so late at night? It doesn’t connect to any close road leading to either his house or yours, so he has no need to pass through the churchyard on the way home, and while a church may be open all day, a schoolmaster needs to get home and rest. Especially one that teaches small children.”

It was morning in Sleepy Hollow. The schoolhouse was closed for repairs which gave Gerald ample time to continue gathering clues in his investigation. Octavian was not with him. He was at his carpenter’s shop.

“How right you are, my lad,” Baltus spoke, “A schoolmaster has no need to be in the churchyard so late at night if it’s nowhere near on the way to his home.” Chuckling a bit, Baltus continued, “You know? It’s hard to come by someone capable of making logical and intellectual conversation with here in Sleepy Hollow.”

“If intellectual conversation is something you seek, my good sir, consider retiring in Boston or Cambridge Massachusetts,” Gerald laughed, “You’ll find no shortage of that there.”
Suddenly, the front door opened as the two looked to see the lovely Katrina enter, “Oh! Father! Pardon me, I didn’t know you were having company.”

“Quite alright, my daughter,” Baltus answered, “Meet my guest. This is Gerald Smitty. The new schoolmaster to take the place of Ichabod Crane.”

“Yes, I heard about you,” Katrina spoke with a polite and pretty smile, “It is a pleasure to make you acquaintance.”

“Enchante, madame,” Gerald spoke with a polite bow, “Tout le plaisir est pour moi.”
Blushing somewhat at this, Katrina smiled, “Oh my! I wish my husband was half as charming as you!”

“May new acquaintances become fast friendships,” Gerald began.

“You’re not like Ichabod Crane,” Katrina observed, “From what I hear, you don’t believe in the Headless Horseman, superstitions, nor that he chased away Ichabod.”

“At last a man with a head on his shoulders!” Baltus proclaimed, “If only there were ten men here like you, son!”

“But it still baffles me,” Katrina spoke, “If you don’t believe the Headless Horseman took away Crane, who do you think did?”

Gerald hesitated at this. He wanted Katrina to know she was married to a mischievous rascal that set up Ichabod Crane, but he knew she wasn’t likely to believe it. It would have to wait.
“I…have a few hunches I’m exploring…” He replied, “I…don’t want word to get out in case I’m right. Otherwise my suspects might panic and run.”

“A wise decision,” Baltus spoke, “I hope you do catch whoever did this. I never believed it for a second, and I’ve even heard rumors that Ichabod now teaches in New York City.”

“Yes,” Katrina spoke, “I didn’t love Ichabod Crane, but I didn’t want anybody to hurt him. He was my friend. He was just too…superstitious.”

“That was his downfall,” Gerald deduced, “He heard a made-up story by your husband, followed it to a T, then fled when he still got attacked anyway.”

“Yes,” Katrina answered, “Oh! Father, I forgot! I got a gear for your grandfather clock in town! I’ll install it right now.” With that, she pulled out a ladder and began to ascend it as she opened the face of the clock and began to fiddle with a broken piece. Suddenly, the rung she was standing on broke under her foot and she started to fall.

“Katrina!” Both Baltus and Gerald proclaimed as Gerald rushed over under her and caught her in his arms.

“Katrina, are you alright?” Gerald asked as he looked at her, “Are you…hurt…?” But then he couldn’t speak. The most beautiful girl in the world was in his arms and from the looks of her face, she was blushing. He felt for sure he was likely doing the same when suddenly, he put her down on her feet.

“I’m…sorry…” He nervously got out.

Frowning a bit, Katrina asked, “For what? You saved me.”

Looking up at this, Gerald could practically feel her smiling at him when suddenly he noticed the broken rung. “Huh…? Wait…wait that’s it!”

“Huh?” Baltus frowned, “What is it? What’s what?”

“Huh?” Gerald began, “Oh, um…n-n-nothing.”

Frowning at this, Katrina looked at the now broken ladder and shook her head.

“I guess it’s back to town to get a new ladder,” Katrina spoke as she headed back to the door looking back and Gerald, “Again, it was nice meeting you, Mr. Gerald. I hope you’re as good at singing lessons as Ichabod was. I could use another tutor.”

“Huh…?” Gerald blushed, “Oh, w-w-well…o-okay…I’ll see if I can fit you into my schedule…”

“Thank you!” Katrina spoke, “Good-bye for now!” With that, she skipped out of the house leaving the two men alone.

“Wow…” Gerald whispered, “…your daughter is a goddess from Heaven itself…it’s like God needed Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Giovanni’s help just to design her beauty…and I’ll bet He asked Beethoven and Mozart to help Him compose her sweet voice…”

Smiling at this, Baltus proclaimed, “If only all the other suitors in her life described her as sweetly as you did, my boy.” Frowning at this he said, “I just now wish she chose better than that rascal, Brom Bones.”

“Huh?” Gerald whispered, “You mean you don’t like your son-in-law?”

“At first I did,” Baltus answered, “I thought him marrying my daughter would cause him to grow up, but no such luck! He flaunts my daughter like a prize and hardly tells her he loves her anymore. In fact, I suspect he’s committing adultery against my daughter.”

“Really?” Gerald asked, “Are you also concerned he’s only with her for your money?”

“Indeed,” Baltus grumbled, “That’s why I convinced my daughter, much to her displeasure, to have a clause put recently in her marriage contract.”

“What clause?” Gerald asked.

“If Brom is ever caught and convicted of a crime, the marriage will be terminated by law thus ensuring Brom gets nothing,” Baltus explained, “Not my daughter, not my estate, and not one red cent of my money.”

“You don’t say…?” Gerald asked looking back on the broken rung, “That’s interesting…that’s very interesting…”
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Later that day, Gerald arrived at Octavian’s workshop.

“Eureka!” Gerald proclaimed, “I know how to expose our headless friend!” Gerald beamed with pride,
“I’ll beat him at his own ghostly game!”

“Gerald!” Octavian spoke, “You mean you’re close to rounding him up?”

“Yes,” Gerald answered, “And I’ll need your help.”

“What do you want me to do?” Octavian asked.

“I’m going to need lots of sawdust, wood scraps, and glue,” Gerald explained, “And I’m going to need a long mold to make wooden planks, and nails.”

“I’ve got plenty of that, and I can make you a few molds,” Octavian explained, “But what do you need them for?”

“To trap a bridge-obsessed ghost,” Gerald answered.

A few nights later, Gerald was studying flowers on a hill near the road leading to the old church bridge looking for herbs. He had a basket and was carefully picking when suddenly, he heard a whinnying in the woods nearby. He looked up at this, saw nothing, then shrugged continuing with his work. Then loud rapid hoofbeats were heard as he looked up again to see to his surprise a mysterious rider heading towards his location. Now wary, he looked further then let out a look of horror at the sight heading towards him. A tall mysterious rider upon a horse as black as the night. A rider that had…no head! Except for the one on his saddle.

Shaking his head in horror and disbelief, Gerald ran towards the road as fast as his legs could carry him and for some reason was skipping various spots. Perhaps his fear of being chased by the Headless Horseman was affecting how he ran for dear life. The headless apparition gave swift chase, but for some reason at times his steed seemed to slow down at points, but then picked up the pace. Thankfully, these moments of slowness gave Gerald enough time to get some distance until he spotted the church bridge. Remembering the stories of Hans Ripper and Ichabod, he deduced that even if he crossed the bridge he should probably keep running just in case. He ran and ran until to his luck he managed to cross the bridge with a monstrous first leap before the apparition caught him! He continued to run as his pursuer came towards him at full gallop!

Then, when the frightful horse galloped on the bridge, the wood gave out underneath its hooves sending it stumbling forward as its rider flung off its back and tumbled forward with a loud crash!

Seeing the incident behind him, Gerald turned around and made his way to the fallen spirit then eyed the pumpkin that had survived the blow glowing with a candle inside. Rolling his eyes, he went back to the rider and pulled off its oversized coat to reveal its true face.

“Brom Bones. Just as I thought,” Gerald spoke with a grin. “It was you all along! You were the one that told Ichabod Crane that ridiculous story about Hans and convinced him to cross that bridge when you chased him. It was you that threw that pumpkin at him sending him running away from Sleepy Hollow in fear. It was you that rigged up both my classroom and his.”

Looking up at this, Brom glowered at Gerald and spat, “How did you cross that bridge, but I didn’t? How could you stay so far ahead on mere foot while I was on horseback?”

“You can thank me for that,” Octavian spoke from the side, “Together we combined sawdust, wood scraps, and glue to make some thin and flimsy boards and replaced the first few boards on the bridge with them. All Gerald had to do was leap over the first few steps while crossing the bridge to avoid getting into danger and trapping you! As for how he was able to stay ahead of you, he was skipping certain areas of the road because we put mud and tar in certain areas that your horse crossed through and got momentarily stuck.”

Scowling at this, Brom smirked and taunted, “Very clever, schoolmaster, but you forgot one thing.”

“Oh?” Gerald asked.

“Yeah, you forgot that it’s your word against mine,” Brom gloated.

“Your word?” Gerald asked, “You mean like you gave your word to be completely devoted to Katrina after you got married? Word is spreading that you’re seeing lots of other women behind her back! Knowing you, I’ll bet they’re true.”

“Of course they’re true!” Brom answered, “You think I actually care about Katrina? Sure, she’s the most gorgeous and desirable woman in Sleepy Hollow, but there are lots more that still admire me!”

“So you don’t really love Katrina?” Gerald asked.

“I love her,” Brom asked, “I just love myself even more. Not to mention her money!”

Looking down at this, Gerald called over his shoulder, “Heard what you needed to hear, Baltus? How about you, Katrina?”

“What?” Brom gasped as he looked to see Baltus and Katrina come out from behind the bushes glowering at Brom.

“I heard all I needed to hear!” Katrina huffed, “Enough to know that this marriage is over!”

“But…but…but how? When? What…?” Brom stuttered.

“After we completed the boards made of flimsy particles of wood and glue, I sent Octavian to the bar to tell everyone there that I was going to be out all alone on the hill tonight,” Gerald explained, “I did it to keep you occupied with the details. While he was talking with you and making merry with a few drinks, I went to the Van Tassel estate. Initially the plan was to speak with Baltus about my plan, but Katrina was there as well. Naturally I couldn’t tell them that I was going to capture you, not with her there, so I told them that I was setting up who I thought the real culprit was and told them to wait in the bushes by the bridge to see what all went down.”

“And lo and behold!” Baltus exclaimed, “I learned that not only does my wretched son-in-law only love my daughter for her money and beauty, I learn that you drove out Ichabod Crane from town while impersonating the Headless Horseman! That means you’ve committed the crime of assault since you threw a pumpkin at Ichabod Crane. Also, you’ve committed assault with a deadly weapon since the pumpkin was on fire and could have burned Ichabod alive. Not to mention attempted murder, attempted arson, vandalism, among other things. Which means that your marriage to my daughter is so voided since I had her put in a clause in her marriage contract that nullified the marriage if you were ever convicted of a crime!”

“Which brings me to the other guest I invited to this little party,” Gerald spoke gesturing to the other side of the bridge. “Our local constable who will be holding you until a judge from New York City will be ready to see you for your fair hearing.”

“Brom Bones,” The constable spoke as he pulled out a pair of cuffs, “You are under arrest for the assault and attempted murder of Ichabod Crane.”

“For the record, Brom, you’d better hope that Ichabod is in fact still alive somewhere!” Baltus snorted.

“Wait! Wait!” Brom protested looking at his Gerald, “Shouldn’t he be arrested as well?! He sent me flying and nearly broke my neck!”

“After you chased him intending to incinerate him with a flaming pumpkin? Are you kidding me, Brom Bones?” The constable asked, “The defense will argue it was self-defense because he knew you would pursue him the way you did. He could have very well shot and killed you, and he wouldn’t get in any trouble with the law.”

“Wait! Wait!” Brom protested looking at his wife, “Katrina…my love, is there anything you can do for me?”

Katrina flared at him and spat, “Have a nice life in prison!”

With that, the constable took Brom Bones away back into town as Gerald turned to Katrina.

“Katrina, I’m sorry,” He spoke.

Looking puzzled at him again, Katrina asked again, “For what? You’re not the one that attacked Ichabod and betrayed me…”

“No, I mean, I’m sorry he…broke your heart…” Gerald explained.

Looking up at this, Katrina then gave Gerald something resembling a smile as she answered, “Well…to be perfectly honest, after this…I don’t really remember what I actually truly loved about him in the first place.”

“Huh?” Gerald gasped.

Smiling, Katrina then teased out, “You know…maybe I’ve had my fill of the boastful and athletic war-hero type…” Smiling all the more at Gerald, she continued, “Maybe it’s time I gave the sweet, wise, and intelligent kind of guy a chance.”

“Wh-wh-what are you…s-s-saying…?” Gerald asked with a blush.

Smiling, Katrina asked, “How about tomorrow while the schoolhouse is still under repairs, you come over and continue my old singing lessons?”

If anybody in town didn’t know any better, they’d think Gerald’s blushing head was the light of dawn itself!

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Over the next year, Sleepy Hollow started to change. The realization that Brom Bones was the one that really attacked Ichabod Crane had most of the population abandon their superstitious beliefs. Brom Bones was taken to a courthouse in New York City, pled guilty to all charges, and was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. He was also told never to set foot in Sleepy Hollow ever again. The constable, impressed by Gerald’s detective work in catching the real Headless Horseman, offered him a job in the police force saying he could use a man of Gerald’s talents on his small force. An offer Gerald didn’t fully accept. His duty was to the children of Sleepy Hollow, but he did offer his services if ever such a complicated mystery baffling the citizens of Sleepy Hollow were to emerge. He told the constable he’d arrange to open a private investigator’s office just as soon as his partner, Octavian, came home. When Octavian observed how smart Gerald was in the apprehension of Brom Bones, he aspired to be an educated man just like Gerald, and not just some carpenter. Baltus Van Tassel paid for Octavian’s college tuition and living expenses glad to see that someone in town was willing to improve his life to become another educated soul that Baltus could carry meaningful conversations with. As for Gerald and Katrina…

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“Hurry up, Katrina!” Gerald called out, “The coach leaving for Boston is about to arrive in town, and my parents, Nathaniel and Lauren Smitty, are eager to meet the future Mrs. Gerald Smitty!”

“I’ll be just a minute, dearest,” Katrina called back, “I just need to pick out a fine hat for the occasion.”

Smiling, Gerald entered his new fiance’s room and held her from behind.

“Hat?” He asked, “You don’t need any hat, my love.” He punctuated this with a kiss on her neck, “You’re a goddess-like work-of-art as is, and my parents are going to love you.”

Smiling at this, Katrina replied, “If they raised you, I already love them,” She then smiled and added, “Just as I know you truly love me, Gerald. You convincing my father to leave over half his fortune to charities and scholarships to colleges all over the country shows that not only do you care about the future of others, but that you love me for me, and not my money like Brom did.”

Smiling at this, Gerald answered, “Your father could give his entire fortune to charity away leaving you with nothing, and I would still love you with all my heart and soul.”

Closing her eyes at this, Katrina then playfully shoved Gerald away and said, “Hey, let’s not be…losing our heads here, my little Headless Horseman Hunter! Let’s pick out a nice hat and be on our way! We have a family to pick up, and a wedding to plan when we return here to Sleepy Hollow.”

“Right,” Gerald nodded, “Then let’s get that hat and take the first step to us living happily ever after.”

Description
It was nearly midnight as all the folks of Sleepy Hollow were gathered round a bonfire. It had been nearly a year since the incident involving poor Ichabod Crane had taken place, and thus Sleepy Hollow needed a new schoolteacher. The applicant that fit the bill best was another new arrival to the town. An educated man from Boston named Gerald Smitty. He had recently arrived in town looking for employment, and as was customary, he was told the story of the legendary Headless Horseman that the residents were so fond of telling.

Now Gerald was among the educated, not the superstitious. Being from Boston, he graduated from Harvard, and that was not all he had going for him in the department of being amongst the educated. His father, Nathaniel Smitty, was an expert in physics that could recite all of Isaac Newton’s Laws of Physics and Mathematics backwards. His mother, Lauren Smitty, was just as intelligent. Her first husband was a doctor and a biology professor, and as such she knew much of the natural world.

All this meant that Gerald did not buy into this belief in a decapitated Hessian haunting a Revolutionary War battlefield in search of his own head. When he snorted his disbelief, he was then told of the incident involving their old schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane.

“Hmph! Balderdash and rubbish!” Gerald proclaimed, “There are plenty of logical explanations for what happened here! You mentioned a smashed pumpkin found near Mr. Crane’s hat at the end of the church bridge. Is it that stretch of the imagination that someone with a bone to pick against him put an oversized coat over his head, carved up and lit a pumpkin, then rode Ichabod Crane down through the misty…huh?”

Suddenly Gerald’s thoughts were cut off by the sight of someone. A tall, dainty, and voluptuous maiden the likes of which he had never seen before! She had long blonde hair, a sunny smile that seemed to make the darkness of midnight turn to blinding midday sun, and eyes that made the moon seem like it had just gone to its New phase.

“Hey, schoolmaster,” a voice spoke from behind, “Any reason for you to be looking at my wife?”

“Hmm?” Gerald spoke as he turned around to see a hulking brute of a man standing behind him with his arms crossed. Gerald made a face, “And just what are you supposed to be? An ox in a man’s body?”

At this, all in attendance just started laughing out loud much to this buff man’s chagrin. Even the lovely lady herself had her hand to her mouth and let out a few giggles. All the while, all that this giant of a man could do was blush in embarrassment and walk off gesturing for his wife to follow. She did as Gerald watched them leave. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by a youthful lad gesturing to him.

“Mr. Schoolmaster, I think you may have just made a very powerful enemy,” He began, “That there was Brom Bones. A war hero, the best rider in town, and a notorious trickster. He could ride a horse blindfolded! That maiden you were ogling over is his wife, Katrina. Daughter of Baltus Van Tassel. One of the richest men in town. It is bad luck to pursue her. Last person that did that was Ichabod Crane, and we haven’t seen him since that party he went to.”

“Really?” Gerald replied with a sudden intrigued smirk, “By any chance…did this Ichabod Crane flirt with Mrs. Bones during this party?”

“Well…yes, but…” the lad began then raised his eyes as realization hit, “Wait…are you thinking that…Brom Bones was the one that drove Ichabod Crane out of town?”

“You say that Brom is a prankster and the best rider in town, and that he could ride blindfolded,” Gerald started, “Now, does he own a black horse?”

“Indeed,” the youth answered, “Daredevil.”

“Then I have my prime suspect,” Gerald began, “All that remains now to do is to prove it, that’s the tricky part,” Then realization hit Gerald as he realized something. He did not know to whom he was speaking to. “Oh, I beg your pardon. To whom am I having the pleasure of making an acquaintanceship with?”

“Oh! Sorry!” The youth proclaimed, “I am Octavian Pearson. I am a carpenter here in Sleepy Hollow- “

“Mr. Schoolmaster!” Another youthful lad proclaimed, “Come! Quick! There’s been some sort of happening at the schoolhouse!”

“Hmm?” Gerald began, “I wonder what is going on?”

Gerald and his new friend followed the stranger to the schoolhouse and unlocked the door. When Gerald opened it, he let out a cry of shock! All the desks, chairs, books, and all were hanging and dangling from the ceiling! The place was a wreck, and there was red lettering on the walls that read, “Get out! Go away!” and other warnings. Octavian looked around and then crouched and shuddered in trepidation while Gerald, however, looked about with a raised eyebrow heading towards the lettering.

“Sir! What are you doing?!” Octavian sputtered in shock, but Gerald paid no attention as he, to the shock of the others, ran his finger along the wall until he picked up something. Then he turned to the one that brought them there and then furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance.

“Look, why don’t you go to Confession, and tell the priest that you are guilty of committing the sin of dishonesty, alright?” He began, his tone quiet but menacing, “And you tell whoever put you up to this…that it’ll take more than some ropes, pullies, and…” He then flicked what he was holding, a strand of fresh wool, at the man that brought them, “…sheep’s blood to drive me out of town. Now get out of my schoolhouse.”

The man looked flabbergasted as he backed away in surprise, then left. Octavian, recovered from his fear, looked in amazement.

“How did you know, sir?” He asked.

Chuckling, Gerald replied, “Simple my friend. What ghost could possibly leave footprints in the dust like that one over there?” He then pointed to a sizeable boot print in the dust as Octavian studied it with a nod.

“Yeah, this looks to be Brom Bones’s size,” He spoke.

“Then I say it’s time we show Sleepy Hollow that their Headless Horseman wears the head of their beloved hero,” Gerald replied.

“How do we do that, sir?” Octavian asked.

“Patience,” Gerald answered, “The solution will present itself. I think I know where to start.”

The man that had shown the two new friends what had happened at the schoolhouse made his way to a pub and went in. There waiting for him was someone sat with his back turned to him as he made his way to the table.

“How did it go?” the figure asked, “Is the new schoolmaster fearing for his safety like Crane was?”

Shaking his head, the man answered, “No. This kid is good. He ran his finger along the wall and found this,” He handed the man seated at the table the strand of sheep’s wool handed to him earlier, “He knew we used ropes, pullies, and sheep’s blood to ransack his schoolhouse trying to intimidate him.”

The man was silent for a moment, then squeezed his fist in annoyance as he spoke, “This new schoolmaster is nothing like Ichabod Crane! He doesn’t believe in ghosts, and spooks, and witches, and all that mumbo-jumbo that this Godfearing Podunk fears! Well…I guess if he won’t listen to intimidation…” He cracked his knuckles, “…maybe a little persuasion is in order. I’m not having some wimpy schoolmaster messing with MY fortune!”

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“So you say your son-in-law laughs out loud whenever one mentions that there was a smashed pumpkin next to Ichabod’s hat by the church bridge, Mr. Van Tassel?” Gerald spoke as he sipped his morning tea, “Why would Ichabod be by the church bridge so late at night? It doesn’t connect to any close road leading to either his house or yours, so he has no need to pass through the churchyard on the way home, and while a church may be open all day, a schoolmaster needs to get home and rest. Especially one that teaches small children.”

It was morning in Sleepy Hollow. The schoolhouse was closed for repairs which gave Gerald ample time to continue gathering clues in his investigation. Octavian was not with him. He was at his carpenter’s shop.

“How right you are, my lad,” Baltus spoke, “A schoolmaster has no need to be in the churchyard so late at night if it’s nowhere near on the way to his home.” Chuckling a bit, Baltus continued, “You know? It’s hard to come by someone capable of making logical and intellectual conversation with here in Sleepy Hollow.”

“If intellectual conversation is something you seek, my good sir, consider retiring in Boston or Cambridge Massachusetts,” Gerald laughed, “You’ll find no shortage of that there.”
Suddenly, the front door opened as the two looked to see the lovely Katrina enter, “Oh! Father! Pardon me, I didn’t know you were having company.”

“Quite alright, my daughter,” Baltus answered, “Meet my guest. This is Gerald Smitty. The new schoolmaster to take the place of Ichabod Crane.”

“Yes, I heard about you,” Katrina spoke with a polite and pretty smile, “It is a pleasure to make you acquaintance.”

“Enchante, madame,” Gerald spoke with a polite bow, “Tout le plaisir est pour moi.”
Blushing somewhat at this, Katrina smiled, “Oh my! I wish my husband was half as charming as you!”

“May new acquaintances become fast friendships,” Gerald began.

“You’re not like Ichabod Crane,” Katrina observed, “From what I hear, you don’t believe in the Headless Horseman, superstitions, nor that he chased away Ichabod.”

“At last a man with a head on his shoulders!” Baltus proclaimed, “If only there were ten men here like you, son!”

“But it still baffles me,” Katrina spoke, “If you don’t believe the Headless Horseman took away Crane, who do you think did?”

Gerald hesitated at this. He wanted Katrina to know she was married to a mischievous rascal that set up Ichabod Crane, but he knew she wasn’t likely to believe it. It would have to wait.
“I…have a few hunches I’m exploring…” He replied, “I…don’t want word to get out in case I’m right. Otherwise my suspects might panic and run.”

“A wise decision,” Baltus spoke, “I hope you do catch whoever did this. I never believed it for a second, and I’ve even heard rumors that Ichabod now teaches in New York City.”

“Yes,” Katrina spoke, “I didn’t love Ichabod Crane, but I didn’t want anybody to hurt him. He was my friend. He was just too…superstitious.”

“That was his downfall,” Gerald deduced, “He heard a made-up story by your husband, followed it to a T, then fled when he still got attacked anyway.”

“Yes,” Katrina answered, “Oh! Father, I forgot! I got a gear for your grandfather clock in town! I’ll install it right now.” With that, she pulled out a ladder and began to ascend it as she opened the face of the clock and began to fiddle with a broken piece. Suddenly, the rung she was standing on broke under her foot and she started to fall.

“Katrina!” Both Baltus and Gerald proclaimed as Gerald rushed over under her and caught her in his arms.

“Katrina, are you alright?” Gerald asked as he looked at her, “Are you…hurt…?” But then he couldn’t speak. The most beautiful girl in the world was in his arms and from the looks of her face, she was blushing. He felt for sure he was likely doing the same when suddenly, he put her down on her feet.

“I’m…sorry…” He nervously got out.

Frowning a bit, Katrina asked, “For what? You saved me.”

Looking up at this, Gerald could practically feel her smiling at him when suddenly he noticed the broken rung. “Huh…? Wait…wait that’s it!”

“Huh?” Baltus frowned, “What is it? What’s what?”

“Huh?” Gerald began, “Oh, um…n-n-nothing.”

Frowning at this, Katrina looked at the now broken ladder and shook her head.

“I guess it’s back to town to get a new ladder,” Katrina spoke as she headed back to the door looking back and Gerald, “Again, it was nice meeting you, Mr. Gerald. I hope you’re as good at singing lessons as Ichabod was. I could use another tutor.”

“Huh…?” Gerald blushed, “Oh, w-w-well…o-okay…I’ll see if I can fit you into my schedule…”

“Thank you!” Katrina spoke, “Good-bye for now!” With that, she skipped out of the house leaving the two men alone.

“Wow…” Gerald whispered, “…your daughter is a goddess from Heaven itself…it’s like God needed Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Giovanni’s help just to design her beauty…and I’ll bet He asked Beethoven and Mozart to help Him compose her sweet voice…”

Smiling at this, Baltus proclaimed, “If only all the other suitors in her life described her as sweetly as you did, my boy.” Frowning at this he said, “I just now wish she chose better than that rascal, Brom Bones.”

“Huh?” Gerald whispered, “You mean you don’t like your son-in-law?”

“At first I did,” Baltus answered, “I thought him marrying my daughter would cause him to grow up, but no such luck! He flaunts my daughter like a prize and hardly tells her he loves her anymore. In fact, I suspect he’s committing adultery against my daughter.”

“Really?” Gerald asked, “Are you also concerned he’s only with her for your money?”

“Indeed,” Baltus grumbled, “That’s why I convinced my daughter, much to her displeasure, to have a clause put recently in her marriage contract.”

“What clause?” Gerald asked.

“If Brom is ever caught and convicted of a crime, the marriage will be terminated by law thus ensuring Brom gets nothing,” Baltus explained, “Not my daughter, not my estate, and not one red cent of my money.”

“You don’t say…?” Gerald asked looking back on the broken rung, “That’s interesting…that’s very interesting…”
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Later that day, Gerald arrived at Octavian’s workshop.

“Eureka!” Gerald proclaimed, “I know how to expose our headless friend!” Gerald beamed with pride,
“I’ll beat him at his own ghostly game!”

“Gerald!” Octavian spoke, “You mean you’re close to rounding him up?”

“Yes,” Gerald answered, “And I’ll need your help.”

“What do you want me to do?” Octavian asked.

“I’m going to need lots of sawdust, wood scraps, and glue,” Gerald explained, “And I’m going to need a long mold to make wooden planks, and nails.”

“I’ve got plenty of that, and I can make you a few molds,” Octavian explained, “But what do you need them for?”

“To trap a bridge-obsessed ghost,” Gerald answered.

A few nights later, Gerald was studying flowers on a hill near the road leading to the old church bridge looking for herbs. He had a basket and was carefully picking when suddenly, he heard a whinnying in the woods nearby. He looked up at this, saw nothing, then shrugged continuing with his work. Then loud rapid hoofbeats were heard as he looked up again to see to his surprise a mysterious rider heading towards his location. Now wary, he looked further then let out a look of horror at the sight heading towards him. A tall mysterious rider upon a horse as black as the night. A rider that had…no head! Except for the one on his saddle.

Shaking his head in horror and disbelief, Gerald ran towards the road as fast as his legs could carry him and for some reason was skipping various spots. Perhaps his fear of being chased by the Headless Horseman was affecting how he ran for dear life. The headless apparition gave swift chase, but for some reason at times his steed seemed to slow down at points, but then picked up the pace. Thankfully, these moments of slowness gave Gerald enough time to get some distance until he spotted the church bridge. Remembering the stories of Hans Ripper and Ichabod, he deduced that even if he crossed the bridge he should probably keep running just in case. He ran and ran until to his luck he managed to cross the bridge with a monstrous first leap before the apparition caught him! He continued to run as his pursuer came towards him at full gallop!

Then, when the frightful horse galloped on the bridge, the wood gave out underneath its hooves sending it stumbling forward as its rider flung off its back and tumbled forward with a loud crash!

Seeing the incident behind him, Gerald turned around and made his way to the fallen spirit then eyed the pumpkin that had survived the blow glowing with a candle inside. Rolling his eyes, he went back to the rider and pulled off its oversized coat to reveal its true face.

“Brom Bones. Just as I thought,” Gerald spoke with a grin. “It was you all along! You were the one that told Ichabod Crane that ridiculous story about Hans and convinced him to cross that bridge when you chased him. It was you that threw that pumpkin at him sending him running away from Sleepy Hollow in fear. It was you that rigged up both my classroom and his.”

Looking up at this, Brom glowered at Gerald and spat, “How did you cross that bridge, but I didn’t? How could you stay so far ahead on mere foot while I was on horseback?”

“You can thank me for that,” Octavian spoke from the side, “Together we combined sawdust, wood scraps, and glue to make some thin and flimsy boards and replaced the first few boards on the bridge with them. All Gerald had to do was leap over the first few steps while crossing the bridge to avoid getting into danger and trapping you! As for how he was able to stay ahead of you, he was skipping certain areas of the road because we put mud and tar in certain areas that your horse crossed through and got momentarily stuck.”

Scowling at this, Brom smirked and taunted, “Very clever, schoolmaster, but you forgot one thing.”

“Oh?” Gerald asked.

“Yeah, you forgot that it’s your word against mine,” Brom gloated.

“Your word?” Gerald asked, “You mean like you gave your word to be completely devoted to Katrina after you got married? Word is spreading that you’re seeing lots of other women behind her back! Knowing you, I’ll bet they’re true.”

“Of course they’re true!” Brom answered, “You think I actually care about Katrina? Sure, she’s the most gorgeous and desirable woman in Sleepy Hollow, but there are lots more that still admire me!”

“So you don’t really love Katrina?” Gerald asked.

“I love her,” Brom asked, “I just love myself even more. Not to mention her money!”

Looking down at this, Gerald called over his shoulder, “Heard what you needed to hear, Baltus? How about you, Katrina?”

“What?” Brom gasped as he looked to see Baltus and Katrina come out from behind the bushes glowering at Brom.

“I heard all I needed to hear!” Katrina huffed, “Enough to know that this marriage is over!”

“But…but…but how? When? What…?” Brom stuttered.

“After we completed the boards made of flimsy particles of wood and glue, I sent Octavian to the bar to tell everyone there that I was going to be out all alone on the hill tonight,” Gerald explained, “I did it to keep you occupied with the details. While he was talking with you and making merry with a few drinks, I went to the Van Tassel estate. Initially the plan was to speak with Baltus about my plan, but Katrina was there as well. Naturally I couldn’t tell them that I was going to capture you, not with her there, so I told them that I was setting up who I thought the real culprit was and told them to wait in the bushes by the bridge to see what all went down.”

“And lo and behold!” Baltus exclaimed, “I learned that not only does my wretched son-in-law only love my daughter for her money and beauty, I learn that you drove out Ichabod Crane from town while impersonating the Headless Horseman! That means you’ve committed the crime of assault since you threw a pumpkin at Ichabod Crane. Also, you’ve committed assault with a deadly weapon since the pumpkin was on fire and could have burned Ichabod alive. Not to mention attempted murder, attempted arson, vandalism, among other things. Which means that your marriage to my daughter is so voided since I had her put in a clause in her marriage contract that nullified the marriage if you were ever convicted of a crime!”

“Which brings me to the other guest I invited to this little party,” Gerald spoke gesturing to the other side of the bridge. “Our local constable who will be holding you until a judge from New York City will be ready to see you for your fair hearing.”

“Brom Bones,” The constable spoke as he pulled out a pair of cuffs, “You are under arrest for the assault and attempted murder of Ichabod Crane.”

“For the record, Brom, you’d better hope that Ichabod is in fact still alive somewhere!” Baltus snorted.

“Wait! Wait!” Brom protested looking at his Gerald, “Shouldn’t he be arrested as well?! He sent me flying and nearly broke my neck!”

“After you chased him intending to incinerate him with a flaming pumpkin? Are you kidding me, Brom Bones?” The constable asked, “The defense will argue it was self-defense because he knew you would pursue him the way you did. He could have very well shot and killed you, and he wouldn’t get in any trouble with the law.”

“Wait! Wait!” Brom protested looking at his wife, “Katrina…my love, is there anything you can do for me?”

Katrina flared at him and spat, “Have a nice life in prison!”

With that, the constable took Brom Bones away back into town as Gerald turned to Katrina.

“Katrina, I’m sorry,” He spoke.

Looking puzzled at him again, Katrina asked again, “For what? You’re not the one that attacked Ichabod and betrayed me…”

“No, I mean, I’m sorry he…broke your heart…” Gerald explained.

Looking up at this, Katrina then gave Gerald something resembling a smile as she answered, “Well…to be perfectly honest, after this…I don’t really remember what I actually truly loved about him in the first place.”

“Huh?” Gerald gasped.

Smiling, Katrina then teased out, “You know…maybe I’ve had my fill of the boastful and athletic war-hero type…” Smiling all the more at Gerald, she continued, “Maybe it’s time I gave the sweet, wise, and intelligent kind of guy a chance.”

“Wh-wh-what are you…s-s-saying…?” Gerald asked with a blush.

Smiling, Katrina asked, “How about tomorrow while the schoolhouse is still under repairs, you come over and continue my old singing lessons?”

If anybody in town didn’t know any better, they’d think Gerald’s blushing head was the light of dawn itself!

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Over the next year, Sleepy Hollow started to change. The realization that Brom Bones was the one that really attacked Ichabod Crane had most of the population abandon their superstitious beliefs. Brom Bones was taken to a courthouse in New York City, pled guilty to all charges, and was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. He was also told never to set foot in Sleepy Hollow ever again. The constable, impressed by Gerald’s detective work in catching the real Headless Horseman, offered him a job in the police force saying he could use a man of Gerald’s talents on his small force. An offer Gerald didn’t fully accept. His duty was to the children of Sleepy Hollow, but he did offer his services if ever such a complicated mystery baffling the citizens of Sleepy Hollow were to emerge. He told the constable he’d arrange to open a private investigator’s office just as soon as his partner, Octavian, came home. When Octavian observed how smart Gerald was in the apprehension of Brom Bones, he aspired to be an educated man just like Gerald, and not just some carpenter. Baltus Van Tassel paid for Octavian’s college tuition and living expenses glad to see that someone in town was willing to improve his life to become another educated soul that Baltus could carry meaningful conversations with. As for Gerald and Katrina…

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“Hurry up, Katrina!” Gerald called out, “The coach leaving for Boston is about to arrive in town, and my parents, Nathaniel and Lauren Smitty, are eager to meet the future Mrs. Gerald Smitty!”

“I’ll be just a minute, dearest,” Katrina called back, “I just need to pick out a fine hat for the occasion.”

Smiling, Gerald entered his new fiance’s room and held her from behind.

“Hat?” He asked, “You don’t need any hat, my love.” He punctuated this with a kiss on her neck, “You’re a goddess-like work-of-art as is, and my parents are going to love you.”

Smiling at this, Katrina replied, “If they raised you, I already love them,” She then smiled and added, “Just as I know you truly love me, Gerald. You convincing my father to leave over half his fortune to charities and scholarships to colleges all over the country shows that not only do you care about the future of others, but that you love me for me, and not my money like Brom did.”

Smiling at this, Gerald answered, “Your father could give his entire fortune to charity away leaving you with nothing, and I would still love you with all my heart and soul.”

Closing her eyes at this, Katrina then playfully shoved Gerald away and said, “Hey, let’s not be…losing our heads here, my little Headless Horseman Hunter! Let’s pick out a nice hat and be on our way! We have a family to pick up, and a wedding to plan when we return here to Sleepy Hollow.”

“Right,” Gerald nodded, “Then let’s get that hat and take the first step to us living happily ever after.”