The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-08-10


dress was brown calico and my shoes
were quite heavy. What is your name,
my girl"
"Elnora Comstock," answered Ill
nora. yesterday ON the board It
changed to Cornstock, and for min
ute thought I'd die, but can laugh
over that already"
The Bird Woman arose and kissed
her. "Finish your LUNCH" she said,
land will get my price lists and take
down a memorandum of what you
think you have, so will know how
many boxes to prepare Never mind
the calico dress and the coarse shoes.
Dig into the books. and before long
you will hear yesterdays tormentors
Boosting that they were once class
mates Of yours!'
She laughingly. left the room and
Elnora sat thinking, until she remem-
bered how hungry she was, so she ate
the food, drank the hot chocolate and
began the process of getting q grip on
herself.
Then the Bird Woman came back
and showed Elnora long printed slip
giving a list of graduated prices for
moths, butterflies and dragon flies.
"Oh, do you want them?' exulted FL
nora. II have few and I can get
more by the thousand, with every color
in the world on their WINGS"
eyes," said the Bird Woman, II will
buy them, also the big moth caterpil-
lars that are creeping everywhere now,
and the cocoons that they will spin
just about this time. I have a sneak
ing impression that the mystery, Won
der and the urge of their pure beauty
are going to force me to picture and
paint our moths and put them into
book for all the world to see and know.
We Limberlost people must not be self
ish with the wonders God has given to
us. I will pay good prices for all the
moths you can find, because, you see,
I exchange them with foreign collec-
tors. The banker will buy stone axes,
arrow points and Indian pipes. There
was a teacher from the city grade
schools here today for specimens.
There is fund to supply the ward
buildings. I'll help you get in touch
with that. They want leaves Of Diff
ferent trees, flowers, grasses, moths,
Insects, BIRDS nests and anything
about birds.''
Elnora's eyes were blazing. HAD
best go back to school or open a bank
account and begin being millionaire?
Uncle Wesley and have a bushel Of
arrow points gathered, stack Of axes,
pipes, skin dressing tools, tubes and
mortars. don't know how ever will
wait three hours"
You must 60, or you will be late"
said the Bird Woman. II will be ready
at a.
After school closed Elnora, seated by
the Bird Woman, drove to Freckles'
old room in the Limberlost One at a
time the beautiful big moths were tax
en- from the interior of the old black
case. Not fourth of them could be
moved that night. and it was almost
dark when the last box: was closed. the
list figured and into Elnora's trembling
fingers were paid $59.16. Elnora clasp
ed the money closely.
"Oh, you beautiful stuffw she cried,
You are going to buy the books, pay
the tuition and take me to high schoolv'
Then because she was a woman she
sat on log and looked at her shoes.
Long after the Bird Woman drove
away Elnora remained. She had her
problem, and it was big one. II she
told her mother would she take the
money to pay the taxes? If she did
not tell her how could she account for
the books and things for which she
would spend it? At last she counted
out what she needed for the next day,
placed the rest in the farthest corner
Of the ease and locked the door. She
then filed the front of her skirt from
a heap Of arrow points beneath the
case and started home.
With the first streak Of red above the
Limberlost Margaret sinton was busy
with the Bingham and the intricate pa.
per pattern she had purchased. Wesley
cooked the breakfast and worked until
he thought Elnora would be gone, then
he started to bring her mother.
"Now you be mighty careful" eau
toned Margaret. II don't know how
she will take it."
II don't either" said Wesley philoso-
ph1cally. "but she's got to take it some
way. That dress has to be finished by
school time In the morning."
Wesley had not slept well that night.
BY the time he reached the front gate
and started down the walk between
the rows Of asters and lady slippers he
was perspiring, and every plausible
and convincing speech had fed his
brain. Mrs. Comstock helped him.
She met him at the door. g.
"Good morning" she said. did Mar
garet send YOU for Something's s
YES" said Wesley. "She sent me
for you. shc'n got a job that's too big
for her. and she wants you to help
"Of course WILL" said Mrs. Com
stock. It was no ones affair how lone
~ the previous day had been, or how