The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-11-07

Wherein Mrs. Comstoek INDUCES In
"FriIIs" and Billy Reappears.
rT was Wesley Sinton who really
wrestled with the problem as
he drove about his. business.
He did not have to ask himself
what 1t meant; he knew. The old Cor
son gang was still holding together.
Elder members who had escaped the
law had been Joined by younger
brother of Jacks, and they met In the
thickest of the few remaining fast
places of the swamp to drink. gamble
and loaf. Then, suddenly. there would
be a robbery In some country house
where a farmer that day had sold his
wheat or corn and not paid a visit
to the bank, or in some nelghboring
village.
The home OF Mrs. Comstock and FL
nora adjoined the swamp. Sinton's
land lay next. and not another resi-
dence or man easy to reach in case Of
trouble. Whoever wrote that note had
some human kindness In his breast
but the fact stood revealed that he
feared his strength IL Elnora was de-
livered into his hands. Where had he
been the previous night when he heard
that prayer? Was that the first time
he had been In such proximity? Sinton
drove fast. for he wished to reach the
swamp before Elnora and the Bird
Woman would go there for more
moths.
At almost he came to the case,
and dropping on his knees studied the
ground. every sense alert He found
two or three little heel prints. Those
were made by Elnora or the Bird
Woman. What Sinton wanted to learn
was whether all the rest were the
footprints of one man. 1t was easily
seen they were not. There were deep,
even tracks made by fairly new shoes,
and others where a well worn heel
than at the outer edge. Undoubtedly
some of Corson's old gang were watch
Ing the case and the visits of the
women to IT. There was no danger that
anyone would attack the Bird Woman.
She never went to the swamp at night,
and on her trips In the daytime every
one knew that she carried a revolver,
understood how to use 1t and pursued
her work In fearless manner.
Sinton was afraid for Elnora. yet he
did not want to add the burden of fear
to Katharine Comstock's trouble or to
disturb the Joy Of Elnora In her work.
He stopped at the cabin and slowly
went up the walk. Mrs. Comstock was
sitting on the front step with some
sewing. She dropped her work on her
lap. laid her hands on It and looked
into his face with a sneer.
you didn't let any grass grow under
your feet" she said
Sinton saw her white. drawn face
and comprehended.
II went to pay debt and see about
this opening of the ditch. Kate"
"You said you were going to prose
cute me-"
Good gracious. Katel' cried Sinton.
rs that what you have been thinking
all dayf ] told you before left yes
terday that | would not need do that.
I want to ask you II you ever see any
thing about the swamp that makes
you think the old Corson gang Is still
aliveT
Cant say that do" said Mrs. Com
stock. There's kind Of dancing lights
there sometimes. but supposed II was
just people passing along the road
with lanterns"
"Kate. l have got to tell you some
thing. Elnora stopped at the case this
morning. and somebody had been into
II In the might"
Broke the lockr
mo. Used duplicate key. Today
heard there was a man here last night
| want to nose around little"
sinton went TO the east end OF the
cabin and looked up at the window.