Oxford Democrat., 1912-09-03

died out. The girl waited. She did no
see 1t again, and so she went back t.
her books
In the Limberlost the hulking figure
of man slouched down the trail.
"The Bird Woman was at Freckles
room this evening"" he muttered
"Wonder what forY
He left the trail, entered the inclo
sure still distinctly outlined and ap
preached the case. The first point O.
light flashed from the tiny electri'
lamp on his vest. He took duplicate
key from his pocket, felt for the pad
lock and opened it. The door SWUNG
wide. The light flashed the secont
time. Swiftly his glance swept the In
terror.
Bout a fourth of her moths gone
Elnora must have been with the Birt
Woman and given them to her" Thel
he stood tense His keen eyes discov
cred the roll Of bills hastily thrust bacl
in the bottom Of the case. He snatchet
them up, shut off the light, relocket
the case by touch and swiftly wen
down the trail Every few seconds III
paused and listened intently. Just u
he reached the road the low hoot or
screech owl waveringly prolonged fel
on his ears, and he stopped. An IN
stant later q second figure approached
him.
SIS It you, Peter" came the whispere'
question.
EYES," said the first man.
81 was coming down to take peel
when l saw your FASH" he said. :"
heard the Bird Woman had been at tn
case today. Anything doing"
"Not a thing" said Pete. "She JUS
took away about fourth Of the moths
Probably had the Comstock girl get
ting them for her. Heard they were
together. Likely she'll get the res
tomorrow. Amt picking getting bar
these days?"
"Well, I should say so," said the sec
ond man, turning back In disgust
Coming home now"
mo; am going down this way" an
swered Pete, for his eyes caught th'
CLEAN from the window Of the Com
stock cabin, and he had desire Il
learn why Elnora's attic was lighted q
that hour.
he slouched down the road, occasion
ally feeling the size Of the roll he hat
not taken time to count. He chucklet
frequently.
"Feels fat enough to pay" he whis
pered. "Bill, I beat you just abou
seven minutes"
The attic was too long, the light to'
near the other end, and the cabin stoot
much too far back from the road. III
could see nothing, although he climbed
the fence and walked back opposite tn
window. He knew Mrs. ComstOck wa!
probably awake and that she some
times went to the swamp behind heI
home at night. At times q cry went
up from that locality that paralyzec
nny one near or sent them fleeing as
for life. He did not care to cross be
hind the cabin. He returned to the
road, passed and again climbed the
fence. Opposite the west window he
could see Elnora. She sat before
small table reading from book be
tween two candles. Her hair fell IN
bright sheen around her, and with ont
hand she lightly shook and tossed i
rs she studied. The man stood out II
the night and watched.
| For n long time n leaf turned oc
casionully and the hair drying went on
The nan drew nearer. The picture
grew more beautiful Us he approached
He could not see as well as he desired
for the screen was Of white mosquito
netting. and 1t angered him. He eau
tiously crept closer. The elevation shu'
Off his view. Then he remembered tn'
great willow tree shading the well ant
branching across the window at tn
west end Of the cabin. From child
hood Elnora had stepped from the sil
to a limb and slid down the slantinl
trunk Of the tree. He reached 1t ont
noIselessly swung himself up. Thre
steps out on the big limb the maj
shuddered. He was within a few Zee
Of the GIRL