Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-09-24
A GIRL
OF THE
|LIMBERLOST
By
GENE STRATTON.PORTER
Copyright. 1905. by Doubleday. Page
& Co.
CHAPTER Viii.
Wherein Mrs. Comstock indulses In
drills" and Billy Reappears.

anu ShiJ EOofFSeSs
@T 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 a 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 farmer that day had sold his
wheat or corn and not paid u visit
to the bank. or in some neighboring
village.
The home of Mrs. Comstock and FL
nora adjoined the swamp. Sinton's
land lay next. and not another resi-
dence or mun 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 If Elnora was de,
,lyered into his hands. Where had he
been the previous night when he heard
that prayer? Was that the first time
be 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. It was easily
seen they were not. There were deep.
even tracks made by fairly new shoes,
and others where well worn heel
cut deeper on the inside Of the print
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 q 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 1t and looked
into his face with 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, Kate!" cried Sinton.
is that what you have been thinking
all day? | told you before l left yes
terday that would not need do that.
1 want to ask you If you ever see any
thing about the swamp that makes
you think the old Corson gang is still
alive?
Cant say that do" said Mrs. Com.
stock. There's kind Of dancing lights
there sometimes. but supposed It was
Just people passing along the road
with lanterns"
"Kate. / have got to tell you some,
thing. Elnora stopped at the case this
morning, and somebody had been into
1t in the night"
Broke the lockT
mo. Used a duplicate key. Today
heard there was man here last night
| want to nose around q little"
Sinton went to the east end Of the
cabin and looked up at the window.
There was no way any one could have
reached It without ladder. for the
logs were hewed and mortar filed the
cracks even. Then he went to thu
west end. The willow faced him as III
turned the corner. he examined tht
trunk carefully. There was no mistake
about small particles Of black SWAMI
muck adhering to the sides OF tht
tree. He reached the low branches ant
climbed the willow. There was eartf
on the large limb crossing Elnora'i
window. He stood on 1t, holding thu
branch as had been done the night be
fore, and looked into the room. H'
could see very little, but he knew tha
II II had been dark outside and suffi
ciently light for Elnora to study inside
be could have seen vividly. He brough
bis face close to the netting, and HI
could see the bed with its head to th'
east, at its foot the table with tn
candles and the chair before 1t. ant
then he knew where the man had beel
who had heard Elnora's prayer.
Mrs. Comstock had followed aroun'
the corner and stood watching him
"Do you think some Sinking hulk wa
up there peekin' in at ElnoraT sh
demanded Indignantly.
"There Is muck on the trunk an
plenty on the limb" said Sintor
Hadn't you better get a saw and lie
| mo foLa this branch OFF,"
mo. / hadn't" said Mrs. Comstocf
First place, Elnora's climbed frol
that window on that limb all her hft
and It's hers: second place. no one get
ahead of me after I've had warning
Any crow that perches on that roos
again will get Its feathers somewha
scattered. Look along the fence ther
and see II you can find where he cam
In"
The place was easy to find as was
trail leading for some distance west
the cabin.
'"You Just 60 home and don't fire
YOURSELF" said Mrs. Comstock. IL
take care Of this. II you should hes
the dinner bell at any time In the nigf
you come down. But wouldn't sa
anything to Elnora. She best keep nc
mind on her studies II she's going
school,"
When the work was finished th'
night Elnora took her books and vel
to her room to prepare some lesson
but every few minutes she looked t
ward the swamp to see If there wei
lights near the case. Mrs. Comstoc
, raked together the Goals in the cookir