The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-09-07
lCONT1NUED.]
| Isl j
CHAPTER Viii.

,,, CONTINUED
CHAPTER Viii.
Wherein Mrs. com.tock INDUCES In
drills" and Billy Reappsars.
~T was Wesley Sinton who really
wrestled with the problem as
he drove about his business.
He did not have to ask himself
what it 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 a farmer that day had sold his
wheat or corn and not paid visit
to the bank, or in some neighboring
village.
The home Of Mrs. Comstock and Ell
nora adjoined the swamp. Sinton's
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 If Elnora was de-
Nvered 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 Enora 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 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 a revolver.
understood how to use it and pursued
her work in a 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.
Il went to pay debt and see about
this opening Of the ditch, Kate.''
'You said you were going to prose-
Eute me-"
Good gracious, Katew cried Sinton.
lis that what you have been thinking
Ill day? l told you before left yes
terday that would not need do that
/ 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
gust 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 lock"'
"No. Used duplicate key. Today I
heard there was man here last night
] want to nose around little"
Slnton 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 the
west end. The willow faced him as he
turned the corner. He examined the
trunk carefully. There was no mistake
about small particles Of black swamp
muck adhering to the sides Of the
tree. He reached the low branches and
climbed the willow. There was eartt
On the large limb crossing Elnora'l
window. He stood on It, holding tn.
branch as had been done the night be
fore, and looked into the room. III,
could see very little, but he knew tina
# It had been dark outside and SUN
ciently light for Elnora to study insid,
he could have seen wildly. he brough
his face close to the netting, and h
could see the bed with its head to tn,
east, at its foot the table with tn
candles and the chair before 1t. an,
then he knew where the man had bee,
who had heard Elnora's prayer.
Mrs. Comstock had followed aroun,
the corner and stood watching him