The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-15

again she examined the crude little note, for she did not know what 1t meant, yet it bred vague fear.
 CHAPTER VIII.
 Wherein Mrs. .Comstock lnduIges In "Frills" and Billy Reappears. @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 stin holding together. Elder members who had escaped the law had been, joined by a younger brother of Jocks, 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 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 if Elnora was de- 1ivered 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 4 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 a 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 sheer.
 "You didn't let any grass grow under your feet" she said.
 Sinton saw her white, drawn face and comprehended.
 "I went to pay a debt and see about this opening of the ditch, Kate"
 "You said you were going to prose. cute me-"
 "Good gracious, Katev' cried Sinton ''Is that what you have been thinking all day? I 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 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 lock?"
 'No. Used duplicate key. Today heard there was man here last night want to nose around a little." Sinton went to the east end of thu cabin and looked up at the window There was no way any .one could hay, reached 1t without a ladder, for th' logs were hewed and mortar filled tn, cracks even. Then he went to tn, west end. The willow faced him as h. turned the corner. He examined tn trenk carefully. There was no mlstak about small particles of black swami muck adherlng to the sides of tn, tree. He reached the low branches ant climbed tine willow. There was eartl on the large limb crossing Elnora' window. He stood on it, holding tn, branch as had been done the night be fore, an looked into the room. H, | could see very little, but he knew tha if 1t had been dark outside and suff ciently light for Elnora to study insid, he could have Teen vividly. He brough his face close to the netting, and h, could see the bed with it's head to tn, east, at its foot the table with thu candles and the chair before 1t, ant then he knew where the man had beer who had heard Elnora's prayer. Mrs. Comstock had followed around the corner and stood watching him Do you think some sinking hulk wal up there peekin' in at Elnora?' sh, demanded indignantly.
 "There is muck on the trunk ant plenty on the limb," said Sinton Hadn't you better get saw and le me take this branch off?
 'No, hadn't" said Mrs. Comstock