Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-15
CHAPTER vii.

CHAPTER viii.
Wherein Mrs. comstoek lndulsss IN
sFriiis. and Billy Rsappsars.
@T was Wesley Sinton who really
wrestled with the problem %
he drove about Lis 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 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 neighboring
village.
The home Of Mrs. Comstock and FL
nora adjoined the swamp. Sint0n'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-
livered into biz 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 bis 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 IL 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 fearless manner.
sinton was afraid for Elnora, yet he
did not want to add the burden Of fear
to Katharine Comstocks trouble or to
disturb the Joy Of Elnora in her work.
He stopped at the cabin and slowly
went up the walk. Nrs. 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 sneer.
You didn't let any grass grow under
your feet" she said.
sinton saw her white. drawn face
and conprehended.
Il went to pay debt and see about
this opening Of the ditch, Kate"
You said you were going to prose-
cute me"
Good gracious. Kater' cried sinton.
''Is that what you have been thinking
all day? i told you before I left yes.
terday that ! would not need do that.
want to ask you II you ever sss any.
thing about the swamp that makes
you think the old Corson gang Il still
alive?''
"Can't say that do" said Ma Com
stock There's kind Of dancing ights
there sometimes. but I supposed Il WAS
just people passing along the road
with lanterns"
"Kate, have got to tell you some
thing. Elnora stopped at the case this
ana somebody had been into
L IN the night"
Broke the lockf'
mo. Used duplicate key. Today
heard there was q man here last night
I want to nooe around little"
Sinton went to The east end Of the
cabin and looked up at the window.
There was no way any ono could have
reached Il without Z ladder, fol- tho
logs weru hewed and mortar nlled H.
cracks even. Then he went 10 %
west end. The willow facsd I'm Q -
tufned the conner. He examined IL
trunk carefully. There was no mistake
about smaIl particles roe black gWanp
muck adhering TO IL sides e1 IT,
ree. He reaehsd the low beaAehee a.d
climbed tie willow. There was earth
On IL large limb crossing 1lnosa's
window. H stood on 4, ho,1l1g IL
beasch a. had been oeao IL 11ght -