Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-07-18

T was Wesley Sinton who really
wrestled with the problem as
be 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 a visit
to the bank. or in some neighboring
village.
The home of Mrs. Comstock and Ell
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-
livered 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 or 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 n man. 1t 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 we're 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 it and pursued
her work in a fearless manner
Sinton was afraid for Elnora, vet be
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.
II went to pay q debt and see about
this opening Of the ditch, Kate"
"You said you were going to prose
cute me-"
"Good gracious, Katey cried sinton.
us that what you have been thinking
all day? l told you before 1 left yes
terday that I would not need do that.
I want to ask you if you we 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 l supposed it was
just people passing along the road
with lanterns"
"Kate, I have got to tell you some-
thing. Elnora stopped at the case this
morning, and somebody had been into
it in the night"
"Broke the lock?"
mo. Used a duplicate key. Today l
heard there was a man here last night.
l 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 a ladder, for the
logs were hewed and mortar filled the
cracks even. Then he went to the
west end. The willow faced him as he
turned the orner He examined the