Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-07-11

know wnat II MEANS ne sa1o. 'Unly
one thing is clear. It means some
beast who doesn't really want to harm
you has got his eye on you and he is
telling you plain as he can not to give
him a chance. You got to keep along
the roads, in the open. and not let the
biggest moth that ever flew toll you out
of hearing Of us or your mother. 1t
means that. plain and distinct
Just when l can sell them; just
when everything is SO lovely on ac-
count of them. l can't can't stay
away from the swamp. The Timber
lost is going to buy the books. the
clothes. pay the tuition and even start
a college fund. l just can't"
you've got to-" said Sinton. This
is plain enough. You go far in the
swamp at your own risk. even in day.
time"
"Cncle Wesley" said the girl in q
whisper. "last night before / went to
bed l was so happy l tried to pray.
and l thanked God for hiding me u n
der the shadow of his wing But
how in the world could any one know
it?"
Wesley Sinton's heart gave one
great leap in his breast. His face was
whittier than the girls now.
"Was you praying out loud. honey"
he almost whispered.
II might have said Words" answer
ed Elnora. II know l do sometimes.
I've never had any one to talk to, and
I've played with and talked to my
self all my life. You've caught me at
it often. but it always makes mother
angry when she does. She says it's
silly. l forget and do it when I'm
alone. But, Uncle Wesley, if l said
anything last night you know it was
the merest whisper, because I'd have
e e so afraid Of waking mother. Don't
you see? l sat up late and did two
lessons"
Sinton was steadying himself. "Tll
stop and examine the case as 1 come
back" he said. Maybe l can find
some clew. That other-that was just
accidental. It's a common expression.
All the preachers use it. If I was go
ing to pray that would be the very
first thing I'd say"
The color came back to Elnora's
face.
Did you tell your mother about this
money, Elnora?' he asked.
mo, l didn't" said Elnora. Its
dreadful not to. but I was afraid. You
see. they are clearing the swamp so
fast. Every year it grows harder to
find things. and Indian stuff gets
scarcer. want to graduate, and that's
four years unless 1 can double on The
course. That means 500 tuition each
year and new books and clothes.
There won't eve be so much at one
time again-that I know. l just got to
hang to my money. | was afraid to
tell her for fear she would want it for
taxes. and she really must sell a tree
or some cattle for that. mustn't she,
Uncle Wesley%
ION your life. she must"." said Yves
ley. 'You put your little wad in the
bank all safe and never mention it to
a living soul. 1t don't seem right. but
your case is peculiar. Every word you
say is a true word. Each year you will
get less from the swamp, and things
everywhere will be scarcer. If you
ever get a few dollars ahead. that can
start your college fund. You know you
are going to college. Elnora!"
"Of curse l am" said Elnora.
She jumped from the carriage and
soon found that with her books. he1
lunch box and the box of arrow points
she had a heavy load. She was al
most to the bridge crossing the culvert
when she heard the distressed screams
of a child. Across an orchard Of the
suburbs came a small boy, after him a
big dog, urged by a man in the back.
ground. Elnora's heart was with the
small flying figure in any event what.
ever. She dropped her load on the
bridge and with practiced hand caught
up a stone and flung it at the dog
The beast curled double with a howl
The boy reached the fence, and Elnora
was there to help him over. AS he
touched the top she swung him to the
ground. but be chung to her, claspine
her tightly. sobbing and shivering will
fear. Elnora carried him to the bridge
and sat with him in her arms. For q
time his replies to her questions were
indistinct, but at last he became quiet
er and she could understand.
He was a mite of a boy. nothing but
skin covered bones. his burned, freck.
led face in a mortar Of tears and
dust. his clothing unspeakably dirty,
one great toe in a fostering mass from
a broken nail and sores all over the
visible portions of the small body.
you wouldn't set a dog on a boy fol
just taking a few old apples when you
fed 'em to pigs with a shovel every
day. would you?" he said.
mo. l would not" said Elnora holly.
you'd give a boy all the apples he
wanted if he hadn't any breakfast and
was SO hungry he was all twisty inside,
wouldn't you? ....