Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-09-10
A GIRL
OF The
|LIMBERLOST
By
GENE SrRATrONpORTER
Copyright lsos. BY Doubleday. Page
q Co
CHAPTER WI.
GENE STRArrON PORTER

CHAPTER WI.
Whsrsin Elnora Receives . Warning
and Billy Appears on the Scene.
|SlHEN Mrs. Comstock entered the
Ir cabin and began the days
| work. but mingled with the
brooding bitterness OF her soul
was the vision OF a sweet young face.
.lad with a gladness never before seen
IN Ii. nnd over and over she repeated.
Il wonder what he'll say to herr
What he said was that she looked as
fresh and sweet as a posy and to be
areful not to step in the mud or
rrutch her shoe when she went to the
'aSe.
Elnora found her key and opened
The door. Not where she had placed
it. but conspiruously In front lay her
little heap Of oillG and crude scrawl
Of writing beside It Elnora picked
up the note in establishment
dere Emory, the lord Almighty ID hiding
| you all right done you ever dout II this
money Of yourn was took for some time
las mite but II Ii returned with intres for
| ,;od sake done ever come to the swamp at
| mite or late evnin or mornin or far In any
Line sompin worse an you know could
:it you A FREND.
| Elnora began to tremble. She has
tily glanced about. The damp earth
before the case had been trodden by
large. roughly shod feet. She caught
up the money and the note. thrust them
into her guimpe. locked the case and
ran for the road.
She was 30 breathless and her face
so white Sinton noticed 1t.
what in the worlds the matter. FL
nora?' he asked as he helped her into
the carriage.
II am half afraid" she painted.
Tut. tut. child!" said Wesley Sinton.
Nothing in the world to be afraid Of.
What happenedT
Uncle Wesley" said Elnora. II had
more money than I brought home last
night. and I put It in my case. Some
one has been there. The ground Is all
irampled. and they left this note"
And took your money. I'll wager"
said Sinton angrily.
NO." answered Elnora. Read the
note and. Oh. Uncle Wesley, tell me
what 1t means!"
| Sipton's face was q study. II don't
know what 1t MEANS" he said. "Only
one thing is clear. It means some
beast who doesn't really want to harm
you has got bis eye on you and he Is
| telling you plain as he can not to give
him u chance. You got to keep along
The roads, In the open, and not let the
biggest moth that ever few toll you out
Of hearing of US or your mother. 1t
means that, plain and distinct"
"Just when can sell them; Just
when everything Is 50 lovely on ac-
count Of them. I can't-I can't stay
| away from the swamp. The Limber-
lost Is going to buy the books, the
clothes. pay the tuition and even start
college fund. just can't"
you've got to-" said Sinton. "This
IL plain enough. You 60 fur In the
swamp at your own risk. even in day
| time"
Uncle Wesley" said the girl In q
whisper. "last night before / went to
bed was SO happy tried to pray
and | thanked God for hiding me 'un-
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. Ills face was
whittier than the girls now. -
"was you praying out loud. honeyT'
he almost whispered.
Il might have said words" answer
ed Elnora. II know I do sometimes.
I've never had any one to talk to. and
I've played with and talked to my
self oil my life. You've caught me ut
It often, but 1t always makes mother
angry when she does. She says It's
| silly. I forget and do It when I'm
alone. But. Uncle Wesley. II said
anything last night you know 1t was
the merest whisper. because I'd have
been 30 afraid Of waking mother. Don't
you see? I sat up late and did two
lessons"
Sinton was steadying himself. "fn
stop and examine the case as I come
back" he said. Maybe can find
some clew. That other-that was just
accidental. It's a common expression.
All the preachers use It II ! 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, didn't" said Elnora. ITS
dreadful not to. but I was afraid You
see, they are clearing the swamp 80
fast Every year It grows harder to
6nd things, and Indian stun gets
scarcer. I want to graduate. and that's
four years unless can double on the
course. That means $50 tuition each
year and new books and clothes
There won't ever be 30 much at one
time again-that know. just got to
hang to my money. I was afraid to
tell her for fear she would want 1t FOL
taxes, and she really must sell tree
or some cattle for that, mustn't she,
Uncle WesleyT
ION your life. she mustr' said Yves
ley. "You put your little wad In the
bank all safe and never mention 1t to
living soul. II don't seem right, bu,
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. II you
ever get few dollars ahead, that can
start your college fund. You know you
are going to college. Elnora!
"Of course am" said Elnora.
She jumped from the carriage and
soon found that with her books, he'
lunch box and the box Of arrow points
she had a heavy load She was al
most to the bridge crossing the eulver'
when she heard the distressed screami
Of u child. Across an orchard Of th<
| ..A..A. >.rn. . email Inv after him 4