Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-29

" fI.lt IT,
Hsm II. Y00.t6fs ! pI1c6 % t6slf
wings untn ! 1870 pskA'H ~
llrs. Comstock removed her apron.
tsafing u ~ stfapSs. She uhfastsn-
a ana stepped from the skirt Of her
calico dress. with one apron string
~ tied shut the band and plackst.
she pulled wire pin from her hail,
stuck Il through the ether string. and
using It % bodkin .tan It around the
hsn Of her skirt. Her fingers Dew,
and shortly she had = large bag. She
put several branches inside to which
he moths could cling. closed the moaeh
partially end held II toward Pete.
rs6s sIirpsd several mors moths into
tho has.
..Now. that's nvs. Mrs. Comstock."
hs said "I'n sorry. but you'll have to
make that do. You must get out Of
here lively. Your, lights will 30 taken
for hurry calls. and inside, the next
hour q cous}ie Of men will ride here
like fury" ~.
"Weil, I1l sec them make me- 60"
said Mrs. Comstock. 1--WE got Roberts
revolver In my dress and can shoot
as straight as any mah II I'm mad
enough. Any one that interferes with
me tonight will find me mad a-pienty.
There gees another!"
1--WE are close to the old case" said
be we could slip the rest in there"
That's dne idea!', said Mrs. Com
stock. They'll have 30 much room
there they won't be likely to hurt them
selves. and the books say they don't
ny in daytime unless they are dis
turbed, 20 they will settle when It's
light and ] can come with Elnora to
get them" ~
They captured two more. ana then
Pete carried them to the case.
Here comes big one!' be cried as
he returned.
Mrs. Comstock looked up and stepped
out with q prayer on her lips. She
could not tell the color at that distance.
but the moth appeared different from
the others. On 1t came, dropping lower
and darting from light to light. As it
swept near her, .'Oh, heavenly Father, y
exulted Mrs.. Comstock. tits yellow!
Careful! Pete. your hat, maybe!"
Pete made long. sweep. The moth
wavered above the hat and sailed
away. In its flight it came straight to-
ward Mrs. Comstock. She snatched on
the remnant Of apron she had tucked
into her petticoat band and held the
calico before her. The moth struck full
against 1t and chung to the goods. Pete
crept up stealthily. Another moth
followed the first, and the spray show
cred the apron.
"Waitg gasped Mrs. Comstock. II
think they have settled. The books say
they won'tleave now"
''Now, shall IT. questioned Pete.
mo. Leave them alone. They are
safe now. They are mine. They are
my salvation. God and the Hmberlost
gave them to me-! They won't move
for hours. The books all say 90. Oh,
Heavenly Father. I am thankful to
you, and you, too, Pete Corson! You
are ! COED nsan to help me- Now,
can 60 home and face my GIRL"
ElnssA ~ ssat hy the window far
into the night At last she undressed
and went to bed, but sleep would not
come. She had gone to the city ia
talk with members Of the school board
about . room In the grades. There
was possibility that she might secure
the moth and 90. be able to start to
college that fall, but If she did not,
then she wanted the school. She had
been given some encouragement, but
she was 70 unhappy that nothing mat
tered. Yet Margaret Sinton had adj
vised her to 60 home and try once
more. Unable to sleep she arose at
last, and the room being warm, she
sat on the door BY the window. The
lights In the swamp caught her eye.
She was very uneasy. for quite 100
Of her best moths were In the case.
She hurried down the stairway softly
calling her mother. There was no
answer. She lightly stepped across the
sitting room and looked in at the open
door. There was no one, and the bed
had not been used. Her Arst thought
was that her mother had gone to the
RVOAs 0AO koO AAA$uSAAO0S W00 0AS0
with signals. Pity and fear mingled
in the heart OF the girl. She opened
the kitchen door, crossed the garden
and ran back to the swamp. As she
neared It she listened, but she could
hear only the usual voices Of night.
Mother she called softly, then
louder, "Motherr' She returned home.
The time was dreadfully long before
she heard her mothers voice.
Mrs. Comstock entered, dragging her
heavy feet. In one hand she held the IAN
tern, and in the other, stiAiy extended
before her, on wad Of calico. reposed
magnificent pair Of yellow Emperors.
"shall I put these others in the htch-
en- ?" inquired a mans voice.
The girl shrank back to the shadows.
Eyes. anywhere inside the door, re-
piled Mrs. Comstock as she moved q
few steps to make way for him. Pete's
head appeared. He set down the
moths and was gone.
THANK you, Pete, more than ever
woman thanked you before" said Mrs..
,Comstock.
She placed the lantern on the table
and barred the door. AZ she turned
Elnora came into view. Mrs. Comstock
leaned toward her and held cut the
moths. In voice vibrant with tones
never before heard she said, "Elnora.