Page:A Girl of the Limberlost.djvu/119

Rh The work looked to Sinton as if she might be engaged in putting a tuck in a petticoat. He thought of how Margaret had shortened Elnora's dress to the accepted length for girls of her age, and made a mental note of Mrs. Comstock's occupation. Mrs. Comstock 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. "I went to pay a debt and see about this opening of the ditch, Kate."

"You said you were going to prosecute me." "Good gracious, Kate!" cried Sinton. "Is that what you have been thinking all day? I told you before I left yesterday that I would not need do that. And I won't! We can't afford to quarrel over Elnora. She's all we've got. Now that she has proved that if you don't do just what I think you ought by way of clothes and schooling, she can take care of herself, I put that out of my head. What I came to see you about is a kind of scare I've had to-day. I want to ask you if you ever see anything about the swamp that makes you think the old Corson gang is still alive?" "Can't say that I do," said Mrs. Comstock. "There's kind of dancing lights there sometimes, but I supposed it was just people passing along the road with lanterns. Folks hereabout are none too fond of the swamp. I hate it like death. I've never stayed here a night in my life