Page:A Girl of the Limberlost.djvu/104

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86
A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST

as a posy, and to be careful not to step in the mud or scratch her shoe when she went to the case.

Elnora found her key and opened the door. Not where she had placed it, but conspicuously in front lay her little heap of bills, and a crude scrawl of writing beside it. Elnora picked up the note in astonishment.


dere Elnory,

the lord amighty is hiding you all right done you ever dout itthis money of yourn was took for some time las nite but it is returned with intresfor god sake done every come to the swamp at nite or late evnin or mornin or far in any timesompin worse an you know could git you

a frend.


Elnora began to tremble. She hastily 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 so breathless and her face so white Sinton noticed it.

"What in the world's the matter, Elnora?" he asked as he helped her into the carriage.

"I am half afraid!" she panted.

"Tut, tut, child!" said Wesley Sinton. "Nothing in the world to be afraid of. What happeneed?"

"Uncle Wesley," said Elnora, "I 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 trampled, and they left this note."

"And took your money, I'll wager, " said Sinton angrily.