"Oh for mercy's sake!" cried Elnora, staring at him.
"I half believe it!" exulted Ammon.
"Did you ever see one?"
"Only in collections, and very seldom there."
Elnora studied the black wings intently. "I surely believe that's
Sappho," she marvelled. "The Bird Woman will be overjoyed."
"We must get the cyanide jar quickly," said Philip.
"I wouldn't lose her for anything. Such a chase as she led me!"
Elnora brought the jar and began gathering up paraphernalia.
"When you make a find like that," she said, "it's the right time to quit
and feel glorious all the rest of that day. I tell you I'm proud! We
will go now. We have barely time to carry out our plans before supper.
Won't mother be pleased to see that we have a rare one?"
"I'd like to see any one more pleased than I am!" said Philip Ammon. "I
feel as if I'd earned my supper to-night. Let's go."
He took the greater part of the load and stepped aside for Elnora to
precede him. She followed the path, broken by the grazing cattle, toward
the cabin and nearest the violet patch she stopped, laid down her net,
and the things she carried. Philip passed her and hurried straight
toward the back gate.
"Aren't you going to----?" began Elnora.
"I'm going to get this moth home in a hurry," he said. "This cyanide has
lost its strength, and it's not working well. We need some fresh in the
jar."
He had forgotten the violets! Elnora stood looking after him, a curious
expression on her face.
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