length of an aisle by the terror-stricken women, she had broken
her way back through the rout and quickly caught the
light-blinded visitant in a clothes basket.

"Maybe I don't know what God looks like, but take it from me I've
seen a tintype of the devil," Mary gurgled, emotionally
fluttering back and forth between laughter and tears.

But Saxon was angry with herself, for she had been as frightened
as the rest in that wild flight for out-of-doors.

"We're a lot of fools," she said. "It was only a bat. I've heard
about them. They live in the country. They wouldn't hurt a fly.
They can't see in the daytime. That was what was the matter with
this one. It was only a bat."

"Huh, you can't string me," Mary replied. "It was the devil." She
sobbed a moment, and then laughed hysterically again. "Did you
see Mrs. Bergstrom faint? And it only touched her in the face.
Why, it was on my shoulder and touching my bare neck like the
hand of a corpse. And I didn't faint." She laughed again. "I
guess, maybe, I was too scared to faint."

"Come on back," Saxon urged. "We've lost half an hour."

"Not me. I'm goin' home after that, if they fire me. I couldn't
iron for sour apples now, I'm that shaky."

One woman had broken a leg, another an arm, and a number nursed
milder bruises and bruises. No bullying nor entreating of the