The Washington times., 1902-05-04

love for her husband which she averred
Gus refused TO see her, and in revenge she
would rot allow him to see the boy.
He was given three days to confess, and
then one night OF grace. At daylight nine
rifles would be aimed at his breast three
Of them loaded. That last evening the
rain fell in steady downpour, which had
lasted for hours and would last for many
i more. Its incessant fall produced mo-
| notonous. musical tone, which was sup
plemented by the deeper roar of the
roisture-laden wind as it swept inland
from the ocean through the mighty tree
| tops in the valley. Occasionally a dull
boom. boom. of a falling forest giant
would reverberate above the orchestra Of
wind and rain like the death cry OF a
sinking ship at sea.
Gus lay silently in the bunk farthest
from the stove. around which the men sat
smoking. They hoped that he was asleep
and forbore to scrape their chair legs
on the cough floor lest they should wake
him.
Suddenly. in spite of the uproar out
side. slight sound was heard in the
room-the lifting of the latch; once. and
then again. This time those facing the
door opened to admit the drenehed and
hedraggled figure of the kid"
He slipped through the opening. and
then with all his little strength banged
the heavy door shut and set his back
against it. bracing his short legs wide
apart to hold it so until the latch should
fall into place. He was painting. but
he had saved enough breath to give
them his usual CHEEKY salutation:
Hello. fellers."
The man in the bunk swung his feet
quickly of the shelf and sat up gazing
hungrily at the little visitor, while the
men about the stove sat speechless in
their amazement. Great pools of water
spread about the sturdy little feet. The
Kid resented this unprecedented recep-
ton.
why don't you fellers have no light?"
he began argumentatively. Course I
couldn't see the trail in the dark and I
fell down hundreds and hundreds of times
And the water in the creek came up so
high, and the plank bended down. and
with little quaver in his voce-"the
angels and the things in the woods made
such a noise! | most couldn't get here
at ALL
Mcdonald strode across the room and
clasped the brave baby in his arms. The
others gathered around him and helped
clumsily to pull off the soaked shoes and
stockings, the sodden sweater, and the
tight trousers; but they all distrusted
their voices. and it was some moments
before some one asked huskiIy. What
brought you here at this time OF night.
kiddie? Wasn't you afraid?'
mo: wasn't afraid-nuch. I came to
see if my pop had come back. Mamma put
me to bed long before dark and told nh
il I'd go right to sleep. in the morning
could some an see pop. But after a
while l woke up, and it was dark. and
wasn't there, and nobody wasn't
there. so I thought Id come now. VIII
pop be here in the morning?"
The men locked at one another, sud
Mcdonald found voice to say: Yes. your
pop'll be here in The morning" Then he
wrapped warm blanket about the
chubby. naked body. and carried the
bundle down the long room to where two
trembling arms reached out from the
shadows to receive it.
IL never did it. Sandy; YOU know that
now. She's gone to meet Jim. They
thought you wouldn't miss her till after
was gone. But | didn't think she'd go
back on the kid. Give him to me" And
Sandy silently laid the baby in his
fathers arms.
When the squeak OF his heavy boots
subsidized the group around-the stove heard
4 queer. choking sound from the bunk.
and then a baby voice murmured. ut was
awful dark pop. and the angels in thc
woods
And Sandy added beneath his breath,
The angels in the woods kept guard ovef
the motherless baby.
But the Kid was asleep.
Alice d. Baukhage.