The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-12-30
(Continued]

IhatS SuLui,,c me tnankS q
generous acts always for getting" he
continued. Here's me negiectin' me
work to eschort you out proper. and
you saying such awful words. Fred
dy." be demanded sternly. do you
want me to soap out your mouth!
You don't seem to be realizing it. but
II you was to buck into Mr. Mclean
In your prisint state without me there
to explain matters the chance Is he'd
cut the liver out Of you. and shouldn't
think you'd be wanting such fine gin
tleman as him to see that It's white"
Wessner grew CHASTITY under bis
CRIME and broke into staggering run.
Freckles twirled the baton and stood
like a soldier at attention" until
Wessner left the clearing. but It was
the last scene of that performance
When the boy turned there was a
deathly illness In his face. and his legs
wavered like reeds beneath his weight
He staggered back to the case, and
opening 1t. he took out piece of cloth.
He dipped II into the, water and. sit
ting on bench. he wiped the blood
and Crime from his face. while his
breath sucked between bis clinched
teeth. He was shivering with pain
and excitement In spite of himself.
He unbuttoned the band Of his right
sleeve. and. turning It back. exposed
the blue lined. caliouSed Wilderness OF
his manned arm. now wildly streaked
with contusions. while in a series Of
circular dots the blood oozed slowly
Here Wessner had succeeded in settirg
his teeth. When Freckies saw what it
was he forgave himself the kick in the
pit of Wessner's stomach.
"Freckles. Freckles." said McLean's
voice.
FrecE:es snatched down his sleeve
and rose to his feet -, ~,-s..-.
Excuse me. SIR" he said you'll
surely be belavin' ] thought meself
alone"
Mclean pushed him carefully to the
seat and. bending over him. opened a
pocket case that he carried "a regu-
larry as his revolver and watch. for
cuts and bruises were Of daily &C.
currence among the gang. I
Taking the hurt arm. he turned back
the sleeve and bathed and hound up
the wounds. He examined Freckles'
head and body and convinced himself
that there was no permanent injury.
Then he sat down beside Freckles.
All the Understandable beauty of the
place was strong about him. but he
saw only the bruised face of the SUIT
f<,rirey t1<., zhr hSA fon <ho in,
formation be wanted like diplomat.
argued like a Judge. fought like .
sheik and triumphed like a devil.
As the pain iessened and breath
caught up vita Freckies' pounding
heart be watched the boss from the
tail Of his eye. How had Mclean got
there. and how long had he been
there? Freckles did not dare ask. At
last he arose and. going to the cases
took out his revolver and the wire
mending apparatus and locked the
door. Then he turned to Mclean.
Have you any orders, sir"' he ask
ed.
YES" said Mclean. IT have. and
you are to follow them to the letter.
Turn over that apparatus to me and
go straight home. Soak yourself in
the hottest bath your skin will bear
and go to bed at once. Now.~hurry."
MIR. Mclean" said Freckles. Its
sorry l am to be telling you. but the
afternoons walking of the line amt
done. You see. | was just for getting
10 me feet TO start. and | was on good
time when up came a gintleman. and
we got into little heated argument.
It's either settled or it's just begun.
but between US I'm that late 1 haven't
started for the afternoon yet. l must
be going at once. for there's a tree l
must find before the days over
"You plucky little idiot" growled
Mclean. you can't walk the line!
doubt If you can get to Duncan's.
Don't you know when you are done
up? You go to bed. III finish your
work."
'.Niver!" protested Freckles- IT was
lust little done up for the prisint a