The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-01-25


would be to watch and be after you?
sueried the boy.
Yes" replied Mclean.
"Then why couldn't | be watching
just as closely and coming as fast as
an older, stronger mani"
"Why, by George, you couldr' ex-
| claimed Mclean. II don't know that
important as his grit and faithfulness.
What is your nameY
Freckles grew a shade whittier, but
his eyes never faltered.
"Freckles, he said.
Good enough for every day." laugh
ed Mclean, but | can scarcely put
Freckles on the company's books"
81 haven't any name" replied the
boy.
81 don't understand" said Mclean.
II was thinking from the voice and
the face Of you that you wouldn't"
said Freckles slowly.
Does it seem to you that any one
would take II newborn baby and row
over it until it was bruised black, cut
off its hand and leave it out in n bit
ter night on the steps Of a charity
home to the care of strangers? That's
what somebody did to me-
The home people took me in, and
was there the full legal age and several
years over They could always find
homes for the rest of the children,
but nobody would ever be wanting me
on account of me arm"
Were they kind to your asked Me
Lean.
Il don't know" answered Freckles.
The reply sounded so hopeless even to
his own ears that he FASTENED to quail
ify It by adding: You see, it's like
this, sir. KindnesSes that people are
paid to lay off in job lots and that
belong equally to several hundred 9th
ers amt going to be soaking into any
one fellow much"
Go on" said Mclean.
''There's nothing worth the taking of
your time to tell" replied Freckles. |
1.-THE home was in Chicago, and l was |
there all me life up to three months !
ago When | was too old for the train
ing they gave to the little children they |
sent me out to the nearest ward school |
as long as the law would let them, but |
was never like any of the other chill
dren, and they all knew it. I'd to go and
come like prisoner and be working
about the home early and late for ME
board and clothes. l always wanted
to learn mighty bad, but | was glad
when that was over.
"Then new superintendent sent me
down i'm the state to man he said he
knew that needed a boy. He wasn't
for remembering to tell that man that
| was a hand short, and he knocked
me down. Between noon and that
evening he and his son, about my age,
mad me in pretty much the same shape
in which | was found in the beginning,
SO l lay awake that night and ran
away I'd like to have squared me ac-
count with that boy before l left, but
| didn't dare for fear of waking the
DID man, and knew couldn't handle
the two of them, but I'm hoping to
meet him alone some day before l
lie"
Mclean liked the boy all the better
'Or this confession.
IL didn't even have to steal clothes
o get rid of starting in me home
mes" Freckles went ON, for they had
lready taken all me clean, neat things
or the boy and put me into his rags,
nd that went almost as sore as the
IN, I oil
Ways kept tidy and sweet smelling
nyway. l hustled clear into this state
efore | learned that man couldn't [
ave kept me If he'd wanted to. l !
hunting work, but it is :
Nth everybody else just as it Is with
on, sir. Big, strong, whole men are !
he only ones for being wanted' G
II have been studying over this mat J
ar," answered Mclean. Il am not SO S
ure but that a man no older than you I
nd like you in every way could do a
his work very well if he were not /
Dward" b
"If you will give me job where I i
IN earn me food, clothes and a place u
} sleep" said Freckles, IF l can have d
boss to work for like other men, and il
place | feel I've right to | will do f
hat you tell me or die trying" t
He said II so quietly and convinc-
Ugly that Mclean found himself an G.
vering: II will enter you on my pay "
Ills. Wen have supper, and then h
i'll provide you with clean clothing, h
aiding boots, wire mending apparatus h
nd n revolver. The first thing in the h
orning | will take you over the trail II
yself, All l ask of you is 10 come eI
me at once ut the south camp and
II me like a man II you find this job g,
o hard for you. 1t is work that few OF
en- would perform faithfully. What j
lme shall put DOWN." a,
Freckles eyes never left McLean's IN
ce, and the boss saw the swift spasm +,
pain that swept his lonely, sensitive 8,
ce. h,
IL haven't any name" he said stub. w
'rnly, mo more than one somebody
mined on 10 me when tn,y Dut me-