The Emmett index., 1912-02-08

"Deplnds entirely on the man." said
Freckles. The lit of n lark hanging
above the swale beside them was not
sweeter than the sweetness OF bis
voice. "To some II would seem to
come aisy as breathing. and to some
wringin' the last drop OF their hearts
blood couldn't force thin! I'm not
the man that goes into scheme like
| that with the blindfold over me eyes.
for. you see. 1t names to break trust
with the boss. and I've served him
| faithful as | knew. You'll have TO be
making the thing very clear 10 me
understanding"
Its so dead easy" repeated Wess-
ner, lit makes me tired OF the sim
pleness OF It. You see. there's a few
trees In the swamp that's real gold
mines. There's three especial. Two
are back in. but ones square on the
line. Why. your pottering old Scotch
fool of a boss nailed the wire TO it
with his own hands! He never no
ticed where the bark had been peeled
nor saw what it was. IL you will stay
on this side of the trail just one day
we can have it cut. loaded and ready
to drive out at night. Next morning
you can find it. report and be the
busiest man in the search for us. We
know where to fix IL all safe and easy.
Then Mclean has a Det up with a
couple of the gang that there can't be
a raw stump found in the Limberlost
There's plenty OF witnesses to swear
to it, and | know three that will.
There's a cool thousand. and this tree
is worth all of that raw. Say, it's
gold mine. | tell you. ana just $500 OF
1t is yours. There's no danger on
earth to you. for you've got Mclean
that bamboozled you could sell out the
whole swamp and ned never mistrust
you. What do you say|'
Freckles soul was satisfied. ''ls
that all?" he asked.
mo, it amt" said Wessner. ''If
you want to brace up and be man
and go into the thing for keeps you
can make five times that In week.
My friend knows dozen others we
could get out In a few days, and all
you u nave W uO WOulu Dt W http Oul
of sight. Then you could take your
money and skip some night and begin
life like gentleman somewhere else
What do you think about itT''
Freckles purred like kitten.
"'Twould be a rare joke on the boss"
he said. ito be staalin' from him the
very thing he's trusted me to guard
and be getting me wages all winter
throwed in free And you're making
the pay awful high. Me to be getting
FIVE hundred for such simple little
thing as that. You're trating me most
royal indadP. It's away beyond all
I'd be expecting Sivinteen cints would
be a big price for thar job. 1t must
be looked into thorough. Just you wait
here until | do a minutes turn in the
swamp. and then I'll be eschorting you
out to the clearing and giving you the
answer"
Freckles lifted the overhanging |
bushes and hurried back to the case.
He unslung the specimen box and laid
It inside with his Ratchet and revolver.
He slipped the key In his pocket and
went back to Wessner.
"Now for the answer" he said.
"Stand up!''
There was iron in his voice. and he |
was commanding like an outraged gen
eral. Anything you want to be TAX
ing OFF," he questioned.
Wessner looked the astonishment he
felt. why. no. Freckles," he said.
Have the goodness TO be calling me
Mr.. Mclean" snapped FreckIes. I'm
after resarvin' me pet name for the
use of me friends! You may stand
with your back to the light or be TAX
ing any advantage you want"
why. what do you mean? splutter-
I'd Wessner
I'm manin'." said Freckles tersely.
TO lick Il quarter section of H. out
IF you. and may the Holy Vargin stay
ne before leave you here carrion. for
IF me chickensr'
Down at the camp that morning
conduct had been so pal.
lable an excuse TO force discharge
hat Duncan moved near Mclean and
whispered Think of the boy, sir"
Mclean was so troubled that an
lour later he mounted Nellie and fol
owed Wessner to his home in Wildcat
Hollow, only TO find that he had left
here a little before. heading for the
imberlost Mclean rode at top
peed. When Mrs. Duncan told him
hot a man answering Wessuer's de
cription had gone down the west side
4 the swamp near noon he left the
mare in her charge and followed on
DOT. When he heard voices he enter
d the swamp and silently crept near
ust in time to hear Wessner whine:
But | can't eight you. Freckles. |
lain't done nothing TO you. I'm away I
'igger than you. and you've only one
and"