The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-02

Lean shook hands with MA@ warmly but biz Duncan RathsF~6 h4m MeO h4l arms and hUR&ed him like a OeaP and chok@6 oyer q few W0r&B oS pF1iw@ The gang drUve in and anished telling the trVe. t : >F ' sa' r>r;
 When the last wagon relied awaS Mclean sat down on the stump and Frerkles told the. story he was aching to tell. The boss could scarcely be neve his senses. Also he was greatly disappointed <' .' f@ri
 ''I have been almost praying all the way over. Frecklea.a he said, 'that you wouIA nave some evidence by which we could arrest those fellows and gel them out of our way. but this will never do. We can't mix those women up In it- They have helped you sa ve me the tree and my wager as we'll Going about she country as she does, the Bird Woman could never be ex. pected 10 testify against them"
 "No. indeed: nor the angel either. giF.'.. said FrreckIea
 ''The angelT'' queried ehe aseonished Mclean -
 The boss listened in silence while FrerkIen told of the coming and chris teninR of the angel.
 eel know her father well.'' said Mo Lean at last. and l have often seen her. You are right. she iR q beautiful young girl. do not undsrAtAnd why her father risks such jewel in this place"
 He's daring it- because she Is such a jewel. sir said EreckIes eagerly. ..'Why. she's trusting a rattiesnake to rnftleA before It strikes her. and. of course. she thinks she. can trust man kind as well. The mSn isn't made that wouldn't fay down the life of him for her. She don't need any care. Her face and the pretty ways Of her are all the protection she would need in a band Of bowling savageS."
 "Did you say she handled one of the revoIveFs?" a&ked Mclean.
 ''She scared ali the breath out of me body.'' admitted Frecklea. 'Seems that her father has taught her to shoot. The Bird Woman told Der dis tinrtly to lie low and blaze away high. 1uSt to help Hcare Ghem. The spunky little thing followed them right out Into the weSt road. splitting lead like hail and clipping ail about the heads and heels of them"
 Now. will they come backT' asked Mclean Gtsr
 ''Of courSe."" said Freckles. "At Aea&t Black Jack will ,WesSner might not have che pluck. And the next time"-1 FreckIes besitated.
 ''whatT'
 ''It will just be a question sof who shoots nrHt and stsR1Rntest-"
 ''Then the only thing for me to do Ca gang here tAe Rrst minute possible rarese of the ainfT out below we will come. The facS Ia in many cases un- til 1t ls- felied ie's hard to. tell what & tree will prove to be- lt won't do to leave you here longer alone. Jack naH been shooting twenty years eo yO1r one. and It stands to reahOn that you are no match for him. Which of the gang would you like best to have with your = .
 ''NO one. sir said Freckles emphat- icaIly Next time ia where Arun. won't try to nght them alone. sl'n just be getting wind of tbem aud tber make tracks for you. I'll needsto come like lightning. and Duncan has no ex tra horse, go I'm thinking you'd bes' get me one. or perhaps a wheel wouiC be better 1 CSed sO do extra wort foe ehe home dSctor. and he would ie me take his bicycle to ride about tb, ~ place. And at times the head nurs, would lend me hts for an hour. wheel would cost less. and be fastel than a horse and would take iesa care.''' .44,s.iv
 As they walked up to the chbin to gether Mclean insisted on ihnothe' guard but Freckles was sttbborul4 sef on 6ghting his battle alone. Ht made one mental ecndlNon. IR the Bird wOman WAS going to 6ive up che Lltfle Chicken series he wouid yield to the second a11a I'd solely for the sake of her work and tie preseRce Of the angel in the Limberfest.
 With Mclean ie was a case, of let tinE his sober. better judgment be overTidden by the boy be was growing so to love that ne could not bear to cross him. and 10 have Freckles keep his trust and win alone meant to him more than any money he might lose.
 The next morning Mclean brought the wheel. aud FreckIes took 1t down to the trail to test it. 1t was new. chainIess. with as little as possible to catch In hurried riding. and in every way the best of its kind. Freckles