Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-06-25

greenhouse and bought an armload OF
its finest products. but Freckles would
have none Of them. He would carry
his message In a glowing mass OF the
Limberlost's first goldenrod.
The angel was in no way seriously
injured. She reached both hands to
Mclean. what II one old tree Is
gone? You don't care. sir7 You feel
that Freckles has kept his trust as no
body ever did before. don't you? You
won't forget all those long first days
of fright that you told us Of. the fear
full cold Of winter. the rain. heat and
ionesomeness and the brave days. and.
lately. nights, too. and let him feel
that his trust Ia broken?
"Ob. Mr. Mclean" she begged. "say
something to him. Do something to
make him feel that It isn't for moth.
Ing he has watched and suffered It
out with that old LimberIost. Make
him see how great and hne 1t Is and
how far. far better he has done than
you or any Of US expected. What's
one old tree anyway she burst out
passionately.
Il was thinking before you came.
Those two other men were rank COW
ards. They were scared for their lives.
lf they We're the drivers wager you
gloves against gloves they never took
those logs out to the pike. My coming
upset them. Before you feel bad m!
more you go look and see II they didn't
run out Of courage the minute the!
left Wessner aud Black Jack and
dump that timber and so on the ruu
! don't believe they ever had the Gr!
to drive out with It In daylight. &,
see IL they didn't figure OH going OH
the way We did the other morning
and you'll find the logs before -
strike the road. They never riskc
taking them into the open when the
got away and had time to think. q
course they didn't.
"And. then. another thing. ioU
haven't lost your wager! 1t will never
be claimed. because you made IL Will
a stout. dark, red faced man that drive,
q bay and gray. He was right bach
Of you. Mr.. Mclean. when I came NJ
to you yesterday. He went deathly
white aud shook on his feet when h,
saw those men would likely be caught
Some one Of them was something t.
him, and you can just spot him for
one of the men at the bottom Of yOu
troubles and urging those other young
er fellows OH to steal from you. !
suppose he'd promised to divide. You
settle with him. and that business vi
stop"
She turned TO Freckles And you
be the happiest man alive. because
you have kept your trust. Go look
where / tell you aud you'll il.,i ih'
logs. can Just seq about whr.'r he,
are. When they go up that sleep iil
tie hill into the next woods after til,
corntield why they could unloose the
chains and the logs would roll or the
wagons themselves. Now. you 20 sec
and. Mr.. Mclean. YOU do feel thai
Freckles has been brave and faithful.
You won't love him any the less even
II you don't find the logs
The angels nerve gave way and she
burst into tears. FrecklcS couldn't
bear It. He fairly ran from the room
with the tears streaming from his
own eyes. But Mclean took the IN
gel out Of the Bird Woman's arms anG
kissed her brave little face.
AS they drove back to the swami
Mclean so earnestly seconded all that
the angel had said that he soon hac
the boy feeling much better.
"Freckles. your angel has spice OF
the devil In her, but she's superb
You needn't spend any time question
ing or bewailing anything she does
Just worship b!indly. my boy. BY
heaven, she's sense. courage and beau
ty for half q dozen girls!" said Nc
Lean.
ITS altogether right you are. SIR"
affirmed Freckles heartily. After
little he added. There's no question
but the series Is over now."
Don't think It." answered Mclean
"The Bird Woman is working for sue
cess. and success along any line Is not
won by being scared out. She Will
be back on the usual day. and ten to
one the angel will be with her. They
are made Of pretty stern stun. and
they don't scare worth cent. You
may do your usual walking, but those
four guards are there to stay. They
are under your orders absolutely.
have listened to your pride too long
You are too precious to me to run any
more risks"
~ am sorry to have anything spoil
the SERIES" said Freckles. "and I'd love
them to be coming. the angel especial
but It can't be. You'll have to tell them
80. You see. Jack would have been
ready to stake his life she meant what
she said and did to him. When the
teams pulled out. Wessner seized me.
and he and Jack went to qnarrelling
over whether they should finish me
then or take me on to the next tree
they were for Telling. Wessner wanted
to get at me right then. and Jack said
be shouldn't be touching me till the
last tree was out and all the rest OF
them gone. They tied ME up again
To keep me courage up twlts Wess
ner about having to tic me and need
ing another man to help handle me.
I told him what I'd do to him II was
free. and he grabs up me own club
and lays open me head with 1t. When
the blood came streaming. II set JACK
raving. and he cursed Wessner for
coward and n softy. Then Wessner
turned on Jack and gives It to him
for letting the angel make n fool OF
him. Tells him she was Just playing
with him. and beyond all manner OF
doubt she'd gone for you, and there
was nothing to do on account OF his
cursed foolIshness but finish me. get
out. and let the rest Of the timber 60
for likely you was on the way right
then. And It drove Jack plumb crazy.
81 don't think he was for having n
doubt Of the angel before. but then
he Just raved. He grabbed out Ills
gun and turned on Wessner. Sprang.
II went out Of his fist. and the order
comes. Hands upr Wessner reached
for kingdom come like he was expect
Ing to grab hold and pull himself up
Jack puts up what he has left. Then
he leans over to me and tells me what
he'll do to me II he ever gets out OF