Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-04-18

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and rafting neutrality-suspicious. until
the bees were outdone.
Straight at it went the panic stricken
woman. running wildly and %uncontrol-
lably. She took II great leap. clearing
it's body on the path. and then flew on
with winged feet. The snake, coiling
to strike. missed Mrs. Duncan ana
landed among the bees instead. They
settled over and about it. and, realiz-
ing that it had found trouble. it sank
among the grasses and went thrashing
toward the deep willow fringed low
ground where it's den was until the
swale looked as if Il mighty reaper
were cutting a wide swath. The mass
Of enraged bees darted angrily about,
searching for it, and, colliding with
the scrub thorn. began a temporary
settling there to discover whether it
was a suitable place. Mrs. Duncan
staggered on u few steps farther, fell
face down on the path, where Freckles
found her. and lay still.
Freckles worked with her until she
ulcW IL OuS, IulN Cl1IS ct III
opened her eyes.
When she saw him bending over her
she closed them tightly and, gripping
him. struggled to her feet. He help
ed her up, and. with his arm about
and half carrying her, they made their
way to the clearing. Then. brawny
Scotswoman though she was. she keel
ed over again. The children added
their wailing to Freckles' panic.
This time he was so near the cabin
that be could carry her into the house
and lay her in the bed. He sem the
oldest boy scudding down the corduroy
for the nearest neighbor, and between
them they undressed her and discover
ed that she was not bitten. They bath
ed and bound up the bleeding wrist
and coaxed her back to consciousness.
She lay sobling and s%huddering. The
first intelligent word she said was,
"FreckleS. look at that jar on the
Kitchen table and see if my yeast is no
running over
Several days went by before she
could give Duncan and Freckles any
detailed account of what had hap
pened to her. She could not rest until
she sent for Mclean and begged him
to save I'reckles from further risk
about that place of horrors. The boss
went down to the swamp with his
mind fully made up to do so,
Freckles laughed. "Why, Mr.. Nc.
Lean, don't you let a woman's nervous
system set you worrying over me- he
said. I'm not denying how she felt
because I've been through it meself
but that's all over and gone. It's the
height Of me- glory to fight it out with
the old swamp and all that's in it OF
will be coming to it and then to turn
it owe to YOU. as l promised you and
meself I'd do, sir. You couldn't breaE
the heart Of me entire quicker thar
to be taking it from me now wher
I'm just on the home stretch. You
mustn't let a oma get mixed VI
with business, for I've always heard
about how it's bringing trouble"
The Bird Woman and the angel ar
rived on time for the third of the
series and found Mclean on the line
talking to Freckles. The boss was fill
ed with enthusiasm yer a marsh arti
Gle Of the Bird Woman's that he haG
just read. He begged to be allowed
to accompany her into the swamp an6
watch the method by which she Sc
cured an illustration in such a loca.
ton. 49,
The Bird Woman explained to him
that it was an easy matter with the
subject she then had in hand, and as
Little Chicken was too small to be
frightened by him and large enough
to be getting troublesome. she was
glad of his company. They went tc
the chicken log together. leaving tc
the happy Freckles the care Of the
angel. who had brought her banjo anG
a roll Of songs. The Bird Woman
told them that they might go to Freck.
les room and practice until she fin
ished with Little Chicken. and then
she and Mclean would come to the
concert.
1t was almost three hours before
they finished and came down the west
trail. AS they reached the bushes al
the entrance the voice of the angeI
stopped them. for it vas commanding
and filed with much Impotence.
"Freckles James Ross Mclean" she
was saying, you fill me with dark
blue despair! You're singing as if
your voice was glass and liable to
break at any minute. Why don't you
sing as you did a week ago? You
are Il fraud. You led me to think that
there was the making of a great sing
err in you, and now you are singing
do you know how badly you are sing
ing"
"Yis." said Freckles meekly. "I'n
thinking Pm too happy to be singing
we'll today. The music don't com
right only when I'm lonesome and sad
The worlds for being all sunshine a
prisint, for among you and Mr.. Nc
Lean and the Bird Woman I'm after
being that happy that l can't keep MT
thoughts on me notes. It's more thar
sorry l am to be disappointing you
Play it over. and Ill be be"innins