Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-14


where In book there was picture Or
. young girl. and she was just breath
IKE the beautifulness Of the angel. Her
hands were in a putf as big as her
body, and I thought It was 80 pretty.
! think she vas some queen. Or the
like. Do yau suppose l. could have this
skin tanned aud made into such panH
% that--aR enernpas big one, sisT'
"of course yoW can saM Mclean
that's fine. idea aud it's easy
enough. 1t wousd b = mighty 61le
thing for you to give TO the angel AZ
a little reminder Of the Limberfost be-
fore II Is despsised, and ~ souvenir
Of her trip for y0a.' ~s
Freckles lifted face with glow Of
happy color creeping into it and eyes
lighting with a former brightness.
Throwing bis arms about Mclean. he
cried "Qh. bow ! love, you! Oh. !
wish could make you know how !
love you"
Mclean strained. him 10 hiS hreast. :
God bless you. Freckles." he said.
II do know! We're going TO- have
some good old times out Of this world
together. and we can't begin too soon.
Would you rather sleep first. or set a
bite os laneh and hnye. the drive with
me, and then restY don't know but
sleep win come sooner and daspss to
take the ride and baye your mind set
at ease before you lie down, Suppose
you gs' So.
Suppose I do" said Freekles. with 3
glimmer Of the Old light ia hts eyes
and newly found strength IN shouider
the otter. Together they turned into
the swale. . - ., = y.
Mclean noticed and spoke of the big
black chickens.
"They've been hanging round out
there. for several days past" said
Freckles. 'I'h tell you what think
it means. ] think the old rattler has
killed something too big for him to
swallow, and he's kaeping guard and
wont let ma chickens. have it. I'm
Just sure. from the way the birds have
acted out there ait summer. that 1t is
the rattler's den. You watch them
now. See the way they dip and then
RISE frightened like!"
Suddenly Mclean turQed On him
|! with launching face.
"Freckles!" be cried
"You think it's Jackw shuddered
Frecllles.
Els GfoI.r@i3 81: att:aa::. caa:"g"ht ID his
club and plunged into the swale.
Reaching for bis revolver. Mclean
followed The chickens circled higher
at their coming, and the big snake
lifted his head and ratified aneriy. 1t
sank in sinuoVs coils at the report OF
McLean's revolver. and together he
and Freckles stood beside Black Jack.
,, His fate was evident and most horrible.
Come" said the boss at last. I'VE
don't dare touch him. We will get
sheet from Mrs. Duncan and tuck over
him, to keep these sWarms of insects
away. and set Hall on guard, while
we so for the officers" 4. II
Freckles' lips closed resolutely. he
deliberately thrust his club under
Black Jacks body and. raising him.
rested it on his knee. He pulled q
long silver pin from the front Of the
dead mans shirt and sent it spinning
out into the swale. Then he gathered
up few crumpled bright flowers and
dropped them into the pool far away.
My soul Is sick with the horror Of
this thing" said Mclean as he and
Freckles drove toward town. II can't
! understand how Jack dared risk creep
ing through the swale even in des-
peration. No one knew It's dangers
better than he. And why did he
choose the rankest. muckiest place to
cross the swamp"
Don't you think. sir. 1t, was because
it was on a line with the Limberlost
south Of the corduroy? The grass was
tallest there, apd he counted on those
willows to screen him. Once he got
among them he would have been safe
to walk by stopping. II he'd made 1t
past that place he'd been sure to get
out"
"Wer. I'm 40 sorry for Jack as I
know how to be-" said Mclean. "but !
can't help feeling relieved that our
troubles are over with this dreadful
punishment for Jack. Wessner safe in
Jail and warrants out for the Others.
Jack knew the swamp better than
anyone about here. When he found
there were two companies trying to