The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-08

l%IHE DoSS roue. neck anu ueSk
 with the angel He glanced
 back and saw that Duncan
 was near. There was some thing terrifying in the look of the big man and the way he sat his beast and rode. It would be a sad day for the man on whom Duncan's wrath broke There were four others close behind him and the pike filling up with the rest of the gang.
 The angel turRed into the trail to the west. and the men punched and followed her. When she reached the entrance to Freckles. room there were four men with her and two more very close behind. She slid from the horse and. sns tchipg the little revolver from her breast. darted for the bushes. Mclean caught them back and. with drawn weapon. pressed up beside her. There. they stopped in astuntshment- = The Bird Woman blocked the en- trance. Over a small limb lay her re- 'VoIver. and 1t was trained at short range on Black Jack and Wessner. who stood with their hands above their heads.
 down his face from an ugly cut in his
 
 tree again. and the rest of the men were gone. Black Jack was raving like a maniac. and when they looked closer it was only the left arm that he raised. His right, with the hand shattered. hung helpless. and his re- volYer lay at FreekIeS' feet Wess- ner's weapon was still in his belt, and beside him lay Freckles' club.
 Freckles. face was of stony white ness. with colorIess lips, but in his eyes was the strength of undying courage. Mclean pushed past the Bird Woman. crying. Hold steady on them for just one minute more"
 He snatched the revolver from WeSs- ner's belt and stopped for Jacks.
 At that instant the angel rushed in. She tore the gag from Freckles. and. seizing the rope knotted on his chest, she rugged at it desperately. Under her fingers it gave way. and she hurried it to Mclean. The men were crowd ing in. and Duncan seized Wessner. As the angel saw FreckIes stand out free she reached her arms to him and pitched forward. A fearful oath burst from the lips of Black Jack. To have saved his life FreckIes could not have dNOluGu tuf kld uCG OA oE EaNG Jack as he folded his angel in his arms and stretched her on the mOsses. : As Mclean rose from binding Wess- ner there was a cry that Jack was escaping. He was already well into the swamp. working for It's densest part. Every man that could be spared plunged after. him. Other members of the gang arriving. they were sent to follow the tracks of the wagons.
 Watchers patrOIlcd the line and roads through the swamp all that night with lighted torches. and the next day Mc- Lean headed as thorough a search as he felt could be made of one side. while Duncan covered the other. hut Black Jack could not be found. Spies were set about his home in Wildcat hollow to ascertain If he reached there or aid was sent in any direction to him, but it was soon clear that his relatives were ignorant of his where abouts and themselves searching for him.
 Great is the elasticity of youth. A hot bath and a sound nights sleep re- newed FreckIes' strength. FreckIes was on the trail early the next morn ing. Besides a crowd of people anx- ious to witness Jacks capture. he found four staIwart guards. one al each turn. In his heart he was com pelled to admit that be was glad tO have them there.
 Near noon Mclean turned his party over to join Duncan's and. ta king Free kles. drove to town to see how 1t farPd with the angel Mclean visited a greenhouse and bought an armload of it's finest products. but FreckIes would have none of them. He would carry his message in a glowing mass of the Limberlosts first eoIdenrod. The angel was iR mo- way seriously injured. :.S Sbe reached both hands to Mclean What if one old tree is gone? You don't care. sir2 You feel