Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-22

FrecklcS' mouth, while Black Jack
+ twisted his arms back of him, and
they rushed him into hls room. AL
.ost before he realized thnt any hing
had happened he was tiussed up to a
Tree and securely gagged.
Then three Of the men resumed
work on the tree. The other followed
ne path Freckles had worn to Little
Chickens tree. ana presently he re-
rnrted that the wires We're down and
two teams with the loading apparatus
coming to take out the timber. All the
me the saw was slowly eating, eat
Ing into the big tree.
Wessner went out to the trail and
removed the wire Then he stood III
front Of Freckles and laughed in dew
sh hate. Freckles fond himself
looking fear In tne FACE and marve!ed
not he was not afraid. pur t nc.
lie tree halfway ea,en through. the
50 agons coming up the inside road. he
bound and gagged. The men with
"lack Jack and Wessner had belong
"A to McLeans gang when last he had
heard of them, but who those coming
18th the wagons might be he could
/, t guess.
If they secured that tree Mclean
lost its value. lost his wager and lost
his faith In him. The words Of the
angel hammered in his ears. "Oh.
l reckless. do watch Closely
1 And the saw ate on
When the tree was down and loaded
what would they do? Pull out and
N,ave him there to report them: 1t
was not TO be hoped for. The place
had always been lawless. It could
mean but one thi- :;
A mist swept before his eyes, and his
head swan. Was It only last night
that lie had worshipcd the angel in a
deirium OF happiness? And now
what: Wessner. released from n turn
OF the saw. walked over 10 the lower
bed and. tearing up Il handful of rare
forms by the roots. started toward
Trecklcs. His intention was obvious.
Black Jack stopped him with an oath.
You see here. Dutchy." he bawled.
"mebby you think you'll wash his face
with that, but you won't. A contracts
n contract. We agreed to take out
these trees and leave him for you to
dispose of whatever way you please.
provided you shut him up eternally on
this deal. But I'll not see tied man
tormented by fellow that he can lick
up the ground with loose, and that's
fiat. 1t raises my gorge to think what
he'll get when we're gone, but you
needn't think you're free to hegtn be-
fore. Don't you lag hand on hin,
y lille I'm here! What do you say,
boys:"
II say yes" growled one Of Nc
leans intest deserters whats
glore. we're Il pack Of fools to risk tho
dirty work OF si!enc!ng him. { don
mind lifting tho trees We cane for, but
! IN cursed If l want blood on my
hands"
We'll, you amt golag to get il" bel
owed Jack. "You fellows only con-
tracted to help me- set out my mark
ed trees. He belongs TO Wessner. and
it amt our deal what happens to him.
It's all planned safe and sure. AS for
'iiiing that buck-come to think Of II,
killing IL what he needs. He's away
to good for this world of VOC anyhow.
Hts dropping out won't be the only
fecret the old Limberlost has never
told. It's too dead easy to make II
look like he helped take the timber and
hen cut. Why. he's played right into
0lr hands. He YVES here at the swamp
all last night and back again In an
hour or so. When we get our plan
worked out even old fool Duncan
won't lift finger to look for his car
cass."
"You Just bet" said Wessner. Il
owe him all he'll get. But I'll payr'
lie snared at Freckles.
20 1t was killing then. They were
not only after this one tree, but many,
and with his body II was their plan
10 kill his honor. TO brand him q
thief. like them. before the angel. the
Bird Woman, the dear boss and the
Duncans! Freckles' body sagged
against the ropes In sick despair.
There was no hope Of McLean's
coming. They had chosen day when
they knew he had bly, contract al
Inc south camp. Tho boss could moi
possibly come before tomorrow. and
there would be no tomorrow for him
Duncan was on his way to the south
camp. and the Bird Woman had said
sle would come as soon as she could
After the fatigue of the party 1t was
i u80l0S0 to QYnank her On6 thu AnQ0