Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-05-16

on his at the instant. Then the ~. =.
heayed a great sigh Of relief aNH ,ifl.
ed her hands to push back tlA. damp.
clustering hair from her face
Hand in hand they ran Tor the
north end Of the swamp. yelling. I'VE
got it,"
The Bird Woman plunged into the
swale at the mouth OF Sleepy Snake
creek and came wading out with a
couple OF cameras md dripping tri-
pods.
Moved by an Impulse she never aft
erwarh regretted, she bent and laid
her lips or I'reckles' forehead. kissing
many kinGncsses to her in her loved
work. Frerkles started off walking
on air. and he felt inclined to keep
watching behind to see If the trail
were not curling up and rolling down
the line after him.
Next day Freckles saw them COM
ing. The angel was standing, waving
her hat. He sprang on his wheel and
raced, jolting and pounding. down the
corduroy to meet them. The Bird
Woman stopped the horse, and the an
gel gave him the bit of print paper.
Freckles leaned the wheel against a
tree and took the proof with eager
fingers. He had never before seen a
study from any Of his chickens. He
stood staring. When he lifted his
face to them it was TRANSPORTED with
delight.
"You see.." he exclaimed. and fell to
gazing again. "Oh, me little chicken!'
he cried. 'Oh, me Elegant little chick
en-! I'd be giving all me money in the
bank for you"
Then he thought Of the angels muff
and Mrs. Duncan's hat and added:
"Or at least all but what I'm needing
bad for something else. Would you
mind my stopping at the cabin a min.
ute and showing this to Mother Dun.
CAM" he asked.
Freckles went hurrying on ahead,
and they drove up in time to see Mrs.
Duncan gazing as if awestruck and to
hear her bewildered 'Weel. l be draw.
ed on"
Freckles and the angel helped the
Bird Woman to establish herself for a
long stay at the mouth of Sleepy
Snake creek. Then she sent them
away and waited what luck would
bring to her.
Looks as if some one had been cut
ting a 1agpole." said the angel. run
ming the toe of her shoe around a
small stump. evidently cut that sea.
son. "Freckles, what would anybody
cut a tree as small as that for?"
II don't know" said Freckles.
f"Well, but | want to know" said
the angel. Nobody came away in
here and cut it just for fun. They've
taken it away. Let's go back and see
if we can see it anywhere around
there"
She retraced her steps and begar
searching eagerly. Freckles did the
same.
""There it is" he exclaimed at last
"leaning just as naturally against til,
trunk Of that big maple"
"Yes. and leaning there has killed {
patch OF bark said the angel. "Set
how dried up it looks"
Freckles stared at her.
angel" he shouted, II bet you it's
a marked tree!r'
course it isl" cried the angel. II,
Is one Of Jacks marked trees"
The clear. ringing echo of strongly
swung axes came crashing through the
Limberlost.
"'Tis the gang" shouted Freckles
"They're clearing a place to make the
camp. Let's go help"
Get out your hatchet." commanded
the angel. II predict this is the mos
valuable tree in the swamp. 70,
found it. I'm going to play that your
my knight. Now. you nail my color
on it,"
She united a blue bow in her hal
and doubled it against the tree. Tn,
angel had called him her knight! How
he loved her. She must not see hi
face or surely her quick eyes would
read what be was fighting to hide. 81
did not dare lay his lips on that ribbon
then. but that night he would return
to it. When they had gone a little dis
lance they both locked back. and tn,
morning breeze set the bit Of blu,
waving then Il farewell.
She reached him her hand. and. lik'
two children, they broke into a run a!
they came nearer the gang. They lief
the swamp by the west road and fol
lowed the trail until they found tn
men. TO the angel it seemed complet,
chaos.
In the shadiest spot on the west sid
Of the line. close to the swamp an
very close to Freckles' room. they wer'
cutting down bushes and clearing GU
space for a tent for the mems sleepins
quarters. another for u dining hall an(
a board shack for the cook. The team
sters were unloading, the horses wer
cropping leaves from the bushes. ant
each nan was doing his part TOWARD
the construction of the new Timber
lost quarters.
CHAPTER XIX.