The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-03


 He went anu pI, Aeu It up, oh. so carefully. gazing at 1t with hungry eyes. but touching it only to carry it over to his case. where he hung it on the shining handle bar of the new wheel and locked it in among his treasures. Then he went out to the trail with a new look on his face. He was not in the least afraid of any thing that morning He EeIt he was the veriest Daniel. and all his lions seemed weak and harmless
 Black Jack was not a man to give up his purpose or to have the hat swept from his head by a bullet and bear it meekly. Moreover. Wessner would cling 10 his revenge
 When Freckles gained his room he tenderly laid the hat upon his book shelf and. to wear off his awkward ness. mounted his wheel and went spinning about the line again.
 -Weel. I be dra wed onr' exclaimed Mrs. Duncan an hour later.
 Freckles stood before her, holding the angels hat
 s'T'Ye been thinking this long time that ye or Duncan would see that sun- bonnets werena braw enough for woman of my standing. and ye're a gIfid laddie to bring me this beautiful hat"
 She turned 1t about. examining the weave of the straw and the foliage trimmings. passing her rough fingers over the satin ties deiightedly. As she held it up. admiring it. FreckIes' aston ished eyes saw a new side of Sarah Duncan. She was testing. but under the jest the fact loomed strong that there was something in her soul cry ing out after that bit of feminine fn- cry. He resolved that when he reached the city be would send her as fine a hat as the angels if 1t took $50 to do 1t.
 She Hngeringiy handed it back to him
 -'It's unco guid of ye to think of me-" she said lightly. but l mann question ~F0ur taste a wee. Dye no think ye had best return this and get a woman with half her hair gray little palmer headdresS? Seems like that's far over gay for me I'm no saying that it's no exactly what I'd like to hae. but mauna Inak myself. ridiculous. Ye'd best give this to somebody young and pretty. say about sixteen Where did ye come by it. Freckles? If there's anything been dropping lately ye hae forgotten to mention it"
 Do you see anything heavenly about that hatP' quer1ed FreckIes. holding it up
 The morning breeze waved the rib bons gracefully. binding one about Freckles' sleeve and the other across hiE chest. where they caught and clung as if magnetized.
  actly what I'd call heavenly hat"
 Sure" said Freckles, flor it's be- longing to an angelr'
 Then he told her about the hat and asked her what he should do with it.
 Take it 10 her, of courSe?' said Sarah Duncan.
 You think I should. be taking it homer he said.
 "Of course ye must" said Mrs. Dun- can. "Ye gang ava and take the bless ed little angel her beautiful hat"
 Are you sure it will be all right2" urged FreckIes. Do you think if Mr. Mclean came he would carer"
 Ma said Mrs. Duncan. ''I dinna. If ye and me agree that thing ought to be done. and watch sn your place. why. it's bound to be all right with bath day clothes?"
 FreckIes shook his head. He knew what he had to do. but there was no use in taking time to try to explain it to Mrs. Duncan while he was so hur- ried- He exchanged his wading boots for shoes. gave her his club and went spinning toward town He knew very we'll where the angel lived. He had passed her home many times, and he passed it again without even taking his eyes from the street. steering straight for her fathers place of busi- mesa