The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-09
 .i
 By Gene ,StraGe@m- Porter COPYRIGHT. reO4. BY DoUBLEDAY. PAGE
 & co. 

! was coming to you when I remim- bered you would be here"
 He lifted his face and gazed Off across the swale. with his jaws set hard a minute. as if gathering his forces. Then he spoke.
 'It's the angel. Sir.'% he said.
 Instinctiyely McLean's grip on him frightened
 'T tried hard the other, day." said FreckIes, "and l couldn't seem to- make you see. It's only that there hasn't been an hour. waking or sleep ing. since the day she parted the bushes and looked into me room. that the face of her hasn't been before noe in all the finderness. beauty and rciSs- chief of it. She talked to me friendly ike She trusted me entirely to take right care of her. She helped me with things about me books. She traited me like I was born gintleman. and shared with me like was of her own blood. She walked the streets of the town with me before her friends with all the pride of a queen. She forgot herself and. didn't mind the Bird Woman. and run big risks to help me out that first day. sir. This last time she walked into that gang of murderers. took their leader and twisted him to the will of her. She outdone him and raced the fife almost out of her trying to save me
 Since can reminder. whatever the thing was that happened to me in the beginning has heen me curse. I've been bitter. hard and smarting under it hopeFessly. She came by and found me voice and put hope bf life and sue cess like other men into me in spite of 1t"
 FreckIes held up his maimed arm
 Look at it. sir!'' he said. "A thou- sand times I've cursed it. hanging there helpless. She took 1t on. the street. before all the people. just as if she didn't see that 1t was a thing to hide and shrink from. Again and again I've had the feeling with her. if l didn't entirely forget it. that she didn't see it~was gone and I must pull her sleeve and be pointing it out to her. Her touch on it was so sacred like. at times since I've caught meself looking at the awful thing near like was proud of 1t. sir. If ! was born your son she couldn't be treating me more as, her equal. and she can't help knowing you ain't truly, me father. Nobody can know the ugliness or the ignorance of me better than do and all me lack of birth, home. relatives and money and what's it all to herr"
 Freckles stepped back from Mclean, squared his shoulders and with a royal lift of his head looked straight into the boss eyes.
 "You saw her in the beautiful little room of her and you can't be forget ting how she begged and pleaded with you for me. She touched me body. and twas sanctified. She laid her lips on me brow. and twas sacrament No body knows the height of her better than me. Eobody's studied my depths closer. There's no bridge for the great distance between us. sir. and. clearest Of all. I'm for realizing it. But she risked terrible things when she came to me among that gang of thieves She wore herself past bearing to save me from. such an easy thing as death. Now, here's me- man. big. strong man. and letting her live under that fearful oath. so worse than any death | 'twould be for her. and lifting not a finger to save her. I cannot bear it. sir; It's killing me by inches! If any evil comes to her through Black Jack ] it comes from her angel like goodness to me Somewhere he's hidingI Somewhere he is waiting his chance! Somewhere he is reaching out for herI I tell you cannot, dare not be bear ing it longerT'
 "Freckles. be quieti' said Mclean. his eyes humid. Believe me. did not understand. know the angels father we'll. will go to him at once. I have transacted business with him for the last three years. will make him see. I am only just beginning to realize your agony and the real danger there is for the angel. will see that she Is fully protected every hour of the day and night until Jack Is located and disposed of. And 1 promise you further that if fail to move her father or make him understand the danger ! will maintain a guard over her until 1 Jack is caught"
 Mclean slid from Nellle's back. and went to examine the otter.
 "What do you want to do with it. FreckIes?'' asked Mclean. Do you known that 1t is very vaIuableP' 'I was for almost praying so. sir.'' said FreckIes. IAN l saw it coming up the bank l thought this: Once some where in book there was a picture of a young girl. and she was just breath like the beautifulnesS Of the angel. Her hands were in a muir as big as her body. and I thought It was so pretty. think she was some queen. or the like Do you suppose l could have this skin tanned and made into such a muff as that-an enormous big one. sir?'
 ':Of course you can." said Mclean. That's a fine, idea and it's easy I enough. It would be a mighty fine thing for you to give to the angel as a little reminder of the LimberloSt be fore it is despoiIed. and as a souvenir of her trip for you"
 Freckles lifted a face with a glow of happy color creeping Into 1t and -eyes lighting with a former brightness Throwing his arms about. Mclean. he cried "Oh. how I love you! Oh. wish I SOTId make vOn know how I