The Irish standard., 1912-03-09

Chicken she left them the camera ali
ready for use. telling them they might
hide back in the bushes and watch.
II Little Chicken came out and truly
smirked and they could squeeze the
bulb at just the proper moment to
snap him she would be more than de-
Lighted
Freckles and the angel quietly curl
ed down beside log and with eager
eyes and softest breathing patiently
waited. They were becoming anxious.
Tor the light would soon be gone and
they had 80 wanted to try for the
picture. At last Little Chicken lifted
his head. opened his beak and gaped
widely. He dozed a minute or two
more. The angel said that was his
beauty sleep. Then he lazily gaped
again and stood up. stretching and
yawning. He ambled leisurely down
toward the gateway, and the angel
said, "Now. we may have chance.
at last"
With one accord they rose to their
knees and trained their eyes on the
mouth Of the log. The light was full
and strong. Little Chicken prospected
again with no results. He dressed his
plumage, polished his beak. and when
he felt fine and in full toilet he began
to firt with himself. Freckles' eyes
nd Iii
tween his clenched teeth.
lies going to do it," whispered the
angel.
Little Chicken nodded daintily and
rufiled his feathers. He gave his head
sundry little sidewise jerks and rap
idly shifted his point of vision. Once
there was the f1eeting little ghost Of
smirk.
''Now! MOI" snapped the angel.
Freckles leaned toward the bird.
Tense as steel trap he waited. On
consciously the hand of the angel
clasped his. He scarcely knew it was
there. Suddenly Little Chicken sprang
straight up in the air and landed with
a thud. The angel started slightly.
but Freckles was immovable. Then.
as If in approval of his last perform
ance, the overgrown baby wheeled IN
til he was more than three-quarters.
almost full side. toward the camera,
Strengthened on his legs, squared his
shoulders, stretched his neck full
height, drew in his chin and smirked
his most pronounced smirk directly in
the face of the lens.
Freckles' fingers closed on the bulb
convulsively. and the angels closed
on his at the instant Then the angel
heaved a great sigh of relief and lift
ed her hands to push back the damp.
clustering hair from her face.
Hand in hand they ran for 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 and dripping tri-
pods.
Moved by an impulse she never aft
erward regretted. she bent and laid
her lips on Freckles' forehead. kissing
him gently and thanking him for his
many kindnesses to her in her loved
work. Freckles 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.
.sYou 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 mum
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 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
long stay at the mouth of Sleepy
Snake creek. Then she sent them
away and waited what luck wou.d
bring to her.
Looks as If some one had been cut
ting a hagpole." said the angel. run
ming the toe Of her shoe around a
small stump. evidently cut that sea-
son. sFrerkles. what would ANYBODY