The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-08-01

world like2 His knowledge was so
very limited There had been people
at the home who exchanged a stilted.
perfunctory sort Of kindness for their
salaries. The visitors that called on
receiving days he had divided into
three classes-the kind that came with
tear In the eye and hypocrisy In ev-
cry feature OF their faces: the kind
that came In silks and jewels and
handed out to those poor. little mother
hungry souls worn toys that their chill
dren no longer cared for. In exactly
the same spirit In which they pitched
biscuits to the monkeys at the TOO"
and for the same reason-to see how
they would take them and be amused
by what they would do: and the third
class. that he considered real people.
who made him feel they cared that
he was there and would have been
glad to see him elsewhere.
Now. here was another class that
had met him as a son and brother.
With them he could for the only time
in his life forget the lost hand that
every day tortured him with a new
pang. What sort of people were they
and where did they belong among the
classes he knew7 He had to give II up
because he had never known others
like them. but how be loved them!
Out In the world where he was soon
going were the majority like them or
were they OF the hypocrite and bun
throwing classesf Freckles did not
know. but he reached the ultimate
conclusion that people like the Bird
Woman. the angel. Mclean and the
Duncans were very rare. hence their
exceeding preciousness
He had forgotten the excitement Of
the morning and the passing OF time
when distant voices aroused him. and
he softly lifted his head Nearer and
nearer they came. and as the heavy
wagons rumbled down the east trail
he could hear them plainly. The gang
were shouting themselves hoarse for
the Limberlost guard. Freckles didn't
feel that he deserved H. He would
have given much to be able TO go out
to the men and explain how II was.
but only TO Mclean could he tell his
story
At the sight OF Freckles the men
threw up their hats and cheered. Me-
Lean shook hands with him warmly.
but big Duncan gathered him into his
arms and bugged him like a bear and
chOked over few words OF praise
The gang drove In and finished Telling
the tree
When the last wagon rolled away
Mclean sat down on the stump and
Freckles told the story he was aching
to tell. The boss could scarcely be-
lieve his senses. Also he was greatly
II have been almost praying all the !
way over. Freckles." he said. that you 7
would have some evidence by which /
we could arrest those fellows ana get (
them out OF our way. but this will I
never do. We can't mix those women /
up In IT, They have helped you save J.
me the tree and my wager as well /
Going about the country as she does.
the Bird Woman could never be ex. 4
pected TO testify against them"
mo. indeed: nor the angel either.
sir." said Freckles.
The angeIr queried the astonished
Mclean.
The boss listened In silence while
Freckles told Of the coming and chris.
teniDg of the angel.
Il know her father WELL" said Nc
Lean at last, and I have often seen
her. You are right. she Is a beautiful
young girl. I do not understand why
her father risks such q jewel In this
place"
Hes daring II because she Ii such
Jewel. sir" said Freckies eagerly.
Why. she's trusting a rattlesnake to
rattle before 1t strikes her. and. of
she thinks she can trust man.
kind as well. The man isn't made
that wouldn't lay down the life Of him
for her. She don't need any care.
her face and the pretty ways Of her
Are all the protection she would need
70 a band Of bowling savages."
did you say she handled one Of the
,evolvers7" asked Mclean
"She scared all the breath out OF me
body" admitted Freckles. Seems
that her father has taught her to
,hoot. The Bird Woman told her dis
.inctly to lie low and blaze away high.
lust to help scare them. The spunky
little thing followed them right out
INTO the west road. splitting lead like
hail and clipping all about the heads
Ind heels OF them"
Now. will they come backY' asked
Mclean.
"Of course" said Freckles. AT
east Black Jack will. wessner might
not have the pluck And the next
tme"- Freckles hesitated.
"WhatY'
ut will Just be question Of who
Ihoots hrst and straightest."
Then the only thing for me to do
s to double the guard and get the
rang here the first minute possible.
As soon as | feel that we have the
arrest OF the stun out below we will
ONE. The fact Ia In many cases un-
Il It Ii feiled it's hard to tell what Q
rec will prove to be. II won't do to
cave yon here longer alone. Jack has
'een shooting twenty years TO your
ne. and Il stands to reason that you