Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-18
"Ycu NEEDN'T TOUCH YouR BANK Ac.
COUNT"

COUNT.
could find a lot Of stun that could
sell for you. I'll order you butterfly
net and box and show you how sci.
entists pin specimens. But ! don't
want to hear Of your killing any birds.
They are protected by heavy fines"
Mclean rode way ana left Freckles
staring nghast. Then he saw the point
and grinned sheepishly. Standing on
the trail. he twirled the feather ana
thought the morning over
well. II life nin't getting to be
worth living" he said wonderingly.
biggest streak Of luck I ever had!
Bout time something was coming my
way. but I wouldn't ever thought any.
body could strike such prospects
through Just falling feather"
On Duncan's return from his next
trip to town there was q store box
londed on the back Of bis wagon. He
drove to the west entrance OF the
swamp. set the box on a stump that
Freckles had selected in n beautiful,
and sheltered place and made Il secure
on its foundation with a tree at Its
back
ut seems most pity to nail into
that trae." said Duncan. II hadna the
time to examine into the grain Of 1t.
hut it looks as IL it might be a rare
nne. Anyhow. the nailin' Wilma hurt
1t deep. and havin' the case by 1t will
make 1t safer II 1t Is II guild ane."
isn't 1t an oak:" asked Freckles.
"Aye." said Duncan. 1T looks like 1t
might be ane OF thae fine grained
golden anes that max such grand fur
niture."
When the body Of the case was &c.
cure Duncan made door out Of the
lid and fastened 1t on with hinges. He
drove a staple. screwed on latch and
gave Freckles a small paddock. 30 that
he might safely fasten in bis treasures.
He made u shelf in the top for the
books and last Of all covered the case
with oilcloth
1t was the first time In Freckles' life
that any one had ever done that much
for his pleasure. and It warmed his
heart with pure Joy.
"Mr. Duncan" he said. II don't
know why you are being 40 mighty
good to me. but II you have any Jobs
up Mt the cabin that I could do for you
or Mrs. Duncan hours OF the line It
would make me mighty happy"
"Freckles." said Duncan as he began
gathering up his tools. ~ Gamma see
that it will hurt ye to be told that ye
ARE dom every day thing that
,pleases the boss as much as anything
ye could do. Yere helm uncommon
faithful. lad. and honest as old Father
Time. Mclean IL trnstin' ye as he
would his own flesh and blood"
"Oh. Duncan" cried the hoy. Are
you sure?"
"Why. | know" answered Duncan.
~ wadna venture to say else. In
those first days he cautioned me ma
To tell We that. but now he wadnn
care. Dye ken. freck,es. trer some
Of the single trees We are guardin' are
worth thousand dollars:''
Freckles looked limp. and his eyes
popped.
''S' SUN thuN WY
they mann be watched so closely. The
other night down at camp some son
of Bnalam was suggestin that ye might
ne sellin' the boss out to Jack and let.
tin him tax the trees secretly and mo-
body wnd ever ken TIL the gang gets
here"
A wave of scarlet flooded Freckles'
face. aud he bhazed holly Mt the Insult.
And the boss" continued Duncan.
ignoring Freckles' anger. "he lays back
Just MS cool RS cowcumbers ana says.
'rll give thousand dollars to any
man that will show me fresh stump
when we reach the I.imberiost.' says
he. Some Of the men Just snapped
him M that they'd find some. So you
see how the boss Is trustin' ye. lad"
II am gladder than can ever ex.
press" said Freckles. And now will
be walking double time to keep some
OF them from cutting tree to get all
that money"
"Mither o Noses" howled Duncan.
"fe can trust the Scotch to bungle
things athegither. Mclean was only
meanin' TO show ye all confidence and
honor. He's gone and set high price
TOR some dirty whelp to ruin ye. was
just tryin' to show ye how he felt
toward We. and I've gone and give 80
that worry to bear"
Il nm mighty proud Of what you
have been telling me. Duncan" said
Freckles. Il need the warning sure.
for with the books coming might be
timpted 10 neglect me work when dou.
Bile watching Is needed"
Freckles picked up bis club and start.
ed down the line. whistllng cheerily.
Duncan went straight to the lower
camp and. calling Mclean aside. r..
peated the conversation verbatim.
And. nae matter what happens now
or ever. dinna " dare lot anything
make 20 believe that Freckies hasna
guarded faithful 40 any man could"
II don't think anything could shake
my faith IN the iad." said Mclean.
Frecklcs kept one eye rsligiousiy on
the line The other he divided be-
tween the path, bis friends Of the
wire and IL search Of the sly for bic
latest arrivals, Every day since their
o@i,ny he had seen them. either hang.