The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-08


 that Freckies has kept his trust as no body ever did before. don't you? You won't forget all those Nong first days of fright that you tcld us of. the fear ful cold of wintA rhe rnin. heat and Ionesomeness and the brave days. and. lately. nights. too. and let him feel that his trust is broken?
 "Oh. Mir. Mclean" she begged. -'say something to him. Do something to make him feel that 1t isn't for noth- ing he has watched and suffered 1t out with that old Limberlost. Make him see how great and fine it is and how far. far better he has done than you or any of us expected, What's one old tree anywayT' she burst out passionateIy.
 ''I was thinking before you came Those two other men were rank cow ards. They were scared for their lives. :f they were the drivers l wager you gloves against gloves they never took those logs out to the pike. My coming i upset them. Before you feel bad any more you go look and see if they didn't run out of courage the minute they i left Wessner and Black Jack and dump that timber and go on the run. l ] don't believe they ever had the grit to drive out with it in daylight. Go see if they didn't figure on going out | the way we did the other morning, and you'll find the logs before you strike the road. They never risked i taking them into the open when they got away and had time to think. Of course they didn't.
 And. then. another thing. You haven't lost your wager! It will never 1 be claimed. because you made it with ~tout. dark, red faced man thai drives a bay and a gray. He was right back ! of you. MT. Mclean. when I came up to you yesterday. He went deathly 1 white and shook on his feet when he l saw those men would likely be caught Some one of them was something to l him. and you can just spot him for one of the men at the bottom of your troubles and urging those other young CT fellows on to steal from you. suppose he'd promised to divide. You settle with him. and that business will i stop"
 She turned to Freckles. And you be the bappiest man alive. because ! you have kept your trust Go look where l tell you and you'll find the logs. l can just see about where they are. When they go up that steep Iit- tie hill into the next woods after the corn6eld why shey could unloose the chains and the logs would roll of the i wagons themselves Now. you go see; i and, MT. Mclean. you do feel that Freckles has been brave and faithful2 i You won't love him any the less even if you don't lind the iogs"-
 The angels nerve gnve way and she burst into tears. FreckIes couldn't benr 1t He fairly ran from the room i with the tears streaming from his ! own eyes. But Mclean took the an I gel out of the Bird woman's arms and kissed her brave little face.
 As they drove back to the swamp Mclean so earnestly seconded all that the angel had said that he soon had 1 the boy feeling much better. ''Freckles. your angel has a spice of the devil in her. but she's superb. 1 You needn't spend any time question ing or bewailing anything she does. t Just worship hlindly. my boy. By | heaven. she's sense. courage and beau ! ty for half a dozen girIsF' said Mo | Lean
 ''It's altogether right you are. sir" affirmed FreckIes heartily. After a 1 little be added. There's no question but the series is over now"
 Don't think it.'i answered McLean- l S'The Bird Woman is working for sue l cess. and success along any line is not won by being scared out She will be back on the usual day. and ten to one the angel will be with her. They are made of pretty stern stuH. and they don't scare worth a cent. You may do your usual walking. but those four guards are there to stay. They ] he0 TfA1wT II have listened to your pride too long. You are too precious to me to run any more risks"
 'I am sorry to have anything spoil the series.'' said Freckles. "and I'd love them to be coming. the angel especial. but 1t can't be. You'll have to tell them so. You see. Jack would have been ready to stake his life she meant what she said and did to him. When the teams pulled out. Wessner seized me. and be and Jack went to qnarrelIing over whether they should finish me then or take me on to the next tree they were for fellinG. Wessner wanted to get at me right then. and Jack said he shouldn't be touching me till the last tree was out and all the rest of them gone. They tied me up again 1 To keep me courage up I twits Wess- ner about having to tie me and need ing another man to help handle me. ! told him what I'd do to him if I was free. and he grabs up me own club and lays open me head with 1t. When the blood came streaming. 1t set Jack raving. and he cursed Wessner for Q | coward and softly. Then Wessner 1 turned op Jack and gives it to him for letting the angel make fool of him. Tells him she was just playing with him. and beyond all manner of doubt shed gone for you. and there was nothing to do on account of his cursed foollshness but finish me. get out. and let the rest of the timber go. for likely you was on the way right then. And it drove Jack plumb crazy.