Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-12

very SOuS, NOW MuSt ~ Ano uAAu
Woman will be ready to start. and she
will come here hunting me next. for
| she Is busy today. What did I come
here for anyway
She glanced inquiringly about. and
several of the men laughed. oh. the
delight Of 1t! She had forgot her err
rand for him! Jack had second in
crease in height. The angel glanced
helplessly about as II seeking clew.
Then her eyes fell. ~ II by accident.
on Freckles.
ITS mighty risky for you to be
crossing the swamp alone" he said.
II know it's a little farther. but it's
begging you l am to be going back by
the trail"
The angel laughed merrily.
"Oh. stop your nonsense!" she cried.
"I'm not afraid-not in the least!'
Freckles turned 10 Jack imploringly.
"You tell herr he pleaded. "reli
her to go by the trail. She will for
you"
The Implication Of this statement
was so gratifying to Black Jack that
he seemed again to expand and take
on increase before their very eyes.
"You bet" exclaimed Jack. And to
the angel: "You better take Freckles'
word for 1t. miss. He knows the old
swamp better than any Of us. except
me. and If he says go by the trail
you'd best do it,
The angel hesitated One last glance
! at Freckles showed her the agony in
his eyes. She would follow the trail.
"All right" she said. giving Jack a
killing glance. III you say so III go
back by the trail to please you. Good
| by. everybody" .-.t-- -.
She lifted the bushes and started for
| the entrance.
! stop her. growied Wessner. "Keep
! her till we're loaded anyhow. Can't
you see that when this thing Is found
out there she'll be to ruin all OF us.
| II you let her 20 every man Of us has
got to cut. and some of US will be
| caught sure"
Jack sprang forward. Freckles'
heart muff'ed up in his throat. The
angel seemed to divine Jacks coming.
| She was humming little song. She
deliberately stopped and began pulling
the heads Of the curious grasses that
grew all about her. When she straight
ened she took a step backward and
called: "Ho. Freckles. the Bird Wo-
man wants that natural history pam
phlct returned. 1t belongs to set she
Is going to have bound"
] Then the angel shot parting glance
at Jack. and she was bewitchingly
lovely.
"You won't forget that ride and the
red tie she half asserted. half ques-
toned.
Jack lost his head entirely. Free
kles was his captive. but he was the
angels. soul and body. With head
held well up the angel walked slowly
away. and Jack wheeled on the men.
drop your staring and saw wood!"
be shouted. Don't you know any
thing at all about how to treat
lady?"
| The men muttered and threatened
among themselves. but they fell to
| working with a vengeance.
Freckles sat down on one Of his
benches and waited. In their haste to
Eet the tree down and loaded so that
the transfers could start with it and
leave them free to attack another
they had forgotten to rebind him.
The angel was on the trail and safe
II started
Freckles wondered what she would
say to the Bird Woman and how long
Il would take them to pach and get
| started. He knew now that they
would understand and the angel
| would try to get the boss there In
time to save his wager. She could
never do 1t. for the saw was over half
through and Jack and Wessner gut.
ting into the opposite side Of the tree,
1t looked as II they could get at least
that tree out before Mclean could
come.
When It was down would they re-
bind him and leave him for Wessner
to wreak his insane vengeance on. or
would they take him along to the
next tree and dispose of him when
they had stolen all the timber they
could? Jack had said that he should
not be touched until he left. Surely
he would not run all that risk for one
tree when he had many others OF far
greater value marked.
Once Jack came over to Freckles
and asked II he had any water.
Freckles rose and showed him where
he kept his drinking water. Jack
drank in great guips. and as he pass
ed the bucket back be said: when a
mans got chance Of catching fine
girl like that he ought not to be mix
ed up in any dirty business. l wish l
was out of this
Freckles answered heartily, Il wish
was too"
Jack stared at him minute and
then broke into a roar Of rough laugh
ter.
"Blest If blame you" he said.
But you had your chance. We Offer
ed you fair thing. and you gave
Wessner his answer. amt envyins
you when he gives you his
You're six to one" answered Free
kles. 1T will be easy enough for You
to be killing the body Of me. but.
curse you all. you cant blacken me
soulv'
I'D give anything you could name
II ] had your honesty" said Jack.
When the mighty tree fell the Lin.