Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-04-11

EOiuS "CAC CAC A4oJOAASJ AS lACAl VI
were they Of the hypocrite and bun
throwing classes? 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 p~reciousness.
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 it. He would
have given much to be able to go out
to the men and explain how it was.
but only to Mclean could he tell his
story.
at the sight Of Freckles the men
threw up their hats and cheered. Nc
Lean shook hands with him warmly
but big Duncan gathered him into his
arms and Rugged him like a bear and
choked over a 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
disappointed.
II have been almost praying all the
way owe Freckles," he said, that you
would have some evidence by which
we could arrest those fellows and get
them out of way. but this will
never do. We can't mix those women
up in it. They have helped you save
me the tree and my wager as we'll
Going about the country as she does,
the Bird Woman could never be ex.
pected to testify against Them
mo. indeed; nor the angel either,
sir" said Freckles.
THE angelo queried the astonished
Mclean.
The boss listened in silence while
Freckles told of the coming and chris
tening of the angel.
Il know her father WELL" said Nc.
Lean at last. and l have often seer
her. You are right, she is a beautiful
young girl. | do not understand why
her father risks such a jewel in this
place"
Hes daring it because she is such a
jewel. sir. said Freckles eagerly,
why, she's trusting a rattlesnake to
rattle before it strikes her, and. OF
course, 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 hel
are all the protection she would need
in Il band OF bowling savages."
did you say she handled one of the
revolvers?' asked Mclean.
"She scared all the breath out of me
body" admitted Freckles. Seems
that her father has taught her tc
shoot. The Bird Woman told her dis.
tinctly to lie low and blaze away high
just to help scare them. The spupky
little thing followed them right GU
into the west road. splitting lead like
hail and clipping all about the heads
and heels of them
"Now, will they come back?" asked
Mclean.
"Of course" said Freckles. "At
least Black Jack will. Wessner might
not have the pluck. And the next
)time"- Freckles hesitated
"What?"
ut will just be a question Of who
shoots first and straightest."
"Then the only thing for me to dc
is to double the guard and get the
gang here the first minute possible
AS soon as L feel that we have the
arrest of the stuff out below we will