The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-06

Freckles was quaking. What was to come next?
 As the angel stepped back from Jack she turned her head to one side and peered up at him. just as FreckIes had seen the little yellow fellow do on the line hundred times. and said: "weII, that does the trick! Isn't that fine? See how it sets him of. boys! Don't you forget the t1e is to be red and the first ride soon. can't wait very long. Now I must go. The Bird Woman will be ready to start. and she will come here hunting me next. for she is busy today. What did come here for anyway"
 She glanced inquiringly about. and several of the men laughed. Oh. the delight of it! She had forgot her er- rand for him! Jack had a second in- crease in height. The angel glanced helplessly about as if seeking clew. Then her eyes fell. as if by accident. on Freckles.
 'Tt's mighty risky for you to be crossing the swamp alone" he said ''I know it's a little farther. but it's begging you I am to be going back by the trail."
 The angel laughed merrfly.
  a'I'm not afraid-not in the Ieasti''
 FreckIes turned to Jack ImpIorinRly.
 "You tell herr he pleaded. ''Tell 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 betT'' 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 FreckIes showed her the agony in his eyes. She would follow the trail.
 "All right" she said. giving Jack killing glance. elf you say so I'll go back by the trail to please you. Good by. everybody"
 She lifted the bushes and started for the entrance.
 ''Stop her!'' growled 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. If you let her go every man of us has got to cut. and some Of us will be caught sure"
 Jack sprang forward. Freckles' heart mudled up In his throat. The angel seemed to divine Jacks coming. She was humming a 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 step backward and called: "HO. Freckles. the Bird Wo- man wants that natural history pam phIct returned. It belongs to a set she is going to have bound"
 Then the angel shot a parting glance at Jack. and she was bewiTchingiy 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!" he shouted Don't you know any thing at all about how to treat a lady?''
 The men muttered and threatened among themselves. but they fell to WOTAluk Wllu d NcukGhuCGs
 Freckles sat down on one of his benches and waited. Tn their haste to get the tree down and loaded so that the teamsfers 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 Iy started
 FreckIes wondered what she would Rr NR,-. Ie would take them to pack 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 cut ting into the opposite side of the tree. It looked as If they could get at least that tree out before Mclean could come.
 When 1t 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 AS WOui0 nOl dAA lndL TlSk HUT OAG tree when he had many others of far greater value marked.
 Once Jack came over to Freckles and asked if 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 he said: When a mans got chance of catching a fine girl like that he ought not to be mix ed up in any dirty business wish 1 was out of this"
 Freckles answered heartily. 'I wish I was too."
 Jack stared at him a 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 a fair thing. and you gave