The Irish standard., 1912-02-10

Anne so cloee. felt sure she wouli
inter the log. The light was fine. 90
set and focused the camera and GOV.
cred 1t with branches. attached the
long hose and went away of over 100
feet and hid in some bushes to wait.
A short. thick man and tall. dark
one passed me so closely l could al.
most have reached out and touched
them. They carried big saw on their
shoulders. They said they could work
until about noon. and then they must
lay of until you passed and then try
to load and get out at night. They
went on-not entirely out Of sight
aud began cutting tree. Mr.. Mclean
told me the other day what was iikely
to happen there, and IL they get that
tree down he loses his wager on you.
Keep to the cast and north and hustle
Well meet you at the carriage. l am
always armed. We will separate and
creep up on them from different sides
and give them fusilade that will
send them flying. You hurry. now"'
She gathered up the reins and started
briskly down the trail. The angel. hat
less and with sparkling eyes, was
clinging about her waist.
Freckles worked his way with great
care. lodging limbs and bushes with
noiseless tread and cutting as close to
where he thought the men were as he
felt that he dared ii he were to remain
unseen. As he ran he tried to think
1t was Wessner. burning for his re-
venge. aided by the bully of the local
ity. that he was going to meet.
He must follow the Bird Woman's
plan and meet them at the carriage.
but II they really did mean to try to
help him he must not allow it. Let
the angel try to handle a revolver in
his defense? Never! Not for all the
trees in the Limberlost! She might
shoot herself. She might forget to
watch sharply and run across snake
that was not particularly well behaved
that morning. Freckles permitted
himself grim smile as he went speed
ing on.
When he reached the carriage the
Bird Woman and the angel had the
horse hitched to it. the outfit packed
and were calmly waiting.
"Give babe one of your revolvers.
quick" said the Bird Woman. 1--WE
will all creep up until we are in fair
range. The underbrush Is so thick
and they are so hard at work that they
will never notice us. If we don't make
noise. You will fire first, then |
will pop in from my direction. and
then you. baby. and shoot quite high.
or else very low. We mustn't really
hit them"
Freckles protested.
The Bird Woman chose the middle
distance. and for last time caution
ed the angel to lie down and shoot
high. as she moved away.
Freckles' revolver spat fire. Lead
spanged on steel. The saw handle few
from Wessner's hand and he reeled
with the Jar of the shock. Black Jack
Strengthened. uttering fearful oath
His hat was taken of by shot from
the northeast. The angel had not wait
ed for the Bird Woman. and her shot
could scarcely have been called high.
At almost the same instant the third
shot whistled in from the east. Black
Jack spang into the air with yell Of
complete panic. for it ripped a heel
from his boot.
Freckles emptied his second chamber
and the dirt spattered over Wessner.
Shots poured in thick and fast. With
out even reaching for weapon. both
men broke for the east road in great.
leaping bounds. while Ieaden slugs
sung and Kissed about them in deadly
earnest.
Freckles was trimming his corners
as closely as be dared. but IL the an
gel did not really intend to hit. she
was shaving the limit in a scandalous
manner.