Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-09

y 4 + ,
bugs beetlesiI guess colonel Hike the
brpwn. blue and blarlsBQf d peac6ck's
tail, They hang on until the legs .6f
them are 80 wake they can't stick a
minute longer. and then they break
away and fall to the ground. They Just
lay there on their backs, fably claw.
Ing air. When It wears OF bit, up
they get and go crawling back for
more. and they so full they lump into
each other and roll over. Sometimes
they can't climb the tree until they
wait to sober up little, There's lot
OF big black and gold bumblebees, done
for entire. stumbling over the bark
and rolling on the ground. They just
lay there on their backs. rocking from
side to side. singing to themselves like
fat, happy babies. The wild bees keep
up steady buzzing with the beating
OF their wings.
1.-THE butterflies are the worst old
topers Of them ALL They're jest q cir.
Gus. You never saw the beat of the
beauties They come every color you
could be naming and every shape you
could be thinking up. They drink and
drink until II I'm driving them away
they stagger as they ny and turn SOM
ersaults in the air: II lave them
alone they cling to the grasses. SILVER.
ing happy.like. and I'm blest. Mother
Duncan. II the best Of them could be
unlocking the front door with q lead
pencil. even"
II never heard Of anything sac sur.
prising." said Mrs. Duncan.
Its q rare sight TO watch them,
and no one ever made picture Of a
thing like that before, I'm for think.
ing" said Freckles earnestly.
ma" said Mrs Duncan. EYE can
be pretty sure there didna. The Bird
Woman must have word In some way
X ye walk the line and walk to
town and tell her"
Freckles took bis lunch and went
down to the swamp. He could find
no trace Of anything. yet be felt a
tense nervousness. as II trouble might
be brooding. He came around to his
room and cautiously scanned the en-.
trance before he stepped in. Then be
pushed the bushes apart with bis right
arm and entered. hts left nand on the
burt Of his favorite revolver. Instantly
he knew that some one had been there.
BE could find no trace Of a clew 70
confirm his belief, yet 20 intimate was
he with the spirit Of the place that he
knew
n oh
Nothing was disturbed. yet 1t seemed
70 Freckles that he could see where
prving fingers had tried the lock. He
stepped back OF the case. carefully
examining the ground all about 1t. and
close by the tree to which It was nailed
be found deep. fresh footprint IN the
spongy sofia long. narrow print. that
was never made by the foot of Wess.
ner The feeling rose that he was
being watched.
Growing FESTIVE at last under the
strain. be plunged boldly into the
swamp and searched infinitely all
about bis room. but he could not dis
cover the least thing to give him fur.
ther cause for alarm. Every rod he
travelled be used the caution that
sprang from knowledge Of danger and
the direction from which II would
probably come Several times he
though, Of sending for Mclean. but for
his life he could not make up bis mind
to do .it with nothing more tangibls
than one footprint to justify him.
He waited until he was sure Duncan
would be at home II he were coming
for the night. before he went up to
supper. The first thing he saw as he
crossed the swale was the big bays In
the yard.
There had been no one passing that
day. and Duncan readily agreed to
watch until Freckles rode to town.
He told Duncan Of the footprint and
urged him to watch closely. Duncan
said he might rest easy and. filing his
pipe and taking good revolver. went
down to the Limberlost.
Freckles made himself clean and
neat and raced for town, but 1t was
night and the stars were shining be-
fore be reached the home OF The Bird
Woman. As he neared The steps he
saw that the place was swarming with
young people. and the angel. with an
excuse to group that surrounded
her. came scurrying up to him.
oh Freckles" she cried. $50 yon
could get of: We were 50 afraid you
could not. I'm as glad as can be-"
81 don't understand said Freckles.
Were you expecting me-"
why, OF course exclaimed the
angel. Haven't you come 10 my
party? Didn't you get my invitasOn'
! sent. you one"
by mail?" asked Freckles.
Yes said the angel. Il had to
help with the preparations. and l
couldn't lind time to drive out. But
wrote you letter and told you that
the Bird Woman was giving party
for me and we wanted you to come
sure. told them at the Office to put