Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-27

d sSs. 7..5sE'fs ~. Az gsg 81
W ELI, tLi. siln 500. say. lOt Coz
% to me ground lying about me hos
ma intimatin' I'd stale from biz YER
pockets. Now, Vim Jon b Sanding
up and taking your medicine nks
man or getting Il, poured dovn the
throat Of you IKE q baby1 ! amt got
enough. This y only just The begin
ming with ma 10 looking, out there!'
He sprang against Wessnsr and sent
him rolling. Re attacked the unre-
sisting ogurs and fought him until he
Iay limp and sttll ana Frsckles had
40 strength left 70 lift an arm. Then
hs rose and stepped back. gasping for
breath. With his drst good Iungfui
Of air b shouted. ''Timey' But the
figure OF Wessner lay motionless.
Ffeckleo watched him with regard
ful eye ana saw ut last that hs was
completely exhausted. He bent over
him and. catching him By the hack Of
the neck. jerked him to his knees.
Wessnsr lifted the face Of whipped
cur and. fearing further punishment.
burst into great shivering sobs. while
tho tears washed tiny rivuiets through
the blood and muck. Freckles step
ped back. glaring ct Wessner. but sud.
denly the scowl of anger and the ugly
disnguring red faded from the boys
face. He dabbed at q cut on his tenn
BILE, from which issued tiny crimson
stream. and jauntiiy shook back his
hair. His face took on the Innocent
look Of, a cheruh, and his voice RI
vailed. that of q brooding dove. but
into his eyes crept q look Of diabolical
mischief.
He glanced vaguely about him until
he saw his club. seized and twirled 1t
like q drum major. stuck it upright in
the muck and marched on tiptoe over
to wessner mechanically. as puppet
worked by a string. Bending over.
Freckles reached an arm about Wess-
ner's waist and helped him to bis feet.
Careful. now" he cautioned: 'be
careful. Freddy. There's danger Of you
hurting me-"
Fishing handkerchief from back
pocket. Freckles tenderiy wiped Wess-
ner's eyes and nose.
"Come. Freddy. me child" he ad.
monished Wessner: ITS, time little
boys were getting home, I've me work
to do and can't be entertaining you
any more today. Come back tomor.
row If you amt through yet and we'll
repate the performance"
Again an awful wrenching seized
Mclean. Freckles stepped back as
Wessner. tottefinx and reefng like a
thoroughly drunken man. came toward
the path. looking indeed as II wildcats
had taken their Gil Of him.
The cudgel spun high In afr. and.
catching 1t with an experiences ac-
quired by long practice on the line. the
boy twirled it a second and. stepping
out into the trail, followed Wessner.
Because Freckles. was Irish 1t was i'm
possible to do 1t silently. and presently
bis clear tenor rang out. though there
were bad catches where be was hard
pressed tot, BREATH.
EFT wa the Duschi Il was the Dutch.
Do yoaf think t Waa Shs Irish nollsred
,.hsip3s Not ,Hiuchi ~. a, -
Il was the Dutch. 1t was the Dutch
Wessner turned and mumbled: Nv hat
you following me fort What are you
going to do with mel?
Freckles called the Lmberlost to wit.
ness. slows that for the ingratitude
Of beast? And me troubling meself
to show him OF me territory With the
honors OF war;
Then he changed bis tone completely
and added: Belize its this. Freddy.
You see. the boss might come riding
down this trail any minute, and the
little mares so wheedlesome that II
she'd come on to you In your. prisint
state all Of sudden she'd stop that
short she'd send Mr.. Mclean out over
the ears Of her. No dsparagement in-
dnded to the sinse Of the mareg he
added hastily.
wessner belched q fearful oath, and
Freckles laughed merriy.
''That's . sample of the thanks 4
generous acts always for getting" he
continued. Here's me neglectin' me
work to eschort you out proper. and
you saying such awful words. Fred
dy," he demanded sternly. do you
want me to soap ont your mouthf
You don't seem to be realizing It. but
II you was to buck into Mr.. Mclean
In your prisint state without me there
to explain matters the chance - he'd
cut the liver out Of you. and shouldn't
think you'd be wanting such tine GIN
tleman ~ him to see that It's white"
Wessner grew ghastly under bis
CRIME and broke into . staggering run:
Freckles twiried the baton and stood
IKE . soldier at attention until
Wessner left the clearing. but It was
the last scene Of that performance.
When the boy turned there was .
deathly illness In bis face. and his legs
wavered like. reeds beneath his weight.
He staggered back to the case, and
opening 1t, - took out q piece of cloth.
He dipped II into the water and. sit
ting on a bench. he wiped the blood
and crime from his face. while his
breath sucked between biz cliDched
teeth. He. was shiyering With pain
and excitement, In spite Of himself.
He unbuttoned the band Of bis right
sleeve. and. turning It back. exposed
the blue fined. calloused whlteness Of
his MANNED arm. now wildly streaked