The Irish standard., 1912-02-03
THE IRISH STANDARD, sATURDAY, FEBRUARY, 8, 1912.

the first I've minutes he endured fear.
ful punishment. Then Wessner's
breath commenced to whistle between
his teeth. when Freckles had only just
begun fighting. He sprang back with
shrill laughter.
"BegoIly and will your honor b.
whistling the hornpipe for me to be-
dancing off" he cried.
Spang went his fst into Wessner's
face. and he was past him into the
swale.
"And would you be pleased to tune
up little livelier?" be gasped and
clipped his ear as he sprang back
Wessner lunged at him in blind fury
Freckles. seeing an opening. forgot the
laws of gentleman's game and drove
the toe of his heavy wading boot into
Wessner's middle until he doubled up
and fell heavily. In fash Freckles
was on him. For time Mclean could
not see what was happening Go
Go to him now" he commanded him
SELF but so intense was his desire to
see the boy win alone that he could
not stir.
At last Freckles sprang up and back
ed away. "Time! be yelled like q
fury. BE getting up. Mr.. Wessner
and don't be afraid of hurting me. III
let you throw in an extra hand and
lick you to me compIate satisfaction
all the same. Did you hear me call
the limit? viii You get up and be
facing me?"
As Wessner struggled to his feet be
resembed battlefield. for his cloth
ing was In ribbons and his face and
hands stream blood.
III guess l got enough" he mum
bled.
"Oh. do you?" roared Freckles
'Well. this amt your say. You come
Oh to ME ground lying about me boss
and intimatin' Id stale from his YER,
pockets. Now. VIII you be standing
up and taking your medicine like a
man or getting it poured down the
throat OF you like baby! l amt go'
enough. This is only just the begin
|
He sprang against Wessner aud sent
him rolling He attacked the unre-
sisting figure and fought him until be
lay limp and still ana FrerkleS had
no strength left to lift an arm. Then
he rosa and stepped back. gasping for
breath. With mis- first good .ungfu'
of air be shouted. Time" But tn,
figure Of Wessner lay motiontess.
Freckles watched him with regart!
full eye and saw at last that he WA
completely exhausted. He bent owe
him and. catching him by the hack "
the neck. jerked him to his knee
Wessner lifted the face: Of a whippe,
cur and. fearing further punishment
burst into great shivering sobs. whih
the tears washed tiny rivulets througt
the blood and muck. Frerkles steI
ped back. giaring at Wessner. but SUI
denly the scowt of anger and the ugly
dis6guring red faded from. the boy
face. He dabbed at cut on his TEN
pie. from which issued tiny crimson
stream. and jauntily shook back hi
hair. His face took on the iunocen
look of cherub. and his voice ri
vailed that OF brooding dove, bu
into his eyes crept a look of diabOiica
mischief.
He glanced vaguely about him unit
he saw his club. seized and twirled i
like a drum major. stuck 1t upright IL
the muck and marched on tiptoe owe
to Wessner mocha nically. MS a puppe
worked by a string. BENDING Owe,
Freckles reached an arm about WEISS
ner's waist and helped him to his fee,
Careful. now" he cautioned: "bs
careful. Freddy. There's danger of 20,
hurting me-"
Fishing a handkerchief from bac'
pocket. Freckles tender!y wiped WEISS
ner's eyes and nose.
"Come. Freddy. me child" he ad
monished Wessner: "it's time litt''
boys were getting home. I've me WORT
to do and can't be entertaining yo'
any more today. Come back tomor
row If you amt through yet and wei
repate the performance"
Again an awful wrenching seizet
Mclean. Freckles stepped back a.
Wessner. tottering and Keeling like 1
thoroughly drunken man. came towar
the path. looking indeed as ii wildcats
had taken their Gil of him.
The cudgel spun high in air. and
catching 1t with an experiences ac
l.quired by long practice on the line. thu
boy twtrled 1t a second and. stepping
out into the trail. followed Wessner
Because Freckles was Irish it was i'm
possible to do IT silently. and presently
his clear tenor rang out. though there
were bad catches where he was hare
pressed for breath:
ut was the Dutch! 1t was the Dutch.
Do you think II was the Irish holisret
help? Not much
1t was the Dutch 1t was the Dutch
Wessner turned and mumbIed: "Wha
you following me fort What are yol
going to do with me?''
Freckles called the Limberlost to wit
ness "How's that for the tngratitud'
of beast? And me troubling mesel