Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-08-02

care. Dye ken. Freckles that some
of the single trees ye are guardin' are
worth thousand dollarsY'
Freckles looked limp. and his eyes
popped.
I'VE see." said Duncan. that's why
they maun be watched so closely. The
other night down at camp some son
of Baalam was suggestin' that We might
be sellin' the boss out TO Jack and let
tin him TAX the trees secretly and no
body wad ever ken till the gang gets
here
A wave of scarlet flooded Freckles'
face, and he blazed hotly at the Insult.
"And the boss continued Duncan.
ignoring Freckles' anger. ''he lays back
just as cool as cowcumbers and says.
I'll give thousand dollars to any
man that will show me a fresh stump
when we reach tine Limberost., says
he. Some of the men just snapped
him up that they'd find some. SO you
see how the boss is trustin' We. lad"
81 am gladder than ] can ever ex-
press" said Freckles. And now will
l be walking double time to keep some
Of. them from cutting a tree to get all
that money"
'..Mither o Moses" howled Duncan.
aye can trust the Scotch to bungle
things a'thegither. Mclean was only
meanin to show We all confidence and
honor. He's gone and set a high price
for some dirty whelp to ruin ye | was
just tryin' to show We how he felt
toward ye, and I've gone and give ye
that worry to bear
81 am mighty proud of what you
have been telling me. Duncan" said
Freckles. Il need the warning sure.
for with the books coming might be
timpted to neglect me work when dou-
BILE watching is needed"
Freckles picked up his club and start /
ed down the line. whstling cheerily. Z
Duncan went straight to the lower |
camp and. calling Mclean aside, re- 1
peated the conversation verbatim. 4
"And. nae matter what happens now
or ever. dinna We dare let anything
make We believe that Freckles hasna
guarded faithfnl as any man could"
Il don't think anything Could shake
my faith in the lad" said Mclean.
Freckles kept one eye religiously on
the line. The other he divided be-
tween the path. his friends of the
wire and search of the sky for his
latest arrivals. Every day since their
coming he had seen them. either hang
ng like small black clouds above the
swamp or bObbing over logs and trees
With their queer fitting walk. When
.ver he could spare time he entered
he swamp and tried to make friends
With them. and they were the tamest
# all his unnumbered subjects. They {
tucked. lodged and ambled about |
lin, over logs and bushes. and not
wen a near approach would drive
hem to flight.
For two weeks he had found them s
ircling over the Limberlost regularly. '
ut one morning the female was miss
1g. and only the big black chicken !
ung sentinel above the swamp. His
nate did not reappear in the following {
avs. and Freckles grew very anxious. Il
lie spoke of it TO Mrs. Duncan. and \
be quoted his fears by raising a de- t
ghtful hope in their stead. Il
"Why, Freckles. if it's the hen bird
e are missing it's ten to ane she's o
afe." she said. "She's laid and is v
citing. We silly. Watch him and c
lark whaur he lichts Then follow b
nd find the nest. Some Sabbath ii
ell all gang see it, Il
Accepting this theory, Freckles be- Il
IN searching for the nest, but as he Of
Id no idea where to look and Duncan 3
'uld offer no helpful suggestion the fe
,st was no nearer being found. II