The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-06

she would come as soon as she could. After the fatigue of the party it was useless to expect her and the angel today, and God save them from com ing.
 The sweat broke out on Freckles' forehead. He tugged at the ropes whenever he felt that he dared. but they we're passed about the tree and his body several times and knotted on his chest He resolved that he would bear in mind what he had once heard the Bird Woman say. He would go out bonnily. Never would he let them see if he grew afraid. After all. what did 1t matter what they did to his body if by some scheme of the devil they could compass his disgrace?
 Then hope suddenly rose high in Freckles' breast. They could not do that. The angel would not believe. Neither would Mclean He would keep up his courage Kill him they could; dishonor him they could not.
 Yet. summon all the fortitude he might. that saw eating into the tree rasped his nerves worSe and worAe With whirIinR brain be gazed of into the Limberlost. Searching for some thing. he knew not what. and in blank horror found his eyes fastened on the angel. She was quite distance away. but he could see her white lips and wide. angry eyes.
 Last week he had taken her and the Bird Woman across the swamp over the path he followed in going In from his room to the chicKen tree. He had told them last night that the butterfly tree was on the line close to this path. Tn fhssfP fnaf day he failed to reckon with the en- thusiasm of the Bird Woman They must be there for fhe study. and the angel had risked crossing the swamp in search of him. Or was there some thing in his room they needed? The blood surged in his ears like the roar of the LimberIost in the wrath of a storm
 He looked again. and it had been a dream. She was not there. Had she been2 For his life FreckIes could not tell whether he had really seen the angel or whether his strained senses had played him the most cruel trick Of all Or was It not the kindest7 Now he could die with the vision of her lovely face fresh with him.
 Thank you for that. O Godr' whispered Freckles. "'Twas more than kind of you. and don't s'pose ought to be wanting anything more. but if you can. oh. 1 wish I could know before this ends If twas me mother"- Freckies could not even whisper the words. for he hesitated second and ended-''if twas me mother did ftT'
 "FreckIes! FreckIes. Oh. Frecklesy' the voice of the angel came call ing. Freckles swayed forward and wrenched at the rope until it cut deep ly into his body.
 Black Jack whipped out a revolver and snatched the gag from Freckles' mouth.
 Say quick. what's that. or it's up with you right now and whoever that is with your
 'It's the girl the Bird Woman takes about with her." whispered Ereckles through dry. swollen lips.
 They ain't due here for five days yet" said Wessner. We got on to that last week."
 Yes said Freckles. 'but found a tree covered with butterflies and things along the east line yesterday that thought the Bird Woman would want extra. and l went to town for her last night. She said she'd come soon. but she didn't gay when. I take care of the girl while the Bird WOm- an works. Cntie me quick until she is gone. I'll try to send her back. and then you can go on with your dir ty work"
 He ain't lying" volunteered Wess- ner. "I saw that tree covered with butterflies and him watching around it when we were spying on him yes terday."
 ''No. he leaves lying to your sort" snapped Black Jack as he undid the rope and pitched it across the room. ''Remember that you're covered every move you make. my buck" he caution ed.
 "Frecklesl FreckIes!'' came the an- RcI's impatient voice. nearer and near CT.
 ~I must be answering" said Free kIes. and Jack nodded. "Righf here.'' he called. and to the men: You go on with your work. and remember one thing yourselves. The work of the Bird Woman Is known all over the world. This girls father is a rich man. and she Is all he has, If you offer hurt of my kind to either of them this world has no place far enough away nor dark enough for you to be hiding in
 "FreckIes. where are you7" demand ed the angel.
 Soul sick with fear for her. FreckIes went toward her and parted the bushes that she might enter. She came through without apparently giv- ing him a glance. and the first words she said were: Why have the gang come so soon2 l didn't know you ex- pected them for three weeks yet. Or Is this some special tree that Mir. Mo Lean needs to fill an order right now?'
 Freckles hesitated. Would a man dare lie to suve himself? No. But to save the angeI-surely that was differ ent. He opened his lips. but the an gel was capable of saving herself. She walked in among them. exactly as il she had been raised in a lumber camp and never vyaffod fOr an answer