Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-05-21

filled In a solid mass of pale pink sheep
laurel and yellow St Johns wort.
while the amber threads Of the dodder
interlaced everywhere. At one side
the swamp came close and cattafls
grew in profusion. In front Of them
he had planted row Of water hya-
cinths without distui bing in the least
| the state Of their azure bloom. and
where the ground rose higher for Ills
floor q row Of foxfire that would soon
be open.
To the left he had discovered queer
natural arrangement Of the trees that
| grew to giant size and were set In 4
| gradually narrowing space SO that
long. open vista stretched away until
lost in the dim recesses Of the swamp.
A little trimming back Of underbush
rolling out of dead logs, leveling Of
floor and carpeting of moss. made 1t
easy to understand why Freckles had
named this the cathedral" yet he had
never been taught that 1.-THE groves
were Gods first temples"
On either side of the trees that con-
stituted the first arch Of this dim vista
uf the swamp he planted ferns that
grew waist high this early In the sen
son. and 80 skillfully had the work
been done that not u frOnd drooped
because of the change. Opposite he
cleared a space and made 6owerbed.
Every day saw the addition Of new
specimens.
On the line side be left the bushes
thick for cOncealment and entered BY
narrow path he aud Duncan had
cleared In setting up the case. He
called this the front door. though he
used every precaution to hide 1t. He
built rustic seats between several Of
the trees. leveled tie flt0r and thickly
rarpeted 1t with rank. heavy woolly dog
moss. About the case he planted wild
clematis. bittersweet and wild grape
vines aud trained them over 1t until
1t was almost covered.
This morning Freckles walked
straight to his case. unlocked IL and
set his apparatus and dinner inside.
He took out the birdbOok. turned to
the section headed "V." Past "veery"
and "vireO" he went. on down the line
until his finger. trembling with eager
ness, stopped ai "vulture."
"'Great black California vulture,
be read.
"Humph! This side the Rockies will
do for u.s."
Common turkey buzzard.'"
well, we amt hunting common tur
keys. Mclean said chickens, ana
what be says goes"
"'Black vulture Of the south.
Here we are arrived at once"
Freckles' finger followed the line,
and he read scraps aloud.
".Common In the south. Sometimes
called Jim Crow. Nearest equivalent
70 C.a.t.har-t-e-s A.t-r-a.t.a.'
- the Pharaoh's chickens OF Euro
mean species. Sometimes stray north
as far as Virginia and Kentucky
"And sometimes farther" interpo-
lated Freckles. "cos got them right
here in Indiana so like these pictures l
can lust see me big chicken bobbing
up to get his ears boxed. HeyT
"'Light blue eggs
"Golly, / got to be seeing them"
a. - big as a common turkeys. put
shaped like hens. heavily splotcned
with chocolate
"Caramels. suppose. And
90 In hollow logs or stumps.'"
"Oh, hagginy! Wasn't ! barking up
the wrong tree though? Ought to been
looking near the ground all this time.
Now it's all to do over. and l suspect
the sooner start the sooner III be
likely to find them"
Freckles ate and drank his last drop
of water. He sat resting a little and
watching the sky to see II his Dig
chicken was hanging up there. But
he came to tue earth abruptly, Tor
there were steps coming down the
trail that were neither McLean's nor
Duncan's, and there never had been
others. Freckles' heart leaped hotiy.
He ran q quick hand over his belt to
feel II his revolver and hatchet were
there, caught up his cudgel and laid
II across bis knees, then sat quietly
whiting. Was 1t Black Jack. or some
one even worse? Forced to do some
thing to brace his nerves. he puckered
his stitfening lips and began whistling
tune he had led In bis clear tenor
every year OF his life at the nome
Christmas exercises.
Ills Quick Irish wit reused to the
Righteousness Of 1t and he burst into
laugh that steadied him amazingly.
Through the bushes he caught
glimpse of the oncoming figure. His
heart flooded with Joy, for 1t was
man from the gang. Wessner had
been his bunk mate the night he came
down the corduroy. This was no tim
ber thief. Freckles sprang up and
called cheerily, q warm welcome on nls
face.
well, it's good telling If you're glad
to see me-" said Wessner. I'VE been
hearing down ut the camp you were
80 mighty touchy you didn't allow
man within n rod of the line"
mo more do l." answered Freckies'
"if he's a stranger. but you're from
Mclean. amt you?"
"Oh. curse Mclean" said Wessner.
Freckles gripped the cudgel.
"And are you rally saying soT' ne
inquired with elaborate politeness.
"Yes. I am." said Wessner. 80
would every other man Of the gang II
they wasn't too big towards to say
anything unless maybe that other slob'
herring old Scotchman Duncan. Grind
ing the lives out of us! Working w
like dogs nud paying us starvation
wages. while he rolls up his millions
| nnd lives like a princeT'
-, NIL ~