Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-08

dren no longer cared for, IN eSactiy
the same spirit in which they pitcneu
biscuits to the monkeys at the ZOO
I ana for the same reason-to see now
they would take them and be ahuseu
by what they would do; and the tniru
class, that he considered real people,
who made him feel they careu 'hat
he was there and would nave oeeh
glad to see him elsewhere.
Now. here was another class tnat
had met him as n son and prother'
with them he could for the only tlihe
In bis life forget the lost hand that
every day tortured him with Il ne"
pang. What sort of people we're tney
and where did they belong among the
classes he knew? He had TO give II up
because he had never known others
like them, but how he loved them!
Out In the world where he was soon
going were the majority like them or
we're they OF the hypocri'e ana BUN
throwing classes? Freckles did not
hnow. but he reached the ultimate
conclusion that people like the BIRD
woman, the angel. Mclean ana the
Duncans were very rare hence their
exceeding preciousness
He had forgotten the excitement or
the morning and the passing OF time
when distant voices aroused him. ana
he softly lifted his head Nearer and
nearer they came. and ne the heavy
wagons rumbled down the east trail
he could hear them plainly The gang
we're shouting themselves hoarse FOR
the Limberlost guard Freckles didn't
feel that he deserved Il lie would
have given much to be able TO go out
to the men and explain now 1t was,
but only to Mclean could he tell his
story.
At the sight Of Frcck'cs the men
threw up their hats and cheered. Nc
Lean shook hands with him warmly.
but big Duncan gathered him into his
arms and Rugged him like n bear and
rhoked over Il few words OF praise.
The gang drove in and finished telling
the tree.
When the last wagon rolled away
Mclean sat down on the stump and
Freckles told the story he was aching
10 tell The boss could scarcely be-
lieve his senses. Also he was greatly
disappointed.
Il have been almost praying all the
way over. Freckies." he said. that you
would have some evidence by which
we could arrest those fellows ana get
'hem out OF our way. hut this will
never do. We can't mix those women
up in it. They have helped you save
me- the tree and my wager as well.
Going about the country rs she does,
the Bird Woman could never be ex-
pPcted to testify against them"
mo. indeed; nor the angel either,
! SIR" said Freckles.
THE angei?" queried the astonished
Mclean
The boss listened in silence while
Freckes told of the coming and chris
tening of the angel.
II know her father WELL" said Nc
Lean at last, land | have often seen
her. You are right, she is beautiful
young girl do not understand why
her father risks such a jewel in this
place"
Hes daring 1t because she Is such a
jewel sir" said Freckles eagerly.
| why. she's trusting a rattesnake to
rattle before it strikes her. and. Of
course. she thinks she can trust man.
, kind as well. The man isn't made
/ that wouldn't lay down the life of him
/ for her She don't need any care.
Her face and the pretty ways OF her
are all the protection she would need
in band of bowling savages.'
Did you say she handled one Of the
revolvers?" asked Mclean.
"She scared all the breath out Of me
body" admitted Freckles. Seems
| that her father has taught her to
! shoot The Bird Woman told her dis
I tlnctly TO lie low and blaze away high,
| just to help scare them. The spunky
little thing followed them right out
into the west road. splitting lead like
hail and clipping all about the heads
and heels of them
Nov. will they come back % asked
Mclean.
"Of course" said Freckles. AT
least Black Jack will Wessner might
not have the pluck. And the next
time Freck!es hesitated
"Whnt?'
ut will just he question of who
shoots first and straightest."
Then the only thing for me to dc
Is to double the guard and get the
gang here the first minute possible
As soon as feel that we have the
rarest of the stuff ont below we will
come. Inc fact is IN many cases I'M
til It Is felled It's hard to tell what a
tree will prove to be. 1t won't do to
leave you here longer alone. Jack has
been shooting twenty years to your
one, and it stands to reason that you
are no match for him. Which OF the
gang would you ike best to- have with
You"
mo one. sir" said Frecklcs emphat-
ically. Next time is where | run.
won't try to fight them alone III just
be getting wind of them and then
make tracks for you. III need to come
like lightning. and Duncan has no eX-
ira horse. 50 I'm thinking you'd best
get me one, or perhaps wheel would
be better. used to do extra work
for the home doctor. and he would let
me take his bicycle to ride about the
place. And at times the head nurse
would lend me his for an hour. A
wheel would cost less and be faster
than horse and would take less
care"