The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-11
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PACE
 G CO.

road. and. MT. Mclean. you take Nellie and ride to town Tell my father how Freckles is hurt and that he risked it to save me Tell him I'm going to take cFreckles to Chicago on the noon train and 1 want him to hold if if we are a little late. If he can't then have a special ready at the station and another on the Pitts burg at Fort Wayne. so we can go straight through. You needn't mind leaving us. The Bird Woman will be here soon.
 When they stood ready to lift Freckles the angel bent over him in a passion of tenderness.
 Dear old EimberlOst guard. we're going to lift you now" she said ''l suspect you will faint from the pain I of it. but we, will be just as easy as ever we can. and don't you dare forget your promiseF A. whimsical half smile touched Freckles quIverinR lips. .n<s 'tAnEeI, can a man be remembering Ia promise when he ain't knowing i" he asked
 F, .'You can.- said the angel stoutiy. because promise means so much more to you than If does to r1ost men" r., A look Sof strength flashed into Freckles' face at her words ,s
 'iI am ready he said
 With the first touch his eyes closed. 1 a mighty Rroan was wrenched from F him, and he lay senseless. The angel gave. Duncan one panic stricken look. Then she set her lips and gathered her forces again.
 'I guess that's a good thing" she said. Maybe he won't feel how we are hurting. him Oh. boys. are you being quick and RentleT
 She stepped to the side of the cot and bathed Freckles' face Taking his hand In hers. she gave the word to start. She told the men to ask every abIebodied man they met to join rhem so that they could change carriers [ often and make good time.
 The Bird Woman insisted upon talk ing the angel into the carriage and fol- lowing the cof. but the angel refused to leave FreckleS and suggested that the Bird Woman drive ahead. pack them some clothing. and be at theEts- ffon ready to accompany them 10 Chi- cago All the way the angel walked beside the cot. shading Freckles' face and holding his hand. At every pause to change carriers she moistened his face and lips and counted each breath with heartbreaking anxiety.
 She scarcely knew when her father i Joined them., and. taking, the branch l from her. slipped an arm about her \ waist and almost carried her along i To the, city streets and the swarm of curious. staring faces she paid no more attention than she had to the trees of the L1mberlost When the train pull ed in and the gang placed Freckles aboards Duncan mac a place for the angel besfdes the cot .s With the best physician to be found. and with the Bird Woman and Mo Lean in attendance. the four hours run to Chicago began. Not for an In- stant would the angel yield her place, or allow any one else to do anything for him The RIrd Woman and Mo Lean regarded her in amazement. The only time she spoke was to ask 1 Mclean If he was sure the special l would be ready on the Pittsburg line He replied that It was made up and l waiting.
 At o'clock FreclIles lay stretched on the operating table of Lake View l hospital. while three of the greatest surgeons in Chicago bent over him At their command. Mclean picked up the unwilling angel and carried her out to the nurses to be bathed. have her bruises attended to. and be put to bed
 In place where it isNdimcuIt to sur 2 prise people. they were astonished wemen as they removed the angels dainty stained and torn clothing. peeled onf hose muck baked 10 her limbs. soaked inc dried loam from her siIkens hair and washed the eauftfuI. Ucratched. bruised. dirt covered body. The angel feiI rast .asleep. long befor1 they had finished. and Lay deeply un. conscious. while the light for Freckles life vas being waged-
 Three days IaterS she was up early and towering near FreckIes' door. + The surgeon was with him. The angeI had been told that the word he brought tthat morning would he fnal.s so she c1rled up in a window seat. dropped the curtains behind her and. in dire anxiety.' waited the open ing of that closed door. i
 Just as 1t unclosed. Mclean came hurrying down the hall and up to the surgeon. but with one glance at his face he stepped back in dismay. and the angel. who had risen. sank to tho seat again. too dazed to come forward The men faced each other. The angel. with parted lips and frightened eyes. bent forward in tense anxiety.
 "I-I thought he was doing nicely P faltered Mclean.
 ''He bore the operation we'll" re piled the surgeon. "and his wounds are not necessarily fatal I told you that yesterday. but I did not tell yor that something else would probably kill him. and 1t will. Herneed not diC
 from the accident, but he will nO
 live the day out because he so evi dently prefers death to life. If he were full of hope and ambition to live my work would be easy If all of you love him as you prove you do. ane theresis unlimited means to give him II anything he wants why shot1ld ht