Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-03

" o 49,
was not In the 'lssst afraid Of any.
thing that morning. He felt he was
the veriest Daniel. and all his lions
seemed weak and harmless.
Black Jack was NOT q man to give
up bis purpose or to. have the hat
swept from his head BY a bullet and
bear 1t meekly.t Moreover. Wessner
would cling to bis revenge.
When Freckles gained his room he
tenderly laid the hat upon his book
shelf and. to wear Oh his awkward
ness. mounted his wheel aud went
spinning about the ftue again.
"Weel. I be dra wed on" exclaimed
Mrs. Duncan IN hour later.
|. Freckles stood before her. holding
the angels hat.
i've beeh thinking this long time
that ye or Duncan would see that sun
tcnnets wcrena Draw enough for a
woman of my standing. and ye're a
guild laddie to bring me this beautiful
hat"
She turned II about, examining the
wenve of the straw and the foliage
trimmings. passing her, rough fingers
over the satin ties deiightedly. AS she
held It up. admiring it. Freckles' aston
tshed eyes saw. a new side OF Sarah
Duncan. She was TESTING. but under
che jest the fact doomed strong that
there was something III her soul cry.
Ing out after that bit of feminine fin.
cry. He resolved that when he
reached the city he would send her as
Ine a hat us the angels II 1t took $50
| to do It. q
She lingeringly handed 1t back to
! him. ,t4l g
Its unco guild OF We to think Of me-"
she said lightly, .'but i maun question
your taste a wee. Dye no think We
had best return this and get a woman
with half her hair gray n little palmer
headdress? Seems like, that's far over
gay for me. I'm, mo- saying that It's
no. exactly what I'd like to haze. but I
mnuna max mysel' ridiculous. Ye'd
best give this to somebody young and
pretty. say about sixteen. Where did
ye come by 1t. Fretkles? II there 8
anything been dropping lately ye haze
forgotten to mention It,"
"Do you see anything heavenly abou:
that hat?" queried Freckles. holding
!: upn.
The morning breeze. waved the RIB
bons gracefully. binding oue abb nj
Freckles' sleeve and the other across
his chest. where they caught and chung
as ~ mOunofiyaHq ~ e
Yes said Sarah Duncan. "it's ex-
actly what Id call a heavenly hat"
Sure" said Freckles. for it's be-
longing to an angel"
Then he told her about the hat and
asked her what he,should do with it.
take it to,nher. cot tcourse!' said
Sarah Duncan. ,brtd st
"You think I should be taking 1t
| home?:" he said.
"Of course ye must. said Mrs. Dun.
can. "Ye gang ava and take the bless
ed little angel her beautiful hat"
Are you sure it. will be all right"
urged Freckles. do you think II Mr.
Mclean came he would care? Z
"Na," said Mrs. Duncan. Il dinna,
II ye and me agree that a thing ought
TO be done, and watch in your place
why. it's bound to be all right witt
Mclean. Ought ye, put on your Sab
bath day clothes Prov
Freckles shook his head. He knew
what he had to do but there was nc
use In taking time to.try to explain II
to Mrs. Duncan Wife he was so hur'
r;c1 no orohonCod tfs wa ding boots
for shoes. gave her his club and went
| spinning toward town.. He knew, very
we'll where, the ANGEL lived. He had
passed her home, many, times. and he
passed it again without even taking
his eyes from the street. steering
straight for her fathers place OF bust,
ness.
Carrying the hat. Freckles passed q
long line Of clerks and at the door OF
the private Office asked to e the pro
prietor. When he had waited a mo
.ment a tall. spare. keen eyed man
faced him and In brisk. Y tones
asked. How can l serve you. SIR"
!Freckles handed him the package
and answered: by delivering to your
daughter this hat. which she was after
leaving at me place the other day when
she went of in a hurry. And by say
| ing to her and the Bird Woman that
I'm more thankful than I'll be having
words to express for the brave thing
they was doing for me. I'm McLean'a
Limberlost guard. sir"
Ito be Continued.)