Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-17
FRECkLES
by
Gene Stnr@M@11@
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PACE
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PACE
CHAPTER XIX.

SAAAA = IAs <AAos
FREcKLEs OFFERS HIS LIFE.
(@lHE gang had been carefully silt
ed. and Mclean now felt that
there was not man in it that
~ was not trustworthy.
! They had all heard Of the Angels
| plucky ride for Freckles' relief. and
! several Of them had been In the rescue
/! party. When she was ensconced on
| the wagon load Of tenting she sat on a
| roll of canvas like queen on her
throne. There was not n man Of the
gang that would not have fought for
/ her.
/ AS they raced toward the wagon
she begged Freckles.
why. sure" said Freckles.
/ He would probably have said the
same if she had proposed to cut of his
head When Mclean rode up he found
her sitting on the wagon, flushed and
glowing.
Everybody listen!" cried the angel.
81 have something to say. Freckles
| has been guarding here over year
| now. and he presents the Limberlost
to you. with every tree in it saved.
! and for good measure he has just this
/ morning located the rarest one OF all
! the one around in from the east line
/! that Wessner spoke Of that first day.
1 nearest the one you took out ut first.
All together. Everybody! Hurrah for
Freckles!'
Incl n oh nl.c
eyes she led in three cheers and a
tiger. Freckles slipped back into the
swamp and held himself tight for fear
he might burst wide open with pride
and with his love for her.
The angel subsidized on the canvas
and explained to Mclean about the
maple The boss was nightly pleas
ed. He took Freckles and set out to
relocate and examine the tree. The
angel was interested in the making OF
the camp and preferred to remain
with the men. With her sharp eyes
she was watching every detail Of con-
struction. but when 1t came to the
stretching of the dining hall canvas
she proceeded to take command. The
men were driving the rope pins when
the angel rose on the wagon and.
leaning forward. spoke to Duncan.
who was directing the work.
II believe ii you would swing that
around few feet farther you would
find it better. Mr.. Duncan" she said
That way will let the hot sun in Mt
noon. and the sides will cut of the
| best breeze"
That's q fact" said Duncan. study
ing the condition.
SO by shifting the pins little they
obtained comfort. for which they
blessed the angel every day.
when Freckles joined in the work
about the camp be caught glimpses OF
her enthroned on soapbox cleaning
! beans. She called to him that they
were invited to stay for dinner and
that they had accepted the invitation.
She was having the time OF her life
when Mclean came back. jub!lant
from his trip to the tree. How 5ubi'
liant be only told the angel. for he had
been obliged to lose faith in some
trusted men of late and had learned
discretion by what he suffered BE
planned to begin clearing out a road
to the tree that same afternoon and
to set two guards every night. for 1t
| promised TO be rare treasure.
Il am coming to see it felled." cried
the angel.
Tell me, angel" the boss said jest
ingly: Il think l have right to know.
Who really did locate that tree?"
"Treckles," abe answered promptly
and emphatically.
| The boss smiled significantly at
| Freckies. who had just come up, for
they had planned that they would in
struct the company to reserve enough
| Of the veneer from that very tree to
make the most beautiful dressing table
they could design for the angels share
, Of the discovery.
What will you have for yoursT
asked Mclean Of Freckles.
III it's all the same to you. TIL be
! taking mine out in music lessons-beg-
! ging your pardon-voice culture" said
Freckles with grimace.
The angel gave Mclean the head of
| the table. She took the foot. with
Freckles on her right. and the lumber
gang, washed. brushed and straight.
ened until they felt unfamiliar with
themselves and each other. oiled the
sides
1t was several days before they com
pleted road to the noble. big tree and
were ready to fell 1t. When the saw
was we'll in Freckles began watching
down the road where It met the trail
leading from Little Chickens tree. BE
had gone to the tree ahead Of the gang
and taken down the blue ribbon. Care
fully folded, it now lay over bis heart
He was promising himself good deal
| of comfort with that ribbon when ID
should 60 to the city next month t.
begin his studies aud dream the sum
mer over again. It would help to
make things tangible. When he was
dressed as other men and about BIZ
work he knew where he meant e
home that precious bit Of blue. II
! should be his good luck token. and ht
would wear 1t always to keep br1gh,
In memory the day on which the ange
had called him her knight
How be would study. and. oh, how
he would sing! II he could fulfill Nc
Leans expectations, and make the
angel proud Of him! II he could only