The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-07-11
FRECKLES
BY
Gene SGraGG0m-
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE

D
be open.
To the left he had discovered a queer
natural arrangement OF the trees that
grew TO giant size and we're set In a
gradually narrowing space so that a
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, levellng of
floor and carpeting Of moss. made II
easy TO understand why Freckles had
named this the cathedral" yet he had
never been taught that "the groves
were Gods first temples"
On either side Of the trees that con-
stituted the first arch Of this dim vista
Of the swamp he planted ferns that
grew waist high this early In the sea-
son, and so skillfully had the work
been done that not a frond dropped
because of the change. Opposite he
cleared a space and made a fiowerbed.
Every day saw the addition Of new
specimens.
On the line side he left the bushes
thick for concealment and entered by
q narrow path he and Duncan had
cleared In setting up the case. He
called this the front door, though he
used every precaution to hide It. He
built rustic seats between several Of
the trees, leveled the floor and thickly
carpeted ii with rank. heavy woolly dog
moss. About the case he planted wild
clematis, bittersweet and wild grape
vines and trained them over II until
1t was almost covered.
This morning Freckles walked
straight to his case, unlocked 1t and
set his apparatus and dinner inside.
He took out the birdbook. turned to
the section headed "v." Past "veery"
and "vireo" be went. on down the line
until his finger, trembling with eager
ness. stopped at "vulture."
"'Great black California vulture,"
he read.
"Humph! This side the Rockies will
do for u.s."
Common turkey buzzard.'"
"well, we amt hunting common tur-
keys. Mclean said chickens, and
what he 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
to C-a-t-h-a-r-t-e-s A-t-r-a-t-a."
80 the Pharaoh's chickens of Euro
pean species. Sometimes stray north
as far as Virginia and Kentucky
"And sometimes farther" interpo-
lated Freckles, "cos l got them right
here in Indiana so like these pictures !
can Just see me big chicken bobbing
up to get his ears boxed. HeyT
".Light blue eggs
"Golly. I got to be seeing them!'
"' - big as a common turkeys. but
shaped like a hens. heavily splotched
with chocolate -
"Caramels, l suppose. And
80 In hollow logs or stumps.'
~Oh. hagginy! Wasn't l barking up
the wrong tree though? Ought to been
looking near the ground all this time.
Now it's all to do over. and | suspect
the sooner l 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 IL his big
chicken was hanging up there. But
he came to the earth abruptly, for
there were steps coming down the
trail that were neither McLean's nor
Duncan's, and there never had been
others. Freckles' heart leaped hotly.
He ran a quick hand over his belt to
feel IL his revolver and Ratchet were
there. caught up his cudgel and laid
It across his knees, then sat quietly
waiting. Was II Black Jack. or some
one even worse? Forced to do some
thing to brace his nerves, he puckered
his stiffening lips and began whistling
a tune he had led In his clear tenor
every year of his life at the home
Christmas exercises.
His quick Irish wit reused to the
righteousness Of II and he burst into
a laugh that steadied him amazingly.
Through the bushes he caught a
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
Der thief. Freckles sprang up and
called cheerily. warm welcome on his
face.
"Well. it's good telling II you're glad
TO see me-" said Wessner. I'VE been
hearing down at the camp you were
so mighty touchy you didn't allow
man within a rod Of the line"
"No more do l." answered Freckles,
''if he's a stranger. but you're from
Mclean. amt your
"Oh, curse Mclean said Wessner.
Freckles gripped the cudgel.
"And are you rally saying SOP he
inquired with elaborate politeness.
Eyes. l am." said Wessner. $50
would every other man OF the gang II
they wasn't too big towards to say
anything unless maybe that other slob-
bering old Scotchman Duncan. Grind
ing the lives out OF usi Working us
like dogs and paying US starvation
wages. while he rolls up his millions
nd liVao ila