The Irish standard., 1912-02-03
tleman as bin to see that it's white. :.

tleman as him to see that it's white"
Wessner grew CHASTITY under his
CRIME and broke into staggering run
Freckles twirled the baton and stood
like a soIdier at attention" until
Wessner left the clearing. but it was
the last scene of that performance
When the boy turned there was Il
deathly illness In his face. and his legs
wavered like reeds beneath his weight
He staggered back to the case. ana
opening It. he took out piece OF cloth.
He dipped 1t into the water and. sit
T, ting on bench. he wiped the blood
and CRIME from bis face. while his
breath sucked between his clinched
teeth. He was shivering with pain
and excitement in spite OF himself
sleeve. and turning 1t back. exposed
the blue lined. calloused wilderness OF
his MANNED arm. now wildly streaked
with COMMISSIONS. while in series OF
circular dots the blood oozed slowly
Here Wessner had succeeded in setting
his teeth When Freckles saw what it
was he forgave himself the kick in the
pit of Wessner's stomach.
"Freckles. Freckles." said McLean's
voice.
Freckles snatched down his sleeve
and rose to his feet,
Excuse me. sir" be said "You'll
surely be belavin' l thought meselt
alone"
Mclean pushed him carefully to the
seat and. bending over him. opened a
pocket case that he carried as regu
larly as his revolver and watch. TO,
cuts and bruises were of daily oc
currence among the gang.
Taking the hurt arm. ne turned back
the sleeve and bathed and bound a.
the wounds He examined Freckles
head and body and convinced himself
that there was no permanent injury
Then be sat down beside FreckIes
All the indescribable beauty OF the
place was strong about him. but be
saw only the bruised face OF the SUIT
terlng boy. who had hedged for the IN
formation he wanted like diplomat
argued like a judge. fought like 8
sheik and triumphed like devil.
As the pain iessened ana breath
caught up with FrerkIeS pounding
heart he watched the boss from the
tail OF his eye. How had Mclean go,
there. and how long mad he been
| tuere? Freckles did not dare ask. Al
last be arose and. going to the case
took out his revolver and the wire
mending apparatus and locked til.
door. Then be turned to Mclean.
Have you any orders. sir:' he ask
ed.
YES" said Mclean, 81 have. anc
you are to follow them TO the letter
Turn over that apparatus to me ant
go straight home. Soak yourself II
the hottest bath your skin will ben
and go to bed ut once. Now. hurry.
mir. Mclean said Fre'klcs. "it's
sorry | am to he telling you. but thu
afternoons walking OF '1he line ain
done. You see. | was just for gettin.
to me feet to start. and was on gOo'
time when up came gintIemun, ant
we got into a little heated argument
It's either settled or it's just begun
but between US I'm that. late haven
started for the afternoon yet. | mus
be going at once. for there's a tree
must find before the days over
you, plurky litter idiot. growlet
Mclean. you can't Walk THE line!
doubt If you can get to Dun'an's
Don't you know when you are done
up: You 70 to bed! III finish you
work"
"Niver!" protested Frerkles. II wal
Just little done up for the prisint ,
minute ago. I'm all right now. Rid
ing boots are away too low Thu
days hot and the walk good sever
miles. sir. Niver!!'
As he reached for the outfit he pitch
ed forward and his eyes closed. Nc
Lean stretched him on the moss ant
applied restoratives. When FreckIe
returned to consciousness Mclean RAJ
to the cabin to tell Mrs. Duncan to ge
hot bath ready and to bring Nellie
That worthy woman promptly tillet
the wash. boiler and set roaring hr'
under it. She pushed the horse trougl
off it's base and rolled it up to to-
kitchen.
BY the time Mclean came again
leading Nellie and holding Fre.kles OF
her back. Mrs Duncan was ready TO
business. She and the boss laid Frerk
les in u trough and poured on hot wa
ter until he squirmed. They soaked
rubbed and secured him. Then the.
let the hot water of and closed hi
pores with cold. Lastly they stretched
him on the floor and cbafed. rubbed
and kneaded him unit! he cried on
for mercy. AS they rolled him int
bed his eyes dropped shut. but litt
later they flared open.
"Mr. Mclean" he cried. 1.-THE tree
Oh, do be looking after the tree"
Mclean bent over him. (which tree
Freckles?''
II don't know exact. sir. but IT'S OF
the east line. and the wire is fastened