The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-03-21

n r1LEAN rode down to the Lin
IMI berlost and, stopping In the
III shade. sat aiting FOL
Freckles,
Along the north line came Freckles
fairly staggering. When he turned east
and reached Sleepy Snake creek, slid
ing through the swale Ike the long
black snake for which II was named.
he sat down on the bridge and closed
his burning eyes, but they would not
stay shut AS IL pulled by wires, the
heavy lids rew open and the outraged
nerves and muscles of his body
danced. twitched and tingled,
He bent forward and idly watched
the limpid little stream flowing be-
meath his feet. Stretching back into
the swale. 1t came creeping between
an impenetrable wall of magnificent
wild flowers, vines and ferns. Milk
weed. goldenrod. ironwort, fringed
gentians. cardinal flowers and turtle
head stood on the very edge OF the
creek, and every flower Of them grew
a double in the water. Wild clematis
scattered here and there along the
bank.
Freckles sat so still that presently
the brim OF his hat was covered with
snake feeders, rasping their crisp
wings and singing as they rested.
Some of them settled on the club and
one on his shoulder. He was so quiet
and feathers. fur and gauze were so
accustomed TO him that all about the
swale they went on with their daily
life and forgot he was there.
The heron family waded about the
mouth OF the creek. Freckles idly
wondered whether the nerve racking
rasps they occasionally emitted indi-
Gated domestic felicity or raging
quarrel. A sheitpoke, with haring
crest. went stalking across bare
space near the creeks mouth. A
stately brown bittern waded out into
the clear flowing water, lifting his feet
high at every step and setting them
down gingerly. as II he dreaded wet
ting them. and, with slightly parted
beak. stood eagerly watching about
him for worms. Behind him were
some mighty trees of the swamp
above. and below the bank glowed a
solid wall of goldenrod.
No wonder the ancients had chosen
yellow ms the color TO represent vic
tory, for the fierce, conquering hue of
the sun was In IT, They had done well,
too, in choosing purple as the color OF
royalty. II was a dignifled. compelling |
color, and In its warm tone there was
n hint of blood
Ii was the Limberlost's hour TO pro |
claim her sovereignty and triumph. |
Everywhere she fiaunted her yellow |
banner and trailed the purple OF her |
mantle. that was paler in the thistle
heads. took on strength In the first |
opening asters. and glowed and burned
In the ironwort.
Compellingly beautiful was the Lin
there bleached the uncotiined bones of
her victims, and she had missed era
ding him. oh. so narrowly!
Below the turtle log. a dripping silver
gray head. with shining eyes, was eau
tiously lifted. and Freckles' hand slid
around to his revolver. Higher and
higher came the head; long. heavy.
fur coated body rose. now half, now
three fourths out of the water.
Freckles looked at his shaking hand
and doubted. but he gathered his
forces. the shot rang out. and the otter
lay still He hurried down and tried |
TO lift It. He could scarcely muster
strength to carry it TO the bridge. The
that he really could not
go farther with It made Freckles re-
alize the fact that he was well up to
the limit of human endurance. He
Every hour the face OF the angel wav-
cred before him. and behind 1t the
awful distorted image of Black Jack.
as he swore TO the punishment he
would mete out TO her.
Freckles stopped when be came to
the first guard. and telling him of his
luck. asked him to go for the otter and
carry 1t up to the cabin. as he was
anxious TO meet Mclean Freckles
passed the second guard without seeing
him. and hurried up to the boss. He
stood silent under the eyes Of Mclean
The boss was dumfounded Mrs.
Duncan had led him to expect that he
would find Freckles In a bad way, but |
this was almost deathly. The fact |
was apparent that the boy scarcely !