The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-03-02

out With that old Limberlost. Make
him see how great and fine it is and
how far. far better he has done than
you or any of us expected! What's
one old tree anyway?" she burst out
passionately.
II was thinking before you came.
Those two other men were rank cow
ards. They were scared for their lives
IL they were the drivers l wager you
gloves against gloves they never took
those logs out to the pike. My coming
upset them. Before you feel bad any
more you go look and see If they didn't
run out Of courage the minute they
left Wessner and Black Jack and
dump that timber and 80 on the run.
! don't believe they ever had the grit
to drive out with it in daylight. Go
see IL they didn't figure on going out
the way we did the other morning
and you'll find the logs before you
strike the road. They never risked
taking them into the open when they
got away and had time to think. OF
course they didn't!
"And. then. another thing. You
haven't lost your wager! 1t will never
be claimed. because you made it with
q stout. dark, red faced man that drives
q bay and a gray. He was right back
Of you. Mr.. Mclean, when l came up
to you yesterday. he went deathly
white and shook on his. feet when he
saw those men would likely be caught.
Some one Of them was something to
him. and you can just spot him for
one Of the men at the bottom of your
troubles and urging those other young.
err fellows on to steal from you.
suppose he'd promised to divide. You
settle with him, and that business will
STOP"
She turned to Freckles. "And you
be the happiest man alive. because
you have kept your trust. Go look
where l. tell you and you'll find the
logs. can just see about where they
are. When they go up that steep lit
tie hill into the next woods after the
cornfleld why they could unloose the
chains and the logs would roll of the
wagons themselves. Now, you 60 see;
and. Mr.. Mclean, you do feel that
Freckles has been brave and faithful
You won't love him any the less even
II you don't find the logs
The angels nerve gave way and she
burst into tears. Freckles couldn't
bear it. He fairly ran from the room
with the tears streaming from his
own eyes. But Mclean took the an
gel out Of the Bird Woman's arms and
kissed her brave little face.
As they drove back to the swamp
Mclean so earnestly seconded all that
the angel had said that he soon had
the boy feeling much better.
"Freckles, your angel has a spice OF
the devil in her, but she's superb.
You needn't spend any time question
ing or bewailing anything she does.
Just worship blindly, my boy. By
heaven, she's sense. courage and beau
ty for. half a dozen girlsl'' said Nc
Lean. ~ -, -
ITS altogether right you are, sir."
affirmed Freckles heartily. After a
little he added, There's no question
but the series is over now"
Don't think it." answered Mclean.
''The Bird Woman is working for sue
cess. and success along any line is not
won by being scared out. She will
be back on the usual day, and ten to
one the angel will be with her. They
are made Of pretty stern stuff. and
they don't scare worth a cent. You
may do your usual walking, but those
four guards are there to stay. They
are under your orders absolutely. I
have listened to your pride too long.
You are too precious to me to run any
more risks"
II am sorry to have anything spoil
the SERIES" said Freckles. land I'd love
them to be coming. the angel especial,
but 1t can't be. You'll have to tell them
80. You see. Jack would have been
ready to stake his life she meant what
she said and did to him. When the
teams pulled out. Wessner seized me,
and he and Jack went to quarrelling
over whether they should finish me
then or take me on to the next tree
they were for Telling. Wessner wanted
to get at me right then, and Jack said
he shouldn't be touching me till the
last tree was out and all the rest Of
them gone. They tied me up again.
To keep me courage up twits Wess-
ner about having to tie me and need
ing another man to help handle me.
! told him what I'd do to him II I was
free. and he grabs up me own club
and lays open me head with 1t. When
the blood came streaming. it set Jack
raving. and he cursed Wessner for a
coward and softly. Then Wessner
turned on Jack and gives it to him
for letting the angel make fool Of
him. Tells him she was just playing
with him, and beyond all manner Of
doubt she'd gone for you. and there
was nothing to do on account Of his
cursed foolishness but finish me, get
out, and let the rest of the timber go.
for likely you was on the way right
then. And It drove Jack plumb crazy.