The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-08-29
0-O
FRECKLES
BY
Gene SGratG0m.
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE
& \

he felt could be made OF one side.
while Duncan covered the other, but
Black Jack could not be found. Spies
were set about his home in wildcat
hollow to ascertain II he reached there
or aid was sent In any direction to
him, but Il was soon clear that his
relatives were ignorant Of bis whei g
abouts and themselves searching for
him.
Great IL the elasticity OF youth. A
hot bath and sound nights sleep re-
newed Freckles' strength. Freckles
was on the trail early the next morn
ing. Besides a crowd Of people anx-
ious to witness Jacks capture, he
found four stalwart guards. one at
each turn. In his heart he was COM
PEELED to admit that he was glad to
have them there.
Near noon Mclean turned his party
over to Join Duncan's and. taking Free
kles. drove to town to see how II Jared
with the angel. Mclean visited
greenhouse and bought an armload Of
its finest products. but Freckles would
have none of them. He would carry
his message in a glowing mass Of the
Lmberlosts first goldenrod.
The angel was in no way seriously
injured She reached both hands to
Mclean. what II one old tree is
gonei You don't care. sir? You feel
that Freckles has kept his trust as no
body ever did before. don't your You
won't forget all those long first days
of fright that you told US of. the fear
full cold of winter. the rain. heat and
ionesomeness and the brave DAYS, and.
lately. nights, too. and let feel
that his trust is broken?
"Oh. Mr.. Mclean" she begged. SAY
something to him! Do something to
make him feel that II isn't for moth
ing he has watched and suffered 1t
out with that old Limberlost. Make
him SEQ how great and fine II 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.
Il was thinking before you came.
Those two other men were rank cow
ards. They were scared for their lives.
II they were the drivers | 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 II they didn't
run out of courage the minute they
left Wessner and Black Jack and
dump that timber and so on the run.
j don't believe they ever had the grit
to drive out with II 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 rhen 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 1t with
stout. dark, red faced man that drives
q bay and gray. He was right back
Of you, Mr.. Mclean. when I came up
to you yesterday. He went deathly
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
er fellows on to steal from you. II
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 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 |
cornfeld why they could unloose the |
chains and the logs would roll of the |
wagons themselves. Now, you go see:
and. Mr.. Mclean. you do feel that
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 II. 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
ng or bewailing anything she does.
lust worship blindly. my boy. By
heaven. she's sense. courage and beau
" for half a dozen girlsp' said Nc
Lean
tits altogether right you are. sir" J
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
less. and success along any line Is not
won by being scared out She will
DO back on the usual day. and ten to
me the angel will be with her. They
ire made Of pretty stern stun. and