Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-08-30

- that he was not afraid. Four to one
The tree halfway eaten through, the
o wagons coming up the inside road, ht
. bound and gagged The men will
Black Jack and Wessner had belong
q ed to McLean's gang when last be had
!, heard of them, but who those coming
4 with the wagons might be he could
a not guess.
If they secured that tree Mclean
}, lost its value. lost his wager and lost
his faith in him. The words Of the
angel hammered in his ears. "Oh.
Freckles. do watch closelyw
And the saw ate on.
When the tree was down and loaded
what would they do? Pull out and
leave him there to report them? 1t
was not to be hoped for. The place
had always been lawless. 1t could
mean but one thing.
A mist swept before his eyes. and his
head swan. Was it only last night
that he had worshiped the angel In a
delirfum of happiness? And now
what? Wessner. released from turn
at the saw, walked over to the flower
bed and. tearing up handful Of rare
ferns by the roots, started toward
Freckles. His intention was obvious.
Black Jack stopped him with an oath.
you see here. Dutchy," he bawled
smebby you think you'll wash his face
NTH that, but you won't. A contracts
a contract. We agreed to take out
these trees and leave him for you to
dispose of whatever way you please.
provided you shut him up eternally on
this deal. But I'll not see a tied man !
tormented by a fellow that he can lick |
up the ground with. loose. and that's |
fat. 1t raises my gorge to think what
he'll get when we're gone. but you
needn't think you're free to begin be-
fore Don't you lay a hand on him
while I'm here. What do you say,
boys?''
81 say yes growled one of Nc
Leans latest deserters. whats
more. we're a pack of fools to Iisk the
dirty work Of silencing him. don't
mind lifting the rrees we came for, but
I'm cursed if want blood on my
hands,"
'Well. you amt going to get it," bel
lowed Jack. You fellows only con-
tracted to help me get out my mark
ed trees. He belongs to Wessner. and
1t amt our deal what happens to him
It's all planned safe and sure. AS for
killing that buck-cOme TO think of it,
killing is what lie needs. He's away
to good for this world Of woe anyhow.
His dropping out won't be the only
secret the old Limberlost has never {
odd. It's too dead easy to make il /
ook like he helped. take the timber and s
hen cut. Why, he's played right into {
'ur hands. He was here at the swamp 7
III last night and back again in an 4
lour or so. When we get our plan |
worked out even old fool Duncan
Won't lift a finger to look for his car d
ass" 9
"You just bet said Wessner. Il e
we him all he'll get. But I'll pay!' Q
e snarled at Freckles v
So 1t was killing then. They were s
OF only after this one tree but many, a
nd with his body it was their plan
Kill his honor. To brand him a Ct
lief. like them, before the angel, the IL
lrd Woman. the dear boss and the a
Freckles' body sagged
sainst the ropes in sick despair. p.
There was no hope of McLean's
'ming. They had chosen day when %,
ley knew he had big contract at in
e south camp. The boss could not 70
'ssibly come before tomorrow, and y,
ere would be no tomorrow for him. W
uncan was on his way to the south ~,
mp. and the Bird Woman had said -,
e would come as soon as she could. 40
tier the fatigue Of the party 1t was 49,
eless to expect her and the angel -
day. and God save them from COM .,
?. va
y. is
The sweat broke out on Freckles .
rehead. He tugged at the ropes ,
lenever he felt that he dared. but
~ were passed about the tree and ~
body several times and knotted on
chest. He resolved that he would
lr in mind what he had once heard uoi
BIRD Woman say. He would go ~
bonnily. Never would he let them Jus
If he grew afraid. After all, what oSA
It matter what they did to his ~
ly If by some scheme of the devil eal
could compass his disgrace? gen
hen hope suddenly rose high in WI.
ckles' breast. They could not do %
I. The angel would not believe SON
Their would Mclean. He would ina
up his courage. Kill him they 'uri
Id; dishonor him they could not. CAV
q CT
ct, summon all the fortitude he aslo
hit, that saw eating into the tree
'ed bis nerves worse and worse. a 81
n whirling brain he gazed of into tnat
Iimberlost searching for soo,o you
G. ne knew not what. and in blank N
or found his eyes fastened on the
H. She was quite distance
y. but be could see her white Inns n