Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-11

Important us DIS Rr1t ana I01Cn1ulueSS.
What is your name?"
Freckles grew a shade whittier. but
his eyes never faltered.
"Freckles. he said.
Good enough for every day." laugh
ed Mclean. but | can scarcely put
Freckles on the company's books"
IL haven't any name." replied the
boy.
II don't understan nd" said Mclean.
II was thinking from the voice and
the face OF you that you wouldn't"
said Freckles slowly.
docs 1t seem to you that any one
would take Il newborn baby and row
over 1t until 1t was bruised black, cut
of its hand and leave 1t out in a bit.
ter night on the steps of charity
home 10 the care Of strangers? That's
what somebody did to me.
THE home people took me In, and I
was there the full legal age and several
years over. They could always And
homes for the rest of the children.
but nobody would ever be wanting me
on account Of me arm"
Were they kind to your! asked Nc.
Lean.
~ don't know" answered Freckles.
The reply sounded SO hopeless even to
his own ears that he FASTENED to quail.
ify It by adding: "You see. it's like
this. sir. Kndncsses that people are
paid to lay of in Job lots and that
belong equally to several hundred 9th.
crs amt going to he soaking into any
one fellow mich"
Go on" said Mclean.
"There's nothing worth the taking of
yonr time to tell" replied Frcck les
1.-THE home was In Chicago. and was
there all me life up to three months
ago. When was too old for the train.
ing they gave to the little children they
sent Inc out to the nearest ward school
AZ long rs the law would let them. but
was never like any of the OF her chill
dren. and they all knew il. Id to go ami
come like u prisoner and he working
about the home early and late for me.
hoard and clothes. always wanted
TO learn mighty bad. but | was glad
when that WINS over.
"Then a now superintendent sent me
down In The state to Il mnn he said he
knew that needed boy lie wasn't
for remembering to tell that man that
was Il hand short. and he knocked
me down. Between noon and that
evening he and his son. - out my age.
mad me in pretty much the same shape
in which | was found in The beginning.
80 lay awake that night and ran
away. I'd like to have squared me ac-
count with that boy before I left. but
didn't dare for fenr of waking the
old man. and knew I couldn't handle
the two of them. but I'm hoping to
meet him alone some day before
die
Mclean liked the boy all the better
for this confession.
u didn't even have to steal clothes
to get rid Of starting III me home
Ones" Frcckles went on, "for they had
already taken all me clean, neat things
for the hoy and put me into his rags.
and that went almost as sore as the
beatings, for where was we were al
ways kept tidy and sweet smelling
anyway. l hustled clear into this state
before ! learned that man couldn't
have kept me If he'd wanted to. |
commenced hunting work. but it is
with everybody else just rs it IL with
Won, sir big. strong. whole men are
the only ones for being wanted"
IL have been studying over this mat
ter" answered Mclean II am not so
sure but that man no older than you
and like yuu in every way could do
this work very well IL lie were not IA
coward"
IF you vii! give ne n job where |
can earn me food. clothes and a place
to sleep" said Freckles. "if can have
boss TO work for like other men. and
II place feel I've II right to | will do
what you toll me or die trying"
He said it SO quietly and convinc-
ingly that Mclean found himself an.
swering: II will enter you on my pay
rolls. Well have supper. and then l
will provide you with Glenn clothing.
wading boots. wire mending apparatus
and revolver The first thing In the
morning will take you over the trail!
myself. All ask Of you Is to come
to me at once at the south camp ana
tell mo like man II You find this job
too hard for you. 1t Is work that few
men would perform faithfully. What
name shall put down."
Frecklcs' eyes never left McLean's
face. and the boss saw the swift spasm
OF pain that swept his lonely, sensitive
face
bornly mo more than one somebody
clapped on to me when they put me
On the home books. with not the
thought or care they'd named house
cat What they called me il no more
my name than 1t is yours. don't
know what mine Is. and | never will.
But I am going to be your man and
do your work. and I'll be glad TO an.
swer TO any name you choose to call
me. Won't you please be giving me
a name. Mr.. Mclean"
The boss wheeled abruptly aud be-
gan stacking his books. In voice
harsh with business he spoke.
II will tell you what we will do. my
lad" be said. MY father was my
ideai man. and loved him better than
any other have ever known. He
went out five years ago. II give to
you the name Of my nearest kin and
the man loved best-will that do:"
Freckles' rigid attitude relaxed. His
head drowned. and teara smashed