Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-25


alone"
Mclean pushed him carefully TO the
seat and, bending over him. opencd n
pocket case that he carried as rec,,
larly as his revolver and watch. for
cuts and bruises were of daily oc.
rurrence among the gang
Taking the hurt arm. he turned back
the sleeve and bathed and bound IN
the wounds He examined Freckles'
head and body and convinced himself
mat therc was no permanent injury.
Then he sat down beside treckes.
AL the indescribable beauty OF the
pace was strong about him, but he
fiw only the bruised face of the suf-
icring boy. who had hedged for the In
formation be wanted like diplomat.
argued like Il Judge. fought like
Sheik and triumphed like a devil.
As the pain lessened and breath
caught up with Freckles' pounding
heart be watched the boss from the
tail Of his eye. How had Mclean got
there. and how long had he been
there? Freckles did not dare ask. AZ
last he arose and. going to the case.
took out his revolver and the wire
mcndinC apparatus and locked the
door. Then ne turned to Mclean.
"IIave you any orders. SIR" he ask
I'd.
Yes" said Mclean. II have. and
you are TO follow them to the letter.
Turn over that apparatus to me and
go straight home. Soak yourself in
the hottest bath your skin will bear
and 20 to bed ut once Now. hurry
MIR. Mclean" said Freckles. it's
sorry ! am to he telling you. but the
afternoons walking OF the line amt
done. You see. | was Just for getting
10 me feet to start. and was on good
time when up came Il gintleman, and
we got into Il little heated argument.
It's either settled or it's just begun,
but between us I'm that late | haven't
started for the afternoon yet. l must
be going at once. for there's Il tree
must find before the days over"
You plucky little idiot" growled
Mclean. you can't walk the line. |
doubt if you can get to Duncan's
Don't you know when you nre done
up? You go to bed. III finish your
work"
"Niver," protested Frcckles. Il was
just Il little done up for the prisint a
minute ago. I'm all right now. Rid
iug boots are away too low The
days bot and the walk good seven
miles. sir. Nivrr.'
AS he reached for the outfit he pitch
ed forward and his eyes closed Nc
Lean stretched him on the moss and
applied restoratives. When Freckles
returned to consciousness Mclean ran
to the cabin to tel! Mrs. Duncan to yet
Il hot bath ready and to bring Nellie
That worthy woman promptly filed
the wash boiler and set n roaring fire
under it, She pushed the horse trough
off it's base and rolled it up to the
Kitchen
BY the time Mclean came again.
leading Nellie and holding Freckles on
her back. Mrs. Duncan was ready for
business. She and the boss laid Freck-
les in II trough and poured on hot wa
ter until he sQuirmed. They soaked.
let the hot water off and closed his
pores with cold. Lastly they stretched
him on the floor and chafed rubbed
ard kneaded him until he cried out
for mercy. As they rolled him into
bed his eyes dropped shut. but n little
LATER they ilared open.
"Mr. Mclean" he cried. the tree.
Oh, do be looking after the tree"
Mclean bent over him. Which tree.
Freckles 2"
IL don't know exact, sir, but IFS on
the east line. and the wire Is fastened
to it. He Dragged that you nailed 1t
yourself, sir You'll know it by the
bark having been laid open to the
grain somewhere low down. and it was
$500 he offered me-tO be--sellnS YOU
out-sir.'
Freckes' head rolled over and his
eyes dropped shut McLeans mind
travelled back to the night almost
year before when he had engaged
irecklcs. 4 stranger
Mclean bent. covering the hurt arm
with one band and laying the other
with n caress on the boys forehead
FreckleS stirred at his touch and twit-
tered az softly as the swallows under
the caves
"lf you're coming this way-tcmor.
row-be pleased to step overland Wen
repatc the-chorus softly"
BLESS tho gritty cevil." Crowlod Nc
Lean
Then he went ont and told Mrs Dun
can to keep close watch on FrcckleS
and send Duncan to him ut the swamp
the minute he came home. Following
the trail down to the line and back 10
the scene IF the flgh' the boss entered
freckles' study softly. as If his spirit
sleeping there might be reused. and
L,aZed about with astoniShed eyes.
How had the hoy conceived 1t: What
a picture he had wrought in living col
ors. He had the heart of Il painter:
he had the soul of poet. The boss
stepped carefully over the velvet cnr-
pet and touched the walls of crisp YER
dure with gentle fingers He stood
long beside the flower bed and gnzed
NJ the banked wall OF bright flowers as
II he could never leave off.
co BE CONTINUEp