Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-04-11

than a horse and would take less
care"
AS they walked up to the cabin to-
gether Mclean insisted on another
guard. but Freckles was %stubbornly
set on fighting his battle alone. He
made one mental condition. If the
Bird Woman was going to give up the
Little Chicken series he would yield
to the second guard solely for the sake
Of her work and the presence of the
angel in the Limberlost.
With Mclean it was a case of let
ting his sober. better Judgment be
overridden by the boy he was growing
so to love that he could not bear to
cross him.. and to have Freckles keep
his trust and win alone meant to him
more than any money he might lose.
The next morning Mclean brought
the wheel. and I'reckles took it down
to the trail to test it. 1t was new.
~chainless, with as little as possible to
catch in hurried riding. and in every
way the best of it's kind. Freckles
went skimming around the trail on it
on a preliminary trip before he locked
it in his case'and started his minute
examination of his line on foot. He
glanced around his room as he left it.
On the moss in front Of his prettiest
seat lay the angels hat.
He went and picked it up, oh. so
carefully. gazing at it with hungry
eyes, but touching it only to carry it
over to his case. where he hung it on
the shining handle bar Of the new
wheel and locked it in among his
treasures. Then he went out to the
trail with a new look on his face. He
was not in the least afraid of any
thing that morning. He felt he was
the yeriest Daniel. and all his lions
seemed weak and harmless.
Black Jack was not a man to give
up his purpose or to have the hat
swept from his head by a bullet and
bear it meekly. Moreover, Wessner
would cling to his revenge.
When Freckles gained his room he
tenderly laid the hat upon his book
shelf and, I" wear off his awkward
ness. mounted his wheel and went
spinning about the line again.
"Weel. | be drawed on" exclaimed
Mrs. Duncan an hour later.
Freckles stood before her, holding
the angels hat.
I've been thinking this long time
that We or Duncan would see that sun
bonnets werena Draw enough for a
woman of my standing. and ye're a
guild laddie to bring me this beautiful
hat"
She turned it about, examining the
weave of the straw and the foliage
trimmings, passing her rough fingers
over the satin ties ~delightedly. AS she
held it up. admiring it. Freckles' aston
ished eyes saw a new side Of Sarah
Duncan. She was testing. but under
the jest the fact doomed strong that
there was something in her soul cry
ing out after that bit Of feminine fin
cry. He resolved that when he
reached the city he would send her as
fine a hat as the angels if it took $50
to do it.
She lingeringly handed it back to
him.
Its unco guild of We to think of me-"
she said lightly. but 1 maun question
your taste a wee. Dye no think We
had best return this and get a woman
with half her hair gray a little palmer
headdresS? Seems like that's far over
gay for me. Pm no. saying that it's
no. exactly what I'd like to haze, but I
mauna max myself ridiculous. Ye'd
best give this to somebody young and
pretty. say about sixteen. Where did
ye come by it. Freckles? If there's
anything been dropping lately We haze
forgotten to mention it,"
"Do you Sc anything heavenly about
that hat?" queried Freckles. holding
1t up.
The morning breeze waved the rib
bons gracefully. binding one about
his chest. where they caught ana cl..iiG
as if magnetiZed.
Yes said Sarah Duncan. Its eX-
actly what Id call a heavenly hat"
Sure" said .Freckles. for it's be-
longing to an angel"
Then he told her about the hat and
asked her what he should do with it.
Take it to her, of course!!" said
Sarah Duncan.
You think l should be taking it
home?" he said.
"Of course We must" said Mrs. Dun
can. "Ye gang ava and take the bless
ed little angel her beautiful hat"
Are you sure it will be all right?"
urged Freckles. DO you think if Mr..
Mclean came he would care"
ma" said Mrs. Duncan. II dinna.
If We and me agree that a thing ought
to be done. and l watch in your place.
why. it's bound to be all right with
Mclean. Ought We put on your Sab
bath day clothes"
Freckles shook his head. He knew
what he had to do. but there was no
use in taking time to try to explain it
to Mrs. Duncan while he was so hur-
ried. He exchanged his wading boots
for shoes. gave her his club and went
spinning toward town. He knew very