The Monte Vista journal., 1917-09-15

nile enemies Of high price Of living.
Marcia viewed the layout with inter.
est. Kitty cast her active glance over
the broad expanse with eagerness. She
uttered sudden cry Of delight.
On, sister" she said, 1ook there is
Freckles!" |"
1t was, indeed, the lost doll, attached
TO an eight-foot pole In the center of
one or the baby farms. The urchln
VINO mad found and then appropriated
IT, mad strung from Its neck a dozen
or more strips Of paper, and these flut-
ter1ng out In the breeze were stream
ers well adapted to scare away thiey
ing crows or blackbirds.
Little boy" spoke Marcia through
the high paltngs to the nearest work
er within the inclosure, "that doll over
yonder belongs to my little sister
here"
1esm,' nodded the boy politely.
Joe Bevans said he found it. If Won
go around to the gate on the other side
you'll find Mr.. Trescott, who is our
Doss. Tell him. There he Is, just
leaving. See, the man in the light
suit. You can catch him by going over
to the bridge. That's his way home"
Marcia retraced her steps towards
the bridge, counting upon heading of
the gentleman designated as "the
BOSS" She saw him coming and drew
back with Kitty into the shadow of
the bridge. 1t was getting on towards
DUSK, but Marcia could make out the
person pointed out to her lining the
renee and approaching In her direc-
tlon. She learned later that he was a
MIR. Bryce Trescott, a young man Of
means who had taken pleasure in
hitting out schoolchildren "to do their
Dit for their country and had borne
all the expense Of the baby farms.
His fine face and clear, smiling eyes
attracted her as he came near. She
was almost abashed, but she sum-
moned her courage for the sake Of
little Kitty, urgently whispering: "Tell
him, sister. Oh, please get me back
freckles, right noww So Marcia
stepped before him. He looked sur
prised and removed his hat. Then
he became interested as Kitty blurted
out the story of the lost doll. He could
not repress smile at the oddity of the
circumstance
"You shall have your dolly at once,
little cherub," he said to Kitty, and
he took out card and wrote on 1t.
Just hand that to the gatekeeper and
he will return your lost pet. l hope
you will honor the farm with visit,
MISS" he spoke to Marcia, and the lat
ter was duly confused at the express
sion in those observing and apparently
admiring eyes.
He bade them adieu with courtly
grace and went his way. Amid her EN-
barrassment Marcia dropped the card.
AS she recovered it she could not help
but bestow glance after the manly
young fellow. Her face blanched.
From bridge rafter two rough-look-
ing men had sprung out. Their mis-
sion was palpably one Of robbery.
The young man was neither weak
ling nor coward. Marcia thrilled as
she noted mastery stroke that sent
one of the footpads PROSTATE. Mr..
Trescott turned to overcome the other
when his foot slipped.
Splash!
A cry of horror rang from the lips
of Marcia. The two footpads, alarmed
and baffled, started on a run across
the bridge. Marcia darted to the spot
where the young man disappeared. She
saw him fifteen feet below, founder
ing in the deep water. Once he sank,
Marcia, an expert swimmer herself,
recognized that he was novice In
that respect She acted on an impulse,
and a brave one. Without hesitancy
she dropped over the plank edge. she
grasped at the arm of the helpless
man as he came up second time,
swan with him to an abutment near
by, and, supporting him, clung to 1t
and screamed for help.
"And here is your doll, little one,'
spoke Bryce TrescOtt the next day,
when he called at the Mason home to
thank Marcia for saving his life, land
companion doll I have ordered is
coming some time today"
"And what can l give to you, my
lovely preserver?" his eyes expressed
TO Marcia. The answer arrived in time
love. And Freckles, the nondescrip-
tive, Freclles the scarecrow, turned
out TO be the mascot medium that
brought to Marcia Mason lifetime OF