The Washington times., 1929-02-14

Not Intentionally, of course.
But she is very young and thought
less at times; wholly inexperienced;
we are all human. and the best of
us make mistakes; she has been
lonely and blue and hurt for long
time, and .Freckles has not been
what you could call q comfort
lately. Lord knows, stranger
things than that have happened.
That's a fine letter.
Mclean could not ignore the sar-
casm in the bankers voice, and he
could not bear 10 have Freckles
criticised, but he knew it was true.
His own CHEEKY, fun-loving boy,
whom he loved as son; the same
boy. who at 10 had fought fear
within himself and fear of the
great swamp, and conquered both
alone. How he was licked-and
by whom and for what? What
pityI
ITS my fault" he said. Il
should not have let them take
him away from us. l could have
kept him. and Fm sorry ! didn't.
He did not want to go, but they
had SO much more to offer him
than / thad--at least, L thought
they had"
yes, i thought SO too-we
were couple of old fdiots--we
should have let the yOungster
alone. We were wrong. Two
Years in the open spoiled the boy
for confinement, idleness and so
ciety. What a mistake we made!
We're a pair Of blundering fools!
sit was my fault more than
yours; Freckles would have done
whatever j said. Well, / got him
into this mess-its UP to me to
get him out. The question is.
how"
"It's sure some question. My
wife and the Angel and myself
have been working on it for some
time. Any. suggestions win be
more than welcome. .
Mclean did not answer. He
picked up his hat, walked to his
y hotel, packed his bags, and board
ed train at O'Clock.
8 During the past. two weeks
s Freckles had improved slightly
He was conscious all the time,
but sometimes In intense pain.
He stared at the ceiling for hours;
he would not read, write, talk, or
show the slightest interest In
anything; they even had diff
Guilty in making him eat. Aunt
Ellen spent hours with the cook,
trying to think Of some tasty
dishes to tempt him. When
Kathleen read to him, he pre-.
tended TO 20 to sleep; and when
she tip-toed out Of the room, his
eyes opened, and began staring
at the ceiling again.
The doctor said he was out OF
danger; his brain was not injured;
he could get well rapidly now IL
he would; but he would not. He
was mystery to all of them but
Barlow. Barlow knew, and his
heart was wracked. He had read
and re-read the Angels letter to
the boy, until It was nearly worn
out.
You see. sir, she loves you,
and is waiting for you-yOu need
not worry, Barlow said. by way
OF solaee.
II know that, old man. but
did cowardly thing. Instead of
leaving here, whether my uncle
wanted me to or not, and going
to work 70 Il could have gotten
my selffespeet back, / wrote her
contemplate letter. She got 1t
few days after she wrote this
one. 1 told her I was no good
that I did not amount to any
thing and never wouId-that she
was free that she should forget
me.N
But ypus can answer this letter.
No. u can't not until / get an
answer to naine; anyway, what
would I say But you did not let
me finish. The worst thing / did
was to accuse her OF changing,
too. i had 4 right to say what
| chose about. myself but I had
no right to assume anything
about her. What q perfect ass
I amgs
Don't worry, sir. Things have
q way OF coming out right. Life
isn't so bad II yoG give 1t q
chances You think about getting
well, sir. that Is the most in-
portant thing Just now.
guess you re right. If ever
get out OF this damned bed, there
is going to be a ruction around
here. don't care what they
want: and they can have their
money, too; I'll make something
Of myself, by myself. or I'll beg
in the street-one or the other,
Barlow was stunned at the
thought Of losing the boy, but he
was excited now: he must calm
down; it was no time to argue.
Yes, sir. but you must not ex-
cite yourself. sir. It's time for
your broth--I1I fetch It myself"
As he stepped into the hall.
Kathleen came out of her room,
and both of them saw the butler
coming upstairs with the mail.
Kathleen ran past Barlow, ana
took the mail; but Barlow, step
ping quickly behind her, saw that
there was package addressed 70
his master. Kathleen took the
mail into her room Barlow,
passing half way down the steps.
saw that when she came out and
entered his masters room. the
Il. q -.