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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1915-11-04, Page 7September 4th, 1915 THE WINGHAM TIMES Page 7 Freckles. BY Gene Stratton - Porter fast -WEIR; you rob „ gins -of this thing 1 was set and paid to guard and then Copyright 1904, by Doubleday, Page'& Co, SYNOPSIS. Freckles, a homeless boy, is hired by Boss McLean to guard the expensive Um - ter in the Limberlost from timber thieves. Freckles does his work faithfully, makes •frlenda with the birds and yearns to know more about nature. Ho lives with Mr. and Mrs. Duncan. He resolves to get books and educate ,himself. He becomes interested in a huge pair of vultures and calla his bird friends his "chickens." Some di' -the trees he Is guarding are worth $1,000 each. Freckles' books arrive. Me receives a can from Wessner., _ •i ust be if you have the engineering -ot it," said Freckles. But he heard with a sigh of relief that they were -alone. Wessner was impervious. "You just =bet it is! Why, only think, Freckles, -Slav 'l away at a measly little $30 a 'int and here is a chance to clear :l5 in a day! You surely won't be the fool to miss it!" "And how was yon proposing for .me to stale it?" inquired Freckles. "Or am I just to find it laying in me !:path about the line?" "That's it, Freckles," blustered the Dutchman, "you're just to find it. You needn't know a thing. Yon name ;a morning when you will walk up the west side of the swamp and then turn -round and walk back down the same •side again and the money is yours. Ctdn't anything be easier than that, ce Id it?" "Depinds entirely on the man." said Freckles. The lilt of a lark hanging :above the swills beside them was not -sweeter than the sweetness of his voice. "To some it would seem to ,come aisy as breathing. and to some •wringln' the last drop of their hearts' ,blood couldn't force thin! I'm not •the Alan that goes into n scheme like :that with the blindfold over me eyes, 'for, you see, it manes to break trust -with the boss. and i've served him ,'faithful as 1 knew. You'll hnve to -he .making tbe thing very clear to we %understanding." "'It's so dead easy," repeated Wess- ner, "It makes me tired of the sine ,Iiteness of IL You see. there's a few •trees in the swamp [bat's real gold %mines. Tbere's three especial. Two are back in. but one's square on the line. Why, your pottering old Scotch fool of a boss nailed the wire to it with his own Lianas: He never no- ticed where the bark and heen peeled 'nor saw what It wne it. yon will stay "on tbis side of the trail just one day -we cnn have it cut. loaded and ready ,to drive out at night. Nest morning -you can find it, report and he the busiest man in the search ler ns. We eknow where to fix it all sate end easy,, Then McLean tete n net up with a couple of the gang that there can't be - -a raw stump toutd in the Limberlost. There's plenty or witnesses to swear eto it, and l know three that will. .There's a cool thousand, and this tree ;.is worth all or that raw. Say, it's a r gId mine, 1 tell yon. and just $500 ot il' t. •, Sours.. '1'hpees no dnnmer, pn . Heart Was So Weak Could Not Go Hp Stairs Without Help, cabecomes weak the heart and -.does not do its work properly the nerves become unstrung and the whole system . seems to go "all to pieces." When this happens you need a tonic build up both the heart and nerves, a Milbum's Heart and Nerve Pills will .accomplish this for you, providing you lo not let your case run too long and allow it to become chronic. Mrs, I;vangilistc Lovcrdure, Port • Coulonge, Que., writes: "Last summer my hec.rt and nerves were so bad I could not sleep at night, and my heart was so weak I could not go up stairs without ,help. My doctor said he could do no more for me as my heart was completely ,done. A cousin of mine came in one day :and told Ise that Milburn's heart and Nerve Pills cured her completely. I immediately gave her 50 cents to bring me a box, and since that day there is a box always on my sideboard, I am now well, and my heart and nerves are stronger than when I was a little school girl. I advise anyone with heart trouble to try Ahem. No doctor :an beat them." ,Milburn's Heart and Nerve Pills arc Stir per box, 3 boxes for $1.25; for sale at all dealers; mailed direct on receipt of price by The T. Milburn Co., Limited, _Toronto, Ont. .11i fir cArldket• eartii 1 you, roe you've got 'McLean that bamboozled you could sell out the whole swamp and he'd never mistrust you. What do you say?" Freckles' soul was satisfied. "Is that all?' he asked. "No, it ain't," said Wessner. "If you want to brace up and be a man and go into the thing for keeps you San make five times that in a week. My friend knows a dozen others we could get out in a few days. and all you'd have to do would be to keep out of sight. Then you could take your money and skip some night, and begin life like a gentleman somewhere else. What do you think about it?" Freckles purred like a kitten. "'Twould be a rare joke on the boss." he said, "to be staalin' from him the very thing he's trusted me to guard and be getting me wages all winter throwed in free. And you're making the pay awful high. Me to be getting five hundred for such a simple little thing as that. You're trating me most royal indadel It's away beyond all I'd be expecting. Sivinteen cants would be a big price for that job. It must be looked into thorough. Just you wait here until I do a minute's turn in the 1 eschorting you mand ben I1 hese swamp, t g P out to the clearing and giving you the answer." Freckles lifted the overhanging bushes and burried back to the case. He unslung the specimen box and laid It inside with his hatchet and revolver. He slipped' the key in his pocket and went back to Wessner. "Now for the answer," he said. "Stand up!" There was iron in his voice, and he teas commanding like an outraged gen- eral. "Anything you want to be tak- ing off?" he questioned. Wessner looked the astonishment he felt. "Why, no, Freckles," he said. "Have the goodness to be calling me Mr. McLean," snapped Freckles. "I'm after resarvin' me pet name for the nse of me friends! You may stand with your back to the light or be tak- ing any advantage you want." "Why, what do you mean?" splutter- ed Wessner. "I'm mania'," . said Freckles tersely, "to lick a quarter section of h— out of you, and may the Holy Vargin stay me before I leave you here carrion, for your carcass would turn the atummicks et me chickens!" Down at the camp that morning Weasner's conduct had been so pal- pable an excuse to force a discharge that Duncan moved near McLean and whispered. "Think of the boy, air!" McLean was so troubled that an hoar later be mounted Nellie and fol- lowed Wessner to his home in Wildcat Hollow, only to find that he had left there a little before. heading for the Limberlost. McLean rode at top pried. When Mrs. Duncan told him that a man answering Wessner's de- scrlption had gone down the west side of the swamp near noon be left the mare in ber charge and followed on foot. When he heard voices he enter- ed the swamp and sllently crept, near just in time to hear Wessner whine: "But 1 can't tight you, H'reckles. I haln't done nothing to you. I'm away bigger than you, and you've only one hand." CHAPTER VI. WESBNEE GETS A nutAeaINO. D HE boss crouched among the bushes like a tiger ready to spring, but as Freckles' voice reached him be held himself with the effort of bis life to see what mettle was in the boy. "Don't you be wasting of me good time in the numbering of me hands." bowled Freckles. "The strength of me cause will make up for the weakness of me mimbers, and the size of a cow- ardly thief don't count. You'll think all the wildcats of the Limberlost is turned loose on you whin 1 come aginst you, and, as for me cause, 1 slept with you, Wessner, the night 1 come down the corduroy like a dirty, friendless tramp, ane, the boss was for taking me up, washing, Clothing and feeding me and giving me a home full of love and tlnderness, and a master to look to, and good, well earned mon- ey in the. bank. He's trusting me his heartful, mid here comes you, you spotted toad of the big road, and in- sults me, as Is an honest Irish glntle- min, by hinting that you Conceive I'd §e willing to eo?ut me ez'es and hold SPAM WENT HIB FIST fQTO WESSNEn'S FACE. act the sneak and liar to him and ruin and eternally blacken the soul of me. You rascal," raved Freckles, "be fight- ing before I forget the laws of a gin- tlemin's game and split your dirty head with me stick!" Wessner backed away, mumbling. "But I don't want to hurt you, Frec- kles." "Ob, don't you!" raged the boy. "Well, you ain't resembling me none, for I'm ltchin' like death to git me fingers in the face of you." He danced up and, as Wessner lunged out in self defense, ducked un- der his arm like a bantam and punched him in the pit of the stomach, so that he doubled up with a groan. Before Wessner could straighten him- self Freckles was on him, fighting like the wildest fury. The Dutchman dealt thundering blows that sometimes landed and sent Freckles reeling and sometimes missed, while he went plunging into the ewale with the im- petus of them. Freckles could not strike with half Wessner's force, but he could land three blows to Wessner's one. It was here that Freckles' days of alert watching on the line, the per- petual swinging of the heavy cudgel l and the endurance of all weather stood him in good stead, for he was as tough as a pine knot and as agile as a panther. He danced, ducked and dodged. For the -first eve minutes he endured fear- ful punishment Then Wessner's breath commenced to whistle between his teeth, when Freckles bad only just begun fighting. He sprang back with shrill laughter. "Begolly, and will your honor be whistling the hornpipe for me to be dancing of?" he cried. Spang went his fist into Wessner's face, and he was past him into the Swale. "And would you be pleased to tune up a little livelier?" he gasped and clipped his ear as he sprang back. Wessner lunged at him in blind fury. Freckles, seeing an opening, forgot the laws of a gentleman's game and drove the toe of his heavy wading boot into Wessner's middle until he doubled up and fell heavily. In a flash Freckles was on him. For a time McLean could not see what was happening. "Go! Go to him now!" he commanded him- self, but so intense was his desire to see the boy win alone that be could not stir. At last. Freckles sprang up and back- ed away, "Time!" he yelled like a fury. "Be getting up, Mr. Wessner, and don't be afraid -of hurting me. I'll let you throw in an extra band and lick you to me complete satisfaction, all the same. Did you bear me call the limit? Will you get up and be facing me?" As Wessner struggled to his feet he resembled a battlefield, for his cloth- ing was in ribbons and his face and hands streaming blood. "I --I guess I got enough," he mum- ble& "Oh, do you?" roared !freckles. "We11, this ain't your say. You come on to me ground lying about me boss and intimatin' I'd stale from bis very pockets. Now, will you be standing up and taking your medicine Like a man or getting It poured down the throat of you like a baby? 1 ain't got enough. This is only just the begin- ning with me. Be looking out there!" He sprang against Wessner and sent him rollin ked the He attac g unre- sisting figure and fought him until he lay limp and still and Freckles had no strength left to lift an arm. Then he rose and stepped back, gasping for breath. With his first good luugful of air be shouted, "Time!" But the figure of Wessner lay motionless. Freckles watched him with regard- ful eye and saw at last that he was completely exhausted. He bent over him and. catching him by tbo back of the neck, jerked him to his knees. Wessner lifted the face of a whipped aur and, fearing further punishment, burst into great shivering sobs, while the tears washed tiny rivulets through the blood and muck. Freckles step- ped back, glaring at Wessner, but sud- denly the scowl of anger and the ugly disfiguring red faded from the boy's face. He dabbed at a cut on his tem- ple, from which issued a tiny crimson stream, and jauntily shook back his hair. His face took on the innocent look of a cherub, and his voice ri- valed that of a brooding dove, but into his eyes crept a look of diabolical miliehlet; • CONSTIPATION Is Productive Of More 111 Health Than Anything Else. If the truth was only known you would find that over one half of the ills of life are caused by allowing the bowels to get into a constipated condition, and the sole cause of constipation is an inactive liver, and unless the liver is kept active you may rest assured that headaches, jaundice, heartburn, piles, floating specks before the eyes, a feeling as if you were going to faint, or catarrh of the stomach will follow the wrong action of this, one of the most important organs of the body. Keep the liver active and working properly by the use of Milburn's I,axa- Liver Pills, Miss Rose Babincau, Amherst, writes: "Having been troubled for years with constipation, and trying various so-called remedies, which did me no good whatever, I was persuaded to try Milburn's .Lara -Liver Pills, I have found them .facet beneficial, for they are indeed a splendid' pill, I can heartily recommend them to all who suffer from constipation." Milburn's Laxa-Liver Pills are 25c a vial, 5 -vials for $1.00, at all dealers, or mailed direct on receipt of price by The T. Milburn Co., Limited, Toronto, Ont. I3e gTanced vaguely about him antic be saw his club, seized and twirled it like a drum major, stuck it upright in the muck and mnrched on tiptoe over to Wessner mecbanlcally, as a puppet worked by a string. Bending over, Freckles reached an arm about Wess- tier's waist and belped him to his feet. "Careful, now," he cautioned; "be careful, Freddy. Tbere's danger of yon hurting me." Fishing a handkerchief from a back pocket, Freckles tenderly wiped Wess- ner's eyes and nose. "Come, Freddy. me Child," he ad- monisbed Wessner; "it's time little boys were getting home. I've me work to do and can't be entertaining you any more today. Come back tomor- row if you ain't through yet and we'll repate the perfarmance." Again an awful wrenching seized McLean. Freckles stepped back as Wessner, tottering and reeling like a thoroughly drunken man, came toward the path, looking indeed as if wildcat; had taken their fill of him. The cudgel spun high in air, and, catching it with an expertness ac- quired by long practice on the line, the boy twirled it a second and, stepping out into the trail, followed Wessner. Because Freckles was Irish it was im- possible to do it silently, and presently his clear tenor rang out, though there were bad catches where he was hard pressed for breath: "It was the Dutch! It was the Dutch. Do you think it was the Irish hollered help? Not much! It was the Dutch. It was the Dutch"— Wessner turned and mumbled: "What you following me for? What are you going to do with me?" Freckles called the Limberlost to wit- ness. "How's that for the ingratitude of a beast? And me troubling meself to show him ore me territory with: the honors of war!" Then he changed his tone completely and added: "Belike it's this. Freddy. You see, the boss might come riding down this trail any minute. and the little mare's so wheedlesome that if she'd come on to you in your prisint state all of a sudden she'd stop that short she'd send Mr. McLean out over the ears of her. No disparagement in- tinded to the rinse of the marel" he added hastily. Wessner belched a fearful oath, and Freckles laughed merrily. "That's a sample of the thanks a generous act's always for getting," he continued. "Here's me neglectin' me work to eschort you out proper, and you saying such awful words. Fred- dy," he demanded sternly, "do you want me to soap out your mouth? You don't seem to be realizing it, but if you was to buck into Mr. McLean in your prisint state without me there to explain matters the chance is he'd cut the liver out of you, and I shouldn't think you'd be wanting such a fine gin- tleman as him to see that it's white." Wessner grew ghastly under his grime and broke into a staggering run. Freckles twirled the baton and stood 1jk. a soldier at "a tent n" until Your Liver is Clogged up That'll Why You're Tlyd—Oat of Sorts—Hare MO Appetite. CARTER'S LI1 TLE LIVER PILLS will put you right is a few days. They do their duty. Cure Conti- g 'on, Bi nils, I'ndigutian, and Sick Headache. Dos.,Small Price. Small 5 11 Pt11 Genuine ru.t bearSignature Wenger ferrthe{clearing, but it was the last scene of that performance. When the boy turned there was a deathly illness in his face, and his legs wavered Like reeds beneath his weight. He staggered back to the case, and opening It, he took out a piece of cloth.) He dlpPed it into the water and, sit- ting on a bench, he wiped the blood and grime from his face, while bis brenth sucked between his clinched teeth. He was shivering with pain and excitement in spite of himself. He unbuttoned the band of his right sleeve, and, turning it back, exposed the blue lined, calloused whiteness of Ms leaned arm, now vividly streaked with contusions, while in a series of circular dote the blood oozed slowly. gore Wessner bad succeeded In setting, 1313 teeth. When Vrecktes saw what it hits be forgave himself the kick in the pit of Wessner's stomach. "Freckles, Freckles," said Mcjt ean's raise. Freckles snatched down his sleeve and rose to.his feet. "Excuse me, sir," be said. "You'll surely be belavin' 1 thought meself alone." McLean pushed him carefully to tbe seat and. bending over him, opened a pocket case that he carried as regu- larly as bus revolver and watch, for cuts and bruises were of daily oc- currence among the gang. Tatting the burt arm, be turned back the sleeve and bathed and bound up the wounds. He examined Freckles' head and body and convinced himself that there was no permanent injury. Then he sat down beside Freckles. ,All the indescribable beauty of the place was strong about bin, but he saw only tbe bruised face of the suf- fering boy, who had hedged for the in- formation he wanted like a diplomat, argued like a judge, fought like a sheik and triumphed like a devil. As the pain lessened and breath caught up with !freckles', pounding heart he watched tbe boss from the tail of his eye. How bad McLean got there, and how long had he been there? _u'reckles did not dare ask. At Last he arose and, going to the case, took out bis revolver and the wire mending apparatus and toeked the door. Then he turned to McLean. "Have you any orders, sir?" be ask- ed. "Yes," said McLean, "I have, and you are to follow them to the letter. Turn over that apparatus to me and go straight bome. Soak yourself In the hottest bath your skin will bear and go to bed at once. Now, burry.' "Mr. McLean," said freckles, "it's sorry I am to be telling you, but the afternoon's walking of the line ain't done. You see, I was just fur getting to me feet to start, and 1 was ou good time when up came a gintlemau, and we •got into a tittle beated argument. It's either settled or it's just begun, but between us I'm that late 1 haven't started for tbe afternoon yet. 1 must be going at onee, for there's a tree 1 must find before the clay's over." "You plucky little idiot," growled McLean, "you can't walk the line! 1 doubt if you can get to Duncan's. Don't you know when you are dons up? You go to bed. I'll tlnish your work." "NIver:" protested Freckles; "I was just a little done up for the prisint a minute ago. I'm all right now. Rid- ing boots are away too tow, The day's hot and the walk a good seven miles, sir. Niver!" As he reached for the outfit he pitch- ed forward and his eyes closed. Mc- Lean stretched him on tbe moss and applied restoratives. When Freckles returned to consciousness McLean ran to tbe cabin to tell Mrs. Duncan to get a hot bath ready and to bring Nelile. That worthy woman promptly tilled tbe wash boiler and set n roaring tire under it. She pusbed the horse trough off its base and rolled it up to tee kitchen. By the time McLean came again. leading Nelile end bolding Freckles ou her back, Mrs. Duncan was ready for business. She and the boss laid hrertc- les in a trough and poured on hot wa- ter until be squirmed. They soaked, rubbed and scoured him. Theo they let the hot water off' nod closed his pores with cold. Lastly they stretcbed him on the floor and chafed, rubbed and kneaded biro until he cried out for mercy. As they rolled Olin into bed his eyes dropped shut, but n little later they flared open. "Mr. AicLenn," be cried. "the tree: Oh, do be looking after the tree!" McLean bent over him. "WhIen tree. Freckles?" "1 don't know exact, sir, hut it's on the east line, and tbe wire is fastened to it. HIe bragged that you miffed it yourself. sir. You'll know It by the bark having been laid open to tate grain somewhere low down, and it was 4500 tie offered me—to be --selling you our.--si r l" F'rec'kles' hand rolled ores and his eyes dropped stint. 11el.enn's mind traveled back to the night almost a yens• before when he had engaged Freckles, a stranger. McLean bent, covering the hurt arm with one band and laying the other with a caress on the boy's forehand. Freckles stirred at bis touch and twit- tered as Softly as the swallows tinder the eaves. "If you're coming this way—tomor- row—be pleased to step over—and we'll repate the—chorus softly." "Bless the gritty devil," growled Mc- Lean. Then he went out and told Mrs. Dun- can to peep close watch on Freckles and send Duncan to him at the swamp the minute he came home. Following the trail down to the line and back to the scene of the fight, the boss entered Freckles' study softly, as if his spirit sleeping there might be roused, and gazed about with astonished eyes. holy lij the toy conceived it? What lig 11th ;d�lj I fie 48. T4iPr-N.oprielaryorPatel MeditineAcl. . A\'egelable Preparation forAs., rrm satins the Food and Reeggular' iieglheStomachsand Bowelsor CASTORIA For Infants and Children. Mothers Know That Genuine Castoria .®.!ways 4. Bears the . ,• -----i ivi Signature tvcA Promotes Digestion Cheerful�rn ° ness and [test.Containsnelltt¢r. Opitmt.Morphine norrliaeral. of NOT NARC OTIC. .R eofOld1adfrl ZFITC1i7t Ilunpffm Seed -JLtSaura + ftsth aSallr- MtnSetd- • ClaufkdSugar • Tract r urian.': Aperfeci Remedy forConslip• • lion, SourSlomach,Diatrhoeat Worms.Convulsions,Feverish- ness and LOSS OF SLEEP. •FacSimile Signature of TME CENTAUR COMPANY. MONTREAL&NEW YORK Exact Copy of Wrapper. 4: 44 it Use For Over Thirty Years TH4 £$TORIA' •?a..'. • f: a pietas -6 tie had wrdugtif In living col- ors! He had the heart of a painter; he had the soul of a poet. 'Tbe boss stepped carefully over the velvet car- pet and touched the walls of crisp ver- dure with gentle fingers. He stood long beside tbe 'tower bed and gazed at the banked wall of bright flowers as if be could never leave orf. CHAPTER VII. AN ANGEL MAT= ATr7ES. HERE had Freckles ever found and how had be transplanted such ferns? As McLean turned from them he stopped sudden- ly. He bad reached the door of the cathedral. That wbich Freckles had attempted would have been patent to any one. What had been in the heart of the shy, silent boy when he had found that long, dim stretch of forest, decorated its entrance, cleared and smoothed its aisle and carpeted its al- tar? What veriest work of God was in these mighty living pillars and the arched dome of green! How like stain- ed cathedral windows were the long openings between the trees, filled with rifts of blue, rays of gold and the shift- ing emerald of leaves! Where could be found mosaics to match this aisle paved with living color and glowing lights? Was Freckles a devout Chris- tian and did be worship here? Or was he an untaught heathen and down this vista of entrancing loveliness did Pan come piping and dryads, nymphs and fairies dance for him? Who can fathom the heart of a boy? McLean had been thinking of Freckles as a creature of unswerving honesty, eourage and faithfulness. Here was evidence of a heart aching tor heanty, art, companionship, worship. It was writ large all over the floor, walls and furnishing of that little Limberlost clearing. Wimp Duncan came McLean told him the story of the tight, and they uiugned until they cried. 'Then they started around the line in search of the tree. Said‘Duncan, "Now the boy is in for sore trouble!" "1 hope not," answered McLean. "You never in all your life saw a cur whipped so completely. He won't come back for tbe repetition of the chorus. We can surely find the tree. if we can't Freckles can. 1 will bring euougb of the gang to take it out at once. That will insure peace for a time at least, and 1 am hoping that in a month more the whole gang can be moved here. It will soon be fall, and then, if be will go, I intend to send Freckles to my mother to be educated. With his quickness of mind and beds! and a few years' good help he can del anything. Why, Duncan, I'd give a hundred dollar bill if you cdlild have s� been here and seen for yourlf." Locating the tree was an easy task because It was so well Identified. When the tumble of the lumber wag. ons passing the cabin on the way tel the swamp wakened Freckles next morning he sprang up and was soon following them. The tree was a giant maple and so precious that they al- most dug it out by the roots. McLean had told Freckles to ride on a section of the maple with him, bat now the boy begged to go into the swamp with Duncan. "I don't see why you want to go," said McLean. "1 have no business to let you out today at all .° "It's me chickens, sir," answered Freckles. Freckles hurried into the swamp. He was some little distance behind, but he could still see the men. Before he overtook them they had turned from the west road and bad entered the swamp toward the east. The un• derbrush was almost impenetrable. At they plunged into it a great black bird swept -alter their i1aaj7q, b'E c6ies danced wildly. "It's me chickens! Oh, it's me chickens!" he shouted. "Oh, Duncan, come quick; You've found the nest of me precloue chickens!" Duncan hurried down to the mouth of a monstrous log, but Freckles wa1 before him. He crashed through poll son vines and underbrush regardless of any danger and climbed on the( stump. When Duncan got there ha was shouting like a wild thing. "It's hatched!" he yelled. "Oh, met big chicken bas hatched out me little/ chicken. and there's another egg; 1 can see it plain, and, oh, the tunny] little white baby! Duncan, can yea see me little white chicken?" Duncan could easily see It, and sat could every one else. Freckles tette derly carried the bissing, blinking lite tle thing out to the ligbt in a leaf lined hat. Tbe men found it suffncfentl wonderful to satisfy even Freckles, who had forgotten be was ever sot* or stiff, and coddled over it with ev ery blarneying term of endearment ha knew. Duncan gathered up his tools. "Deal's off, boys!" be said cheerfully.' "'Tbe log manna be touched until` Freckles' chaukles have finished with' it. We mlgbt as wee! gang. Better put it back, Freckles. it's just out, and it may cbill. Ye will probably) hae twa the morn." Freckles deposited the baby beside, the egg. When he came back be said: ▪ ledeeattse "enures OFF, noYs 1 " tilt SAID CaJEa. FULL. "I made a big mistake not to be bring- ing the egg out with the babyebut r was fearing to touch it. It's shaped like a hen's egg, and It's big as a tur- Itey's, and the beautifulest blue—just splattered with big brown splotches, like me book said, precise. But you never saw such a sight as it made on the yellow of the rotten wood beside that tunny leathery faced little white be „ (To lily` CONIINIIED.) Children Cry FOR FLETCHER'S C,A.STO tom' l A.