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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1915-11-18, Page 7( November 18th, 1915 Lr, THE WINGHAM TIMES -- ---- y IaraAa��me a r_ f 1 Freckies. BY Gene Stratton - Porter Copyright 1904, by Doubleday, Page & Co. SYNOPSIS. Freckles, a homeless boy, Is hired by [Boss McLean to guard the expensive tim- ber in the Limberlost from timber thieves. •Freckles does his work faithfully, makes -friends with the birds and yearns to know more about nature. He lives with Mr. and Mrs. Duncan. H@••resolves To get books and educate himself. He becomes interested in a huge pair of vultures and calls his bird friend, his "chickens." Some dt the trees he Is guarding are worth $1,000 each. Freckles' books arrive. iHe receives a call from Wessner.. Wessner attempts to bf•Ibe Freckles to .betray his trust, and Freckles *hips him. .McLean overhears them and witnesses the iflght. .Freckles' honesty saves a precious tree. Ho finds the nest of the vultures and is •vislted by a beautiful young girl. She calls Freckles McLean's-tarn Freckles ,calls her "the angel" and helps tho Bird Woman In taking photographs. McLean ,proniisos to adopt Freckles. ' 'They arranged that Freckles should ';drive the carriage into the east en- trance in the shade and then take the !horse around toward the north to a better place he knew. Then be was entertain the angel at his study or e the line until the Bird Woman fin- ished her work and came to them. Freckles •trod on air, for his dream -had come.true so soon. He was going edown the timberline and the angel was following him. He asked to be excused for going first, because he wanted to be sure the trail was safe for her. She laughed let his fears. telling him that it was the polite thing for him to ••do anyway. "Oh," said Freckles. "so you tens after knowing that? Well, 1 didn't s'pose you did, and I was afraid you'd • think me wantiug In respect to be preceding you!" The astonished angel looked at him. •caught the irrepressible gleam of lrisb fon in his eyes, and they laughed to- gether. Freckles did not realize how be was talking that morning. He showed ber ninny of the beautiful nests and eggs -.of the line. She could identify a num- ber of tbem. but of some she was igno- rant, so they made notes of the num. • her and color of the eggs, material and -construction of Host, color. size and •shape of the birds and went on to look ,,'them up in the book. At his room, when Precedes had lift- --tel the overhanging hushes and stepped back for her to enter, his heart was alt! • out•of time and pince. The angel drew . a deep breath :and stood staring, first :at one side, then at another, then far off down the cathedral aisle "It's ,just fairyland!" she cried ecstatically 'Then she ,urned and stared at Freckles .:exactly ns she had et his handiwork. "what are you planning to be?" she eked slowly. •'�Wliatever Mr. McLean wants tet •'o," he reolted. 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Doan's Kidney fills are 5Oc per box, '3 boxes for 31.25; at all dealers or mailed .direct on receipt of price by The T. Milburn Co., Limited, Toronto, Ont. When ordering direct specify "Doan's." l "Wilat do you do'most?" she asked. 1, "Watch me lines." "I don't mean work!" "Oh! In me spare time T keep me roam and study in me books." "Do you work on the room or the books most?" "On the room just what It takes to keep it up and the rest of the time on me books." The angel eyed him sharply. "Well, maybe you are going to be a groat scholar," she said, "but you don't look it. Your face isn't right for that, but it's got something big In it-soulet-hing just great. 1 must find out what it is and then you must go to work ou it. Your father is expecting you to do something. You can tell by the way he talks. You ought to begin right away. You've wasted too much time already." Poor Freckles hung his bead. He bad never wasted an hour in his life. There had never been one that was his to waste. The angel. studying him intently, read bis thought in bis face. "Oh, I don't mean that!" she cried, with the frank dismay of sixteen. "Of course you're not lazy! Nobody would ever think that from your looks. It's this I mean: There is something fine, strong and full of power in your face. There is something you are to do in this world, and no matter how hard you work at all these other things nor hove successfully you do them it is all waste Ad until you find the one thing that fou can do best. If you could go,any- where you please and do anything yon want, what would you do?" "I'd go to Chicago and sing in the First Episcopal choir," answered Freckles promptly. The angel dropped back oh a seat; the hat she had taken off and held is her fingers rolled to her feet. "There," she exclaimed vehemently, "you can see what I'm going to be. Nothing, absolutely nothing! You can sing? Of course you can sing! It is written all over you." "Anybody with half wit could have seen he could sing without having to be told," she thought. "It's in the slenderness of his fingers and his quick, nervous touch. It is in the brightness of his hair, the fire of his eyes, the breadth of his chest, the muscles of his throat and neck and, above all, it's in every tone of his voice." - "Will you do something for me?" she asked. "I'll do anything in the world you want me to," said Freckles largely, "and if I can't do what you want I'll go to work at once and I'll try till I can." "Good," said the angel. "Go over there and stand before tbat bank and sing something -anything you think of first" It was a children's song that he had led for the little folks at the .home ,ma times. "THEN GO FLYniG,," B ID Tim num WO. i'Z fairy land we so; With a sone of joy, helgh-oi in dreams we'll stand upon that shore And alt the realm behold. We'll see the sights so grand That belong to fairy land. Its mysteries we will explore, Its beauties will unfold. Oh, tra, ia, la, oh, ha, ha, ha! We're bap - Py now as we can be. Our welcome song we will prolong and greet you with our melody. O fairy land, sweet fairy land, we love to sing - Nothing could have given the lntenee sweetness anal rollicking sopliry of /!freckles' voice better scope. He for- got everything but pride in his work with the sound of his voice. Be was on the chorus, and the angel was shiv- ering in ecstasy when clip, clip, came the sharply beating feet of a swiftly ridden horse down the trail from the north. They both sprang toward the entrance. "Freckles, Freckles!" called the voice of the Bird Woman. They were at the trail on the instant "Both those revolvers loaded?" she asked. "Yes," said Freckles. "Is there a way you can cut across the swamp and get to the chicken tree in a few minutes and with little noise?" "Yes." "Then go flying," said the Bird Woman. "Give the angel a lift up be - bind me, and we will ride the horse back to where you left him and wait for you. I finished Little Chicken in no time and put him back. His mother came so close, I. felt sure she would enter the log. The light was fine, so Jet and focused the camera and eov ered It with branches, attached the long hose and went away off over 1,00 feet and hid in some bushes to wait A short, thick man and a tall, dark one passed sae so closely I could al- most have reached out and touched them. They carried a big saw.on their shoulders. They said they could work until about noon, and then they must lay off until you passed and then try to load and get out at night. They went on -not entirely out of sight - and began cutting a tree. Mr. McLean told me the other day what was likely to happen there, and if they get that tree down he loses - his wager an you. Keep to the east and north• and hustle. We'll meet you at the carriage. 1 am always armed. We will separate and creep up on them from different sides and give them a fusilade that will send them flying. You hurry, now!" She gathered up the reins and started briskly down the trail. The angel, hat- less and with sparkling eyes, was clinging about her waist. Freckles worked his way with great care, dodging limbs and bushes with noiseless tread and cutting as close to where be thought the men were as he felt that he dared if he were to remain unseen. As he ran he tried to think, •It was Wessner, burning for his re- venge, aided by the bully of the local- ity, that he was going to meet. He must follow the Bird Woman's plan and meet them at the carriage, but if they really did mean to try to help him he must not allow it. Let the angel try to handle a' revolver in .his defense? Never! Not for all the trees in the Limberlost! She might shoot herself. She might forget to watch sharply and run across a snake that was not particularly well behaved that morning. Freckles permitted himself a grim smile as he went speed- ing on. When he reached the carriage the Bird Woman and the angel had the horse hitched to it, the outfit packed and were calmly waiting. "Give babe one of your revolvers, quick!" said the Bird Woman. "We will all creep up until' we are in fair range. The underbrush is so thick and they are so hard at work that they will never notice us, if we don't make a noise. You will fire first, then I will pop in from my direction, and then you, baby, and shoot quite high, or else very low. We mustn't really bit them." Freckles protested. The Bird Woman chose the middle distance, and for a last time caution- ed the angel to lie down and shoot high, as she moved away. Freckles' revolver spat fire. Lead openged on steel. The saw handle Sew from Wessner's band and he reeled with the jar of the shock. Black Jack straightened, uttering a fearful oath. His hat was taken off by a shot from the northeast. -The angel bad not wait- ed for the Bird Woman, and her shot could scarcely bane been called high. At almost the same instant the third shot whistled in from the east Black Jack spang into the air with a yell of complete panic, for it ripped a heel from his boot. Freckles emptied his second chamber and the dirt spattered over Wessner. Shots poured in thickand fast With- out even reaching fora weapon, both men broke for tbe east road in great, leaping bounds; while leaden slugs sung and hissed about them in deadly earnest. Freckles was trimming his corners as closely as be dared, but if the an- gel did not really intend to hit, she was shaving the limit in a scandalous manner. CHAPTER X, TRUCKLES wens HONOR. HEN the men reached the trail Freckles yelled at the top of his voice: "Head them off on the south, boys! Fire from the south!" As°he bad hoped, Jack and Wessner instantly plunged into the swale. A storm of lead spattered after them. They crossed the aware, running low, With not even one backward glance, and entered the wood beyond the cor- duroy. 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Milburn Co., Limited, Toronto, Out. "I'd better fix this saty so they can't. be using it if they come back." said Freckles, taking out his hntcbet and making the saw teeth fly. "Now we have to get out of here with• out beiug seen," said the Bird Woman to the angel. "It won't do for me to make enemies of these men, for 1 and liable to meet them about my work uny day." "You can do it by driving straight north on this road," said Freckles. "1 will go ahead and cut the wires for you. The swale Is almost dry. You will only be sinking a few iuches at most. In a few rods you will strike a cornfield. I will take down the fence end let you into that. Follow the fur rows and drive straight across ft until you come to the other side. Be follow- ing the fence south until you come to a road through the woods east of it. Then take that road and follow east until you reecho the pike. You will come out on your way back to town and twodniles north of anywhere they are likely to be. Don't for your lives ever let it out that you did this," he earnestly cautioned. "for It's black en- emies you would be making." Freckles snapped the wires, and they drove through. The angel leaned from the carriage and held out his revolver. Freckles looked into ber face and lost his breath. Her eyes were black and her face a deeper rose than usual. He felt that his own was white as deatb. "Did I shoot high enough " she ask- ed -sweetly. "I really. forgot about ly- ing down." iii'reekias winced. Did the child know 'low near she had gone? Surely she could nota Or was It possible that she had the nerve and skill to tire like that purposely? "1 will send the first reliable man 1 'gleet for McLean," said the Bird Wo- man, gathering up the lines. "If 1 don't meet one when we reach town we will send a messenger. If it wasn't for having the gang see me 1 would go myself." Bound eyed, Freckles watched the Bird Woman and the angel drive away. After they were out of sight and be was safely hidden among the branches of a small tree, he remem- bered that he had neither thanked them nor said goodby. Would the Bird Woman and the angel come again? No other women that he had ever known would. But were they like any other women he had ever known? He thought of the Bird Woman's unruffled face and the angel's revolver practice, and presently he was not so sure that they would not come back. What were the people out in the big world like? His knowledge was so very limited. There had been people at the home who exchanged a stilted, perfunctory sort of kindness for their salaries. The visitors that called on receiving days he had divided into three classes -the kind that came with a tear in the eye and bypocrisy in ev- ery feature of their faces; the kind that came in silks and jewels and kanded out te-tbose poor, little,riiot ier- The Wretchedness of Constipation Can quickly be overcome by CARTER'S LITTLE LIVER PILLS Purely vegetable -act surely and g-ntly on the liver. Cure !Biliousness, Head. ache, Dizzi. nets, and Indigestion. They do their duty. Small PIII, Small Dora, Small Pelee. Genuine must bear Signature hung1.37'sotil-s'wiii•n'tL ra tlfatthe?' ehli- dren no longer cared for, in exactly the same spirit in which they pitched biscuits to the monkeys at the "zoo," and for the same reason -to see bow they would take them and be amused by what they would do; and the third class, that he considered real people, who made him feel they cared that he was there and would have been glad to see him elsewhere. Now, here was another class that had met him as a son and brother. With them he could for the only titpo in his life forget the lost hand that every day tortured him with a new pang. What sort of people were they and where did they belong among the classes he knew? He had to give it up because he bad never known others like them, but hew he loved them! Out in the world where he was soon going were the majority like them or were they of the hypocrite and bun throwing classes? Freckles did not know, but he reached the ultimate conclusion that people like the Bird Woman, the angel, McLean and the Dnneans were very rare, hence their exceeding preciousness. Ile had forgotten the excitement of the morning and the passing of time when distant voices aroused him, and he softly lifted his head. Nearer and nearer they came, and as the heavy wagons rumbled down the east trail he could bear them plainly. The gang were shouting themselves hoarse for the Limberlost guard. Freckles didn't feel that he deserved it. He would have given much to be able to go out to the men and explain how it was, but only to McLean could he tell his story." • At the sight of Freckles the men threw up their hats and cheered. Mc- Lean shook hands with him warmly, but big Duncan gathered him into his arms and bugged him like a bear and clinked over a few words of praise. The gang drove in and finished felling the tree. When the Last wagon rolled away MJ'Lean sat down on tbe stump and Freckles told the story he was aching to tell. 'The boss could scarcely be- lieve his senses. Also he was greatly disappointed. "1 have been almost praying all the way over, Freckles," he said, "that you would have some evidence by which we conic; arrest those fellows and get them out of our way, but this will never do. We can't mix those women up in it. They have helped you save me the tree and my wager as well. Laing about the country as she does, the Bird Woman could never be ex peeted to testify against them." "No, indeed; nor the angel either, sir," said Freckles, "The angel?" queried the astonished Mclean. Air Tile boss listened in silence while Freckles told of the corning and chefs tening of the angel. "1 know her father well," said Mc• Lean at last, "and 1 have often seen her. You are right, she is a beautiful young girl. 1 no not understand why her father risks such a Jewel In this place." "He's daring It because site is such a " jewel. sir," said F'rec'kles eagerly. '\Vhy, she's trusting a rattlesnake to rattle before It strikes her, and, of course. she thinks sire can trust man• land as well. The man isn't mace that wouldn't lay down the life of him tor ter. She don't need any care. FIer face and the pretty ways of her are all the protection she would need In a band of bowling savages." "Did you say she handled one of the revolvers?" asked \!clean. "She scared all the breath out of me body," admitted Freckles. "500015 that her father has taught her to shoot. The Bird Woman told her dis- tinctly to lie low and blaze away high. Just to help scare them. The spunky little thing followed them right out into the west toad. spitting lead 1111, hail• and clipping all about the needs and heels of them." "Now, will they come back?" asked McLean. "Of course," said Fre( kl s• "At least Polack .lack will. Wessner might riot have the pluck. Arid the ncvt time"- Freckles hesitated. "What?" "It will just he n question of who shoots first and straightest." "Then the only thing fur me to de is to doable the guard and ger the tri here the firs! 111111ato p•ssnne :\s soon 111 I feel 1hal we nave ,. surest of the stuff out below see eeh come. The fact is in many cases un- til it is felled It's bard to tell what a tree will prove to be. It won't du to leave you here longer alone. ,111c0 Das been shouting twenty years to your one. awl it stands to reason that you are no match for him. Which of the gang would' you like hest to nave with you.?" "Nu one, sir," said Freckles emphat- ically. "Next time Is where 1 run. 1 won't trtto tight them atone. I'll just be getting; wind of thew and thea make trucks for you. 1'11 need to come like lightning, and D1113011 11 1)111 110 ex- tra horse, so Pin thinking you'd best get me one, or perhaps 11 wheel evould be better. 1 used to do estrn work for the home doctor, and be would tet me take his bicycle to ride about the place. And at tines the head nurse would lend me his for nn hour. A wheel would cost less and be faster than a horse and would tape 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 Alla aohete, „later judgment, she 1E1 !Q.1-21LE2. 111(111Il.1l��� Thehopriebryor Palest tledicineAct. • AVegetable Preparation forAs•• simtlating IheFoodandReegguulaf,, ,flog theStomachsand Boweisof INIVINC5 ag°CIIILDREN Promo tesDigestion,Cheerful- ness and Rest.Colltains!wither. Opiunt.Morphiae nor Mineral:, NOT NA13 C O TIC. listpeafOldPp Al1JE PIMP!! , lmpkin Seed- Akc.rarmt + Acht((c kits- Anise:ad + !If[trt r deo lam Sied- llmllkd Sugar • WetuirrfnElarrv: Aperfect Remedy forConSlith- lion, SourSlomach,Diarrhsee Worms,Conv u Isions.Fevetish• ness and LOSS OF SLEEP. FacSimile Signature of THE CENTAUR COMPANY. MONTREAL&NEW YORK At6 months old 35 DosEs-35CENTS Exact Copy of Wrapper. CASTORIA For Infants and Chiidxen. 1 Mothers Know That Genuine Castoria Always Bears the Signature of in Use For Over Thirty Years CASTORIA -c T„c cc"rwvw caw ,sew vow,c a,rv. overridden by' the toy"he'was growing so to love that lie 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 Freckles took it down to the trail to test it. It was new. cbainless, with as little as possible to catch in hurried riding, and in every way the best of its kind. Freckles npyeR� "IT WILL JUST BE A QUESTION OF WHO SHOOTS FIRST." 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 hue on foot. He glanced around his room as he left it. On the moss in front of his prettiest seat lay the angel's 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 be 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 veriest Daniel, and all his lions seemed weak and harmless. Black lack was not a man to give up his purpose or to have the bat swept from his bead 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, to wear off bis awkward- ness. mounted his wheel and went spinning about the line again. "Wee!. 1 be drawed on!" exclaimed Mrs. Duncan an hour later. Freckles stood before her, holding the angel's bat "I've been thinking this long time that ye or Duncan would see that sun- bonnets werena brew enough for a woman of my standing, and ye're a guid 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' fished eyes saw a new side of Sarah Duncan. She was jesting, but under the jest the fact loomed strong that there was something in her soul cry ing out after that bit of feminine fin. ery. Ile resolved that . when he I '0ched'"tue city' Se would' send her as tine a bat as the angel's if it took $56 to do it. She lingeringly handed it back to him. "It's unco guid of ye to think of me." she said lightly, "but 1 maun question your taste a wee. D'ye no think ye had hest return this and get a woman with half her hair gray a little plainer headdress? Seems like that's far ower gay for me. I'm no' saying that it's no' exactly what I'd Tike to hoe, but I mauna mak mysel' ridiculous. Ye'd best give this to somebody young and pretty, say about sixteen. Where di( ye come by it, Freckles? If there's anything been dropping lately ye bee forgotten to mention it," "Do you see anything heavenly about that hat?" queried Freckles, bolding it up. The morning breeze waved the rib- bons gracefully, binding one about Freckles' sleeve and the other across his chest, where they"caught and clung as if magnetized. "Yes," said Sarah Duncan, "it's ex- actly what I'd call a heavenly hat" "Sure," said Freckles, "for it's be- longing to an angel!" Then he told her about the bat and asked her what be should do with it. "Take it to her, of course!" said Sarah Duncan. "You think I should be taking it home?" he said. "Of course ye must," said Mrs. Dun- can. "Ye gang awe and take the bless- ed little angel her beautiful bat." "Are you sure it will be all right?" urged Freckles. "Do you think if Mr. McLean came he would care?' "Na," said Mrs. Duncan, "I dlnna. If ye and me agree that a thing ought to be done, and I watch in your place. why, it's bound to be all right with McLean. Ought ye put on your Sab- bath day clothes?" Freckles shook bis bead. 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 bis club and went spinning toward town. Be knew very well where the angel lived. He had passed her home many times, and he passed it again without even tatting his eyes from the street, steering straight for her father's place of busi- ness. Carrying the bat, Freckles passed a long line of clerks and at the door of the private office asked to see the pro- prietor. When he had waited a mo- ment a tall, spare, keen eyed man faced him and in brisk, nervous tones asked, "How can 1 serve you, sir?" Freckles handed hits the package and answered: "3y delivering to your daughter this hat, which she was after leaving at me place the other day when she went off in a hurry. And by say- ing to her and the Bird Woman that I'm more thankful than I'll be having words to express for the brave thing they was doing for me. I'm McLean's Limberlost guard., sir." (To BR CONTINVF;D.) Children Cry FOR FLETCHER'S CAS`1"O R I Aar.