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The Wingham Times, 1915-12-09, Page 7December gth, 1915 Freckles,' BY Gene `Stratton - Porter Copyright 1904, by Doubleday, Page & Co, SYNOPSIS. • Freckles, a homeless boy. is hired by • Bosa McLeary to guard the expensive ttm- ••ber in the Limberlost from timber thieves. Freckles does his work faithfully. makes' I friends with the birds and yearns to know more about nature. He lives with Mr. and Mrs. Duncan. `ZIe" ieQolves to get books and educate himself. He becomes interested in a huge +pair of vultures and calls his bird friends his "chickens." Some of the trees he is guarding are • worth 31,000 each. Freckles' books arrive. •He receives a call from Wessner. Wessner attempts to btibe Freckies to , betray his trust, and Freckles whips him. McLean overhears them and witnesses the fight. Freckles' honesty saves a precious tree. Ho finds the nest of the vultures and L visited by a beautiful young girl. She calls Freckles McLean's seh: Freckles • calls her "the angel" and helps the Bird , Woman in taking photographs. McLean promises to adopt Freckles. Irieckle'sr the -"angel become very dIy. Assisted by the Bird Woman, ey strive Wessner and Black Jack, tim. er thieves, from the Limberlost. McLean tears more trouble, but Freckles insists upon being the sole guard of the • timber. Freckles calla upon the angel'' afather,. A mist swept before his eyes, and bis 'Mead swam. Was it only last night that he, bad worshiped the angel in a -delirium of happiness? And now tt? Wessner, released from a turn he sew, walked over to the Hower bed and, tearing up a uaudrul of rare terns by the roots, started toward Freckles. His Intention was obvious .Black Jack stopped"him with an oath. "You see here. Dntchy," he bawled, webby you think you'll wash his face Iwith that. but you won't. A contract's a contract. We agreed to take "ut theae trees and leave him for you to • dispose of whatever way you please, provided you sbut him up eternally "re this deal. But 1'11 not see a tied man tormented by n fellow that be eau heir up the ground with, loose, and that's tat It raises my gorge to think whet he'll get when we're gone, but you needn't think you're free to begin be. tore. Don't you lay a band on him while I'm here! What do you Nay. boys?" "1 soy ,vas." growled one of Mc- Lean's latent deserters. "What's more. we're u pack of foots to rlkh the dirty work ot silencing him. 1 dou't . mind lifting the trees we came for, but I'm cursed 11 l want blood ou rey hands." "Well, you ain't going to get It," het - .lowed Jack, "You fellows only eon- •tracted to help me get (101 my mark- ed trees. He belongs to ‘e eseuer, and ;It ain't our dent [what happens to him. It's all planned mile and sure. As for .killing that buck—route to think of it. killing is what he needs. lie's away to good for this world of Hoe anyhow His dropping out :von•1 he the only secret the old Llraberlost bus never old. ft's too dead easy to make it ok like he helped take the timber and ek nut. Why, he's played right into Had Dyspepsia. Says: HE NEARLY TURNED UP HIS TOES. - Burdock Blood Bitters CURED HIM. Mt'. H. N Manderson, Stettler, Alta, "rites: "About twenty-five years ago, m the Province of Quebec, I came pretty near turning up my toes with dyspepsia. A cousin of tame persuaded me to try Burdock Blood Bitters. In about two weeks 1 could eat anything from raw fat pork to unleavened bread. Three bottles did the job, and I have never been troubled with my stomach since. You would say that this is wonderful if you • Could only see what we sometimes have to live on in this country; bennock, half cooked beans, etc." Burdock Bioo9 Tatters t e been on the market for the. past forty Year's, ane1 cannot exec•:..:d as a medicine for all diseases or rrsorders of the stomach, 11.11.11. is manufactured only by The Miibnrrt Co., Limited, Toronto, Ont. curl:laths. '13a was sere lit:-tna* Sleamp all last night and back again in an hour or so. When we get our plan worked out even old fool Duncan won't lift a finger to look for his car- cass." arcass." "You just bet," said Wessner, "1 owe him all he'll get. But I'll pay!" he snarled at Freckles. Se it was killing then. They were not only after, this one tree, but many, and with his body it was their plan to kill his honor. To brand him a thief, like them, before the angel, the Bird Woman, the dear boss and the Duncan! Freckles' body sagged against the ropes in sick despair. There was no hope of McLean's coming. They had chosen a day when they knew he had a big contract at the south camp. • The boss could not possibly come before tomorrow, and there would be no tomorrow for him. Duncan was on his way to the south camp, and the Bird Woman had said sbe would come as soon as she could. After the fatigue of the party it was useless to expect her and the angel today, and God save them from com- ing! The sweat broke out on Freckles' forehead. He tugged at the ropes whenever he felt that be dared. but they were passed about the tree and his body several times and knotted on his chest, He resolved that he would bear in mind what be bad once heard' the Bird Woman say. He would go out bonnily. Never would he let them see if he grew afraid. After all, what did it matter what they did to his body if by some scheme of the devil they could compass his disgrace? Then hope suddenly rose high in Freckles' breast. They could not do that. The angel would not believe. Neither would McLean. He would keep up his courage. Sill him they could; dishonor him they could not. Yet, summon alt the fortitude he might, that saw eating into the tree rasped his nerves worse and worse. With whirling brain he gazed off into the Limberlost, searching for some- thing, he knew not what, and in blank horror tepid his eyes fastened on the angel. She was quite a distance away, but he could see her white lips and wide, angry eyes. Last week he had taken her and the Bird Woman across the swamp over the path he followed in going in from his room to the chicken tree. He had told them last night that the butterfly tree was on -the line close to this path. In figuring on their .pot coming that day he failed to reckon with the em thusiasm of the Bird Woman. They must be there for the study, and' the angel had risked crossing the swamp in search of him. Or was there some- thing in his room they needed? The blood surged in his ears like the roar of the Limberlost in the wrath of a sperm. He looked again. and it had been a dream. She was not there. Had she been? For bis life Freckles could not tell whether he had really seen the angel or whether his strained senses had played him the most cruel trick of all. ' Or was it not the kindest? Now he could die with the vision of het lovely face fresh with him. "Thank you for that, 0 Godi" whispered Freckles. "'Twas more than kind of you, and I don't s'pose I ought to be wanting anything more, but if you can, oh, I wish I could know before this ends if 'twas me mother"— Freckles could not even whisper the words. for he hesitated a second and ended—"if 'twos me mother did itl" "Freckles! Freckles! Oh, Freckles?" the voice of the angel came call• Jag, Freckles swayed forward and wrenched at the rope until it cut deep• 1y into his body. Black Jack whipped out a revolver and snatched the gag from Freckles' mouth. "Say quick, what's that, or it's up with you right now and whoever that is with youl" "It's the girl the Bird Woman takes about with her," whispered Freckles through dry, swollen lips. "They ain't due here for five days yet," said Wessner. "We got on to that last week." "Yes," said Freckles, "but I found a tree covered with butterflies and things along the east line yesterday that 1 thought the Bird Woman would want, extra. and 1 went td town for her hast night, She said she'd Come soon, but she didn't say when. I take tare,of,,,Ltle 011,.111h11e thr. furry VOA' THE WINGHAM TIMES an words'.•" untie nie gufcg' untff the is gone. I'll try to send ber back, and then you can go On with your dir- ty work." "He ain't lying," volunteered Wess- ner, "1 saw that tree covered with butterfliesand him watebing around it when we were spying on him yes- terday." "No, be leaves lying to your sort," snapped Black Jack as he undid the rope and pitched it across the room. "Remember that you're covered every move you make, my buck," be caution- ed. "Freckles! Freckles!" came the an- gel's impatient voice, nearer and near- er. "I must be answering," said Frec- kles, and Jack nodded. "Right here!" be called, and to the men; "You go on with \ your work, and remember ens. thing yourselves. The work of the Bird Woman is known all over the world. This girl's father is a rich man, and elm is all be has. If you offer hurt of any kind to either or them this world has no place far enough away nor dark enough fol yon to be hiding in." "Freckles, where are you?" demand- ed the angel. Soul sick with fear for her, Freckles went toward her and parted the bushes that she might enter. She came through .without apparently giv- ing him a glance, and the first words she said were: "Why have the gang come so soon? I didn't know you ex- pected them for three weeks yet. Or is this some special tree that Mr. Mc-' Lean needs to fill an order right now?" Freckles hesitated. Would a man dare lie to save himself? No. But to save the angel—surely that was differ- ent. ifferent. He opened his Bps, but the an- gel was capable of saving herself. She walked in among them, exactly as if she had been raised in a lumber camp and never waited for an answer. "Why, your specimen easel" she cried. "Look! Haven'tyou noticed that it's tipped over? Set it straight quickly!" A couple of men stepped out and carefully righted the case. "There; that's better," she said. "Freckles, I'm surprised at your be- ing so careless. It would be a shame to break those lovely butterflies for one old tree. Is that a valuable tree? Why didn't yon tell us last night you were going• to take a tree out this morning? Oh, say, did you put your case there to protect that tree from that stealing old Black Jack and his gang? I bet you did! Well, if that wasn't bright! What kind of a tree is it7" "It's a golden oak," said Freckles. "Like those they make dining tables and sideboards out of?" "Yes." "My, how interesting!" she cried. "I don't know . a thing about timber, but my father wants me to learn about just everything I can. I am going to ask him to let me come here and watch you until I know enough to boss a gang myself. Do you like to cut trees, gentlemen?" she asked of the men with angelic sweetness. Some of them looked foolish and some grinned, but one managed to say that they did. Then the angel's eyes turned full on Black Jack, and she gave the most beautiful little start of astonishment. "Oh. I almost thought that you were a ghost!" she cried. "But I see now that you are really and truly. Were you ever in Colorado?" "No," said Jack. ' CHAPTER XV. TEE ANGEL GOES EOR HELP. SEE now you aren't the same man," said the angel. "You know, we were in Colorade Jost year, and there was a cowboy that was the handsomest man about. He'd come riding into town every night and all we girls just adored him! Oh, but he was a beauty[ I thought at first glance you were really he, but I see now be wasn't nearly so tall nor so br'oad as you and only half as handsome. The men burst into a roar of laugh- ter, and Jack flushed crimson. The an- gel joined in the laugh. "Well, I'll leave it to you! Isn't he handsome?" she challenged. "As for that cowboy's face, it couldn't be com- pared with yours. The only trouble with you is that your clothes are spoil- ing you. It's the dress those cowboys wear that makes half their looks. If you were properly dressed you could break the heart of the prettiest girl in the country." With one accord the other men focused on Black Jack and for the first time realized that he was a superb specimen of manhood, for he stood six feet tall, was broad, well rounded and had dark, even skin, big black eyes and full red lips. "I'11 tell you what!" exclaimed the angel. "I'd just love to see you on horseback. Nothing sets a handsome man off so sptendtdly. Do you ride?" "Yes," said Jack, and his eyes were burning on the angel as if he would fathom the depths of her soul. "Well," said the angel winsomely, "I know what I just wish you'd do. I wish you would let your hair grow a little longer. Then wear a blue flannel shirt a little open at the throat, a red tie and a broad brimmed felt hat and ride past my house of evenings. I'm always at home then and almost al- ways on the veranda. and, oh, but would like to see your Will you do that for me?" The angel was looking straight into Jack's face, Coarse and hardened with Mil and careless living, which was now taking on a wholly different ex- pression. The evil lines of it were softening and fading out under her clear gaze. A dull red flamed Into hie bronze cheeks, and his eyes Were grow- ing 170Jttly fair r, D Use MILBURN'S LAXA-LIVER PILLS FOR A SLUGGISH LIVER, When the liver becomes sluggish it is an indication that the bowels are not working properly, and if they do not move regularly many complications are liable to set in. Constipation, sick headache, bilious headache, jaundice, heartburn, water brash, cn,tarrh of the stomach, etc., all come frw n a disordered liver. Milburn's Lau -Liver' Pills stimulate the sluggish liver, clean the coated tongue, sweeten the obnoxious breath, clean away all waste and poisonous matter from the system, and prevent as well as cure all complaints arising from a liver which has become inactive, Mrs. John V. Tanton, Birnam. Ont„ writes: "I take great pleasure in writing you concerning the great value I have received by using your Milburn's Laxa- Liver Pills for a sluggish liver, When my liver got had, I would have severe head- aches, but after using a couple of vials, I am not bothered with them any more." Milburn's Lake -Liver Pills arc 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. "Yes;' lie said; and the glance he shot at the men was of such a nature that no one saw fit even to change countenance. "Ob, goody!" she cried, tilting on her toes. "I'll ask the girls to come to see, but they needn't stick in. We can get along without them, can't we?" • Jack leaned toward ber. He was the charmed. fluttering bird, and the angel was the snake. • "Well, I rather guess!" be cried. The angel drew a deep breath and looked him over rapturously. "My, but you're tall!" she gurgled, "Do you suppose I will ever grow to reach your shoulders? "Lariat Bill used always to have a bunch of red flowers in his shirt pock- et, and the red lit up his dark eyes and olive cheeks and made his splen- did May I put a. bunch of red flow- ers on your Freckles' eyes popped, and he wheez- ed., for breath. He wished that the earth would open and swallow him up. Was he dead or alive? Since his an- gel had set eyes on Black Jack she had never even glanced his way. Was she completely bewitched[ Would she throw herself at the man's feet before them all? Couldn't she give him even one thobght? Hadn't she seen he was gagged and bound? Did she truly think that these were McLean's men? Why, she couldn't. It was only a few days ago that she had been near enough this man . and angry enough with him to peel the hat from his head with a shot., Suddenly a thing she bad jestingly said to him one day came back with startling Porde, "You must take angels on trust." Of course you must! She was his angel. She must have seen. His life and,,,wbat was far worse, her own were in her hands. There was nothing be could do but trust her. Surely she was working out some plan. The angel' knelt beside his flower - bed and recklessly tore up by the roots a big bunch of foxfire, "These stems are so tough and sticky," she said. "I can't break them. Lend me your knife," she or dered Freckles. As she reached for the knife ber back was one second toward the men. She looked into his eyes and deliber- ately winked. She severed the stems, tossed the knife back to Freckles and, walking up to Jack, laid the flowers . over his heart. Freckles broke into a sweat of agony. He had said she would be safe in a herd of howling savages. Would she? If Black Jack even made a mo- tion toward touching her Freckles knew that from somewhere he would muster the strength to kill him. He mentally measured the distance to Where his club lay and set his muscles for a spring. But, no! The big. fellow was baring his head with a hand that was unsteady. The angel pulled one of the long silver pins from her hat and fastened her flowers securely. Freckles was quaking. What was to come next? DZIEHAIDIADADRADalddiel The Wretchednese of Constipation Can quickly be overcome by CARTER'S LITTLE LIVER PILLS Purely vegetable -•-act surely and tautly on the !:ver. Care fklia'raneu, Had. a.hc, dr Dizzi. acs, end Indigestion. They do their Juty. Small P111, Small Dene, Small Price. Genuine must bear Signature PallaVOINIRDPIRNNNINPVINNIVIIIDNI the angel stepped back from Jack she turned her bead to one side and peered up at him, just ea Freckles had seen the little yellow fellow do on the line a hundred times; and said: "Well, that does the trick! Isn't that fine? See how it sets bin off, boys! Don't you forget the tie is to be red and the Brat ride soon, I can't wait very long Now I must go. The Bird Woman will be ready to start, and she will come here hunting me next, for she is busy today. What did I came here for anyway?" She glanced inquiringly about, and several of the men laughed. Oh, the delight of it! She had forgot her er- rand for him! Jack had a second in- crease in height, The angel glanced helplessly about as if seeking a clew. Then her eyes fell, as if by accident. on Freckles. "It's mighty risky for you to be crossing the swamp alone," ho said. "I know it's a little farther, but it's begging you 1 am to be going back by the trail." The angel laughed merrily. "Oh, stop your nonsense!" she cried, "I'm not afraid --not in the least!" Freckles turned to Jack imploringly, "You tell her!" he pleaded. "Tell her to go by the trail. She will for you." The implication of this statement was so gratifying to Black Jack that be seemed again to expand and take on increase before their very eyes. "You bet!" exclaimed Jack. And to the angel:' "You better take Freckles' word for it, miss. He knows the old swamp better than any of us, except me, and if he says go by the trail you'd best do it." The angel hesitated. One last glance at Freckles showed her the agony in his eyes, She would follow the trail. "All right" she said, giving Jack a killing glance. "If you say so I'll go back by the trail to please you. Good - by, everybody." She lifted the bushes and started for the entrance, "Stop herr" growled Wessner. "Keep her till we're loaded anyhow. Can't you see that when this thing is found out there she'll be to ruin all of us. If you let her go every man of us bus got to cut, and some of ns will be caught sure." Tack sprang forward. Freckles' heart muffled up in bis throat. The angel seemed to divine Tack's coming. She was humming a little song. She deliberately stopped and began pulling the heads of the curious grasses that grew all about her. When she straight- ened she took a step backward and called: "Ho, Freckles, the Bird Wo- man wants that natural history pam- phlet returned. It belongs to a set she is going to have bound." Then the angel shot a parting glance at Jack, and she was bewitchingly lovely. "You won't forget that ride and the red tie," she half asserted, half ques- tioned. Jack lost his head entirely. Frec- kles was his captive, but he was the angel's, soul and body. With head held well up the angel walked slowly away, and Jack wheeled on the men. "Drop your staring and saw wood!" he shouted. "Don't you know any- thing at all about how to treat a lady?" The men muttered and threatened among themselves. but they fell to working with a vengeance. Freckles sat down on one of his benches and waited. In their haste to get the tree down and loaded so that the teamsters could start with it and Leave them free to attack another they had forgotten to rebind him. The angel was on the trail and safe- ly started. Freckles wondered what she would sav to the Bird Woman and bow long It would take them to pack and get started. 13e knew now that they would understand and the angel would try to get the boss there in time to save his wager. She could never do it, for the saw was over half through and Jack and Wessner cut- ting into the opposite side of the tree. It looked as if they could get at 'east that tree out before McLean could come. When it was down would they re- bind him and leave him for Wessner to wreak his insane vengeance on. or would they take him along to the nett tree and dispose of him when they ball stolen all the timber they could? Jack had said that he should not be touched until he left. Surely he would not run all that risk for one tree when he had many others of far greater value marked. Once .lack came over to Freckles and asked if he had any water. Freckle's rose and showed him where he kept his drinking water. Jack drank in great gulps, and as he pass- ed the bucket back he said: "When 9 man's got tr chance of catching a line girl like that he ought not to be mix - `'ed up in any dirty business. I wish 1 was out of this." Freckles answered heartily, "I wish I was too." Jack stared at him a tatnute and then broke into 0 roar of rough Iangh- ter. "Blest if 1 blame you," he said. "But you bad your chance. \Ve offer- ed you a fair thing, and you gave Wessner his answer. I ain't envying you when he gives you his." "You're six to oue." answered Free - Ides. "It will be easy enough for you to be killing the body of me, but, curse you all, you can't blacken me soul!" "I'd give anything you could name if r.ltariso t•_honesty," ,said &lett. (To Du CONTINUED.) monannimmonmomm Children Cry for Fletcher'•s .a. --a Viz, a.." a..a. :. OR I The Bind Yon Save Always Bought, and *which bas been ixl use for over 30 years, has borne the signature ot and has been made under his per- sonal supervision since its infancy. Allow no one to deceive you in this. All Counterfeits, Imitations and "Just -as -good" are but Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of Infants and Children—Experience against Experiment. What is CASTORIA Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare. goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is pleasant. It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotics substance. Its age Is its guarantee. It destroys Worms and allays Feverishness. For more than thirty years it has been in constant use for the relief of Constipation, Flatulency, Wind Colic, all Teething Troubles and Diarrhoea. It regulates the Stomach and Bowels" assimilates the Food, giving healthy and natural sleep. The Children's Panacea—The Mother's Friend. GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS Bears the Signature of In Use For Over 30 Years The Kind You Have Always Bought THE CCNTAUR COMPANY, NCW YORK CITY. e�%a:;'i,*;r.';.,', �r'R'Is�tlr•'''�f�:r'i:'iP"i<:.'�•i`''.;.. Andrew Carnegie now bas but $20,- 000,000 of his former vast fortune, according to a story published in New York. He has distributed in gifts more than $350,000,000. Ottawa announced that the total number of casualties in the Canadian forces now totals over 22,000 but of these only 14,000 are actual casualties at the front. Two veteran public school inspectors are dead, Wm. Johnston, M. A., LL.B., of Athens, and Thomas Pearce, near Berlin. Hon. Dr. T. S. Sproule, Speaker of the House of Commons, has been appointed a Senator. Other new appointees are John Milne, Hamilton; C. P. 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