Freckles

Occurs and Wom

een McLean and the Angel. He realized to the fullest the debt he already owed the Boss and the magnitude of last night's declaration and promises. He was hourly planning to deliver his trust and then enter with equal zeal on whatever task his beloved

sed Sleepy Snake Creek and the goldfinch, waiting as ever, challenged: "SEE ME?" Freckles saw the dainty swaying grace of the Angel instead.

s flower bed, arrange every detail he had planned for his room, and make of it a bower fairies might envy. He must devise a way to keep water cool. He would ask Mrs. Duncan for a double lunch and an especially nice one the day of her next coming, so that if t

e talked of h

Lord! See her!' You'll look, and there she'll stand. The sunshine won't look gold any more, or the roses pink, or the sky blue, because she'll be the pinkest, bluest, goldest thing of all. You'll be yelling yourself hoarse with the jealousy of her. The sawbird will stretch his neck out of joint, and she'll turn the heads of all t

sent the cudgel whirling skyward, dext

g of would be to stretch in the muck for the feet of her to be walking ove

uman speech to show me the way out of me trouble. If there's any feathers falling that day, why, it's from the wings of me chickens-it's sure to be, for the only Angel outside t

g. He managed daily to leave some offering at the big elm log for his black chickens. He slipped under the line at every passing, and went to make sure that nothing was molesting them. Though it was a long trip, he paid the

his brother went after her every time he found a nest. He never had counted the nests that

g his chickens others as odd as the big black ones could be found. If she wanted pictures of half-grown birds, he could pick up

ushes, and dropped them into the first little open mouth he had found. The babi

with fresh living things that represented every color of the swamp

ction-if one had an idea of direction and did not become completely lost in its rank tangle of vegetation and bushes. The brighter-hued flowers were opening. The trump

, and young rabbits of their chosen location. He saw them crossing the trail every day as the heat grew intense. The rattlers were sadly forgetting their manners, for they struck on no provocation whatever, and did not even remember to ra

that he should do. They followed the east line to a point opposite the big chickens' tree, and Freckles carried in the cameras and showed the Bird Woman a path he had cleared to the log. He explained to her the effect the

d then take the horse toward the north to a better place he knew. Then he was to entertain t

be good and too small to run away or to act very ugly, so I will be coming soon to see about those nests. I have ten p

was following him. He asked to be excused for going first, because he wanted to be sure the trail was

Well, I didn't s'pose you did, and I was afraid you

the irrepressible gleam of Irish fun in h

ine. She could identify a number of them, but of some she was ignorant, so they made notes of the number and color of

tudy was vastly more beautiful than a week previous. The Angel drew a deep breath and stood gazing first at one side, then at another, then fa

nning to be?" she

cLean wants me

u do most?"

h me

't mea

e I keep me room and

n the room or

kes to keep it up, and the r

t for that, but it's got something big in it-something really great. I must find out what it is and then you must work on it. Your fathe

ad wasted an hour in his life. There ne

t'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 you work at all these other things, or how successfully you do them

in the First Episcopal choir

er feet. "There!" she exclaimed vehemently. "You can see what I'm going to be. Nothing!

is 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

omething for m

d Freckles largely, "and if I can't do what you wan

o over there and stand before that hedge and si

, and lifting his face to the sky, he sang the first thing that came into his mind. It was a children's song

irylan

ng of joy

'll stand up

the real

the sigh

ong to f

ies we wil

ties wil

a, la, oh,

py now as

song we wi

you with o

nd, sweet

e to s

thing but pride in his work. He was singing the chorus, and the Angel was shivering in ecstasy, when clip! clip! came

!" called the voice

the trail o

evolvers load

said Fr

e swamp and reach the chicken tree in

es

ed feet and hid in some bushes to wait. A short, stout man and a tall, dark one passed me so closely I almost could have reached out and touched them. They carried a big saw on their shoulders. They said they could work until near 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 from sight-and began cutting a tree. Mr. M

wn the trail. The Angel, hatless and with s

He was accustomed to that thought but not to the complication of having two women on his hands who undoubtedly would have to be taken care of in spite of the Bird Woman's offer to help him. His heart was jarring as it never had before with running. He must follow the Bird Woman's plan and meet them at the carriage, but if they really did intend

t packed, and were calmly waiting. The Bird Woman held a revolver in her hand. She wore dar

busy that they will never notice us, if we don't make a noise. You fire first, then I will pop in from my direction, and then you, Angel, and shoot quite

es pro

t high," she said. "Go straight at them from where you are. Wait until you hear Freckles' first shot, then follow me as closely as you can, to let them know that

and for a last time cautioned the Angel as

eckles' shot. There was one long minute of sickening suspense. The men straightened for breath. Work was difficult with a h

id, "and wait to fell it until that

east. The Angel had not waited for the Bird Woman, and her shot scarcely could have been called high. At almost the same instant the third shot whistled from the east. Black Jack sprang into the air with a yell of complete panic, for it ripped a heel from his bo

e dared, but if the Angel did not really intend t

lled at the top of his voice: "Head them of

attering of lead followed them. They crossed the swale, running low, wit

e party gather

ing it if they come back," said Freckles, ta

oman to the Angel. "It won't do for me to make enemies of th

ence and let you into that. Follow the furrows and drive straight across it until you come to the other side. Be following the fence south until you come to a road through the woods east of it. Then take that road and follow east until you

age and held out his revolver. Freckles looked at her in surprise. Her eyes were b

she asked sweetly. "I reall

gone? Surely she could not! Or was it possible that sh

having the gang see me, I would go myself; but I will promise you that you will have help in a little over two hours. You keep well hidden. They must think some of the gang is with yo