PROLOGUE.
This romance of Freckles and
the Angel of the Limberlost is
one of the most novel, entertain
ing, wholesome and fascinating
stories that have come from the
pen of an American author in
many years. The characters in
this sylvan tale are-:
Freckles, a plucky waif who
faards the Limberlost timber
leases and dreams of angels.
The Swamp Angel, in whom
Freckles' sweetest dream ma
terializes. McLean, a member of a lumber
company, who befriends Freckles.
Mrs. Duncan, who gives moth
er love and a home to Freckles.
Duncan, head teamster of Mc
Lean's timber gang.
The Bird Woman, who is col
lecting camera studies of birds
for a book.
Lord and Lady O'More, who
come from It eland in quest of a
lost relative.
The Man of Affairs, brusque
of manner, but big of heart.
Wessner, a timber thief who
wants rascality made easy.
Black Jack, a villain to whom
thought of repentance comes too
late.
CHAPTER X.
FRECKLES WINS HONOR.
rwn. il i 1 1
YTti" dc men reacneu me trail
Freckles yelled at the top of
111 his voice: "Dead them off on
' ' I lL . U 1 I 11 nM I
h iu nuuiu, uujrs; Tiro iruui lue
south!"
As ho had hoped. Jack and Wessner
Instantly plunged Into the swale. A
storm of lend spattered after them.
They crossed the swale, running low,
with not even one backward glance,
and entered the wood beyond the cor
duroy. Then the little party gathered at the
tree.
"I'd better fix this saw so they can't
be uslu; It If they come bnck." said
Freckles, taking out his hatchet mid
making the saw teeth fly.
"Now we have to get out of here with
out being seen," said the Bird Woman
to the angel. "It won't do for me to
make enemies of these men, for I am
liable to meet them about my work
any day."
"You can do It by driving straight
north on this road," said Freckles. "I
will go ahead and cut the wires for
you. The swale Is almost dry. You
friU only be sluklng a few Inches at
most. In a few rods you will strike a
cornfield. I will take down the fence
and let you Into that. Follow the fur
rows and drive straight across It until
you come to the other side. He follow
ing the fence south until you coaie to a
roud through the woods east of It.
Then tnke that road and follow oust
Qntll you reach the pike. .You will
come out on your way buck to town
nd two miles north of anywhere they
are likely to be. Don't for your lives
rer let It out that you did this,'' he
artiestly cautioned, "for It's bluck en
emies you would lie making."
Fri'cklrs Miiiipin'ii the wire, and they
drove through. The nngel leaned from
the carriage mid held nut his revolver
Freckles looked Into her f;ice ninl 'nst
his brent li." Iler eve were blnck and
her fniV a deeper mp ibnu mu.il. He
felt tint hi own was white ns death.
"Did I shoot hlirh enough " 8he ask
ed sweetly. "I reaMy forgot about ly
ing down."
Freckles winced. Hid the child know
how near she bad gone? Surely she
could not. Or was It possible that she
had the nerve and skill to tire like that
purposely?
"I will send the first reliable mnu 1
meet for McLciiu," said the Bird Wo
man, gathering up the lines. "It 1
don't meet one when we reach town
we wliL send a messenger. If It wasn t
for having the gung see me I would go
myself."
Round eyed. -Freckles watched the
Bird Woman and the angel drive
away. After they were out of sight
tnd he was safely bidden among the
ECKLES
By
COPYRIGHT. 1 904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PACE
& CO.
brandies of il small tree, be remem
bered that he had neither thanked
theiu nor said goodby. Would the Bird
Woman and the augel come again?
No other women that he had ever
known would. But were they like any
other women he had ever known? lie
thought of the Bird Woman's unruffled
face and the angel's revolver practice,
and presently he wus 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 hml been people
at the home who exchanged a stilted,
perfunctory sort of kindness fcr 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 hypocrisy In ev
ery feature of their faces; the kind
that came in silks and jewels and
handed out to those poor, little mother
hungry souls worn toys that their chil
dren no longer cored for. In exactly
the same spirit in which they pitched
biscuits to the monkeys at the "zoo."
and for the same reason to see how
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 blm elsewhere.
Now, here was another class that
had met him as a son and brother.
With them he coutd for the only time
In bis life forget the lost band 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? lie had to give it up
because he had never known others
like them, but bow 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
Duncans were very rare, hence their
exceeding preclousness.
He had forgotten the excitement of
the morning and the passing of time
when distant voices aroused him. and
he softly lifted bis head. Nearer and
nearer they came, and as the heavy
wagons rumbled down the east trail
be conld hear them plainly. The gang
I were shouting themselves hoarse for
tne umueriOBt guara. v recities aum r
feel that he deserved It.' ' He would
have given much to be able to go out
to the men and explain bow It was.
but only to McLean could he tell hU
story.
At the sight of Freckles the mn
threw up their hats nud cheered. Mc
Lean shook bands with blm warmly,
but big Duncan gathered him Into bis
arms and bugged him like u bear and
choked over a few words of praise.
The gang drove In and finished felling
the tree.
When the Inst wagon rolled away
McLean sat down ou the stump and
Freckles told the story he was aching
to tell. The boss could scarcely be
lieve his senses. Also be was greatly
disappointed.
"I have been almost praying all the
way over. Freckles," he said, "that you
would have some evidence by which
we could arrest those fellows and got
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 ray wnger as well
Going about the country as she does,
the Bird Woman could never be ex
pected to testify against them."
"No, Indeed; nor the angel either,
sir," said Freckles.
"The nugel?" queried the astonished
McLean.
The Iwss listened In silence while
Freckles told of the coming and chris
tening of the angel.
"1 know her father well." said Mc
Lean at last, "and I have often seen
her. You are right, she Is n leautiful
young girl. I do not understand why
her father risks such a Jewel In thin
place."
"He's daring It because she Is suchn
Jewel, sir." snld Freckles eagerly.
"Why. she's trusting h rnttlesnnke to
rattle before It strikes her, and. of
course, she thinks she can trust man
kind us well. The man Isn't made
that wouldn't lay down the life of him
for her. She don't need any care.
Iler fiir-e nnd the pretty ways of her
are nil the protection she would need
In n baud of howling savages."
"Did you say she bundled one of the
revolvers?" asked .McLean.
"She wnri'd r.ll the breath out of me
body." admitted Freckles. "Seems
that her father has taught her to
shoot. The Bird Woman told her dis
tinctly to lie low nnd blaze awny high,
Just to help scare them. The spunky
little thing followed them right our
Into the west rond. spitting lead like
hall it nd clipping all about the bends
nnd heels of them."
"Now. will they come back?" asked
McLean.
"Of course." said Freckles. "At
lenst Black Jack will. Wessner might
not have the pluck. And the next
time"- Frccklea hesitated.
"Whatr
"It will just be a question of who
hoots first and strnlhtest." j
"Then the only thing for me to d
U to double the guard and get the !
gang here the first mln'ite possible.
As soon as I fee! that we hive tht
rarest of the stuff out below we will
come. The fact Is In many ease un
til It Is felled It's bird to tell what a
tree will prova to he. It won't do to
leave you here louger alone. Jink has
been shooting twcny years to your
one, and It stands to reason that you
are no match for him. Which of the
gang would you like best to have with
you?"
"No one. sir," said Freckles emphat
ically. "Next time Is where 1 run. I
won't try to light theiu alone. I'll just
be getting wind of them nnd then
make tracks for you. I'll need to come
like lightning, and Duncan has no ex
tra horse, so I'm thinking you'd best
get me one, or perhaps a wheel would
be better. 1 used to do extra work
for the home doctor, and he would let
me take his bicycle to ride about the
place. And at times the bend nurse
would lend me his for nn hour. A
wheel would cost less and be faster
than a horse and would take 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. It the
Bird Woman was going to give up the
Little Chicken series be 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 his sober, better Judgment be
overridden by the boy he was growing
so to love that he could not bear to
cross him. nnd to have Freckles keep
his trust and win alone meant to him
more thnn 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.
chalnless. with as little as possible to
catch in hurried riding, and In every
way the best ol its kind. Freckles
"IT WILL JrBT BE A QTJRSTiON OP WBO
SHOOTS riKST."
went skimming around the trail on It
on a preliminary trip before be locked
It in his case and started tils minute
examination of Ids line on foot. Ho
glanced around his room as be left It.
On the moss In front of his prettiest
sent lay the angel's bat.
He went and picked It up. ob, so
carefully, gazing at It with hungry
eyes, but touching It only to carry It
over to his case, where be bung It ou
the shining handle bar of the new
wheel aud locked It lu among his
treasures. Then he went out to the
trail with a new look on his face. He
was not In the lenst afraid of any
thing thut morning. He felt be was
the veriest Daniel, nud all bis lions
seemed weak and harmless.
Black Jack was not n man to give
up bis purpose or to bave the bat
swept from bis head by a bullet and
bear It meekly. Moreover, Wessner
would cling to his revenge.
When Freckles gained his room be
tenderly laid tbe bat upon bis book
shelf and. to wear off bis awkward
ness, mounted bis wheel and went
spinning about the line again.
"Wcel. I be drawed on!" exclaimed
Mrs. Duncan an hour later.
Freckles stood before her, holding
tho angel's bat.
"I've been thinking this long time
that ye or Duncan would see that sun
bonnets werena braw enough for a
woman of my standing, and ye're a
guld Inddle to bring me this beautiful
hut."
She turned it about, examining the
weave of the strnw and the follnge
trimmings, passing ber rough fingers
over the satin tics delightedly. As she
held It up, admiring It Freckles' aston
ished eyes saw a new side of Sarah
Duucnn. She was Jesting, but under
the jest (be fact loomed strong that
there was something In ber soul cry
ing out after that bit of feminine fin
ery. He resolved thnt when ' lie
renched tho city he would send her as
fine a hat as the angel's If It took $50
to do It.
She llngerlngly bnnded It back to
blm.
"It's unco guld of yo to think of me."
sho snld lightly, "but I maun question
your tnste a wee. D'ye no think ye
had best return this and get a woninn
with bulf her hair gray a little plainer
headdress? Seems like thnt'i far ower
gayforjno. I'pijonyjng. thinMt'j
w IrT
O&Efrt !'- - sure v
i
no' exactly what I'd like to hne. but 1
maunn mnk mysel' ridiculous. Ye'd
best give this to somebody young and
pretty, say about sixteen. Where did
ye come by it, Freckles? If there's
knythlng been dropping lately ye hne
forgotten to mention It."
"Do you see anything henveuly about
that hat?" quprled Freckles, holding
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." snld Freckles, "for it's be
longing to an angel!"
Then be told her about the bat and
asked her what be should do with it.
"Take it to her. of course!" said
Sarah Duncan.
"You thluk I should be taking It
home?" be said.
"Of course ye must." said Mrs. Dun
can. "Ye gang awa and take the bless
ed little angel ber beautiful hat."
"Are you sure it will be all right?"
urged Freckles. "Do you ttylnk 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 head. He knew
what be 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 ber bis club and went
spinning toward town. Ho knew very
well where the nngel lived. He had
passed ber home many times, and he
passed It again without even taking
his eyes from the street, steering
straight for her father's place of busi
ness. Carrying the hat, Freckles passed a
long line of clerks and at tbe door of
the private olllce asked to see the pro
prietor. When be had waited a mo
ment a tall, spare, keen eyed man
faced blm nnd In brisk, nervous tones
asked. "How can I serve you. sir?"
Freckles handed him tbe package
and answered: "By delivering to your
daughter this bat. which she was after
leaving at me place tbe other day when
she went off In a hurry. And by say
ing to ber and tbe Bird Woman thnt
I'm more thankful thnn I'll be having
words to express for the brave thing
they was doing for roe. I'm McLeun'i
Limberlost gimrd. sir."
(To Do Continued.)
Subscribe for trie Dairy Journal
8
8
1
$900 for this elegant 30-horsc power car.
$1,200 for the same, only larger and 35 horse power.
$1,500 for the 45-horsc power, still larger.
The above models are made in two-passenger, four-passenger and
five-passenger cars just to suit size of family.
liTPhone or write us if interested. Cars in stock here for immediate delivery.
0
s
8
5 regret that we are not in
shape to make any
new Easter suits and
surely find them here if you come in. New ideas in blue
serge silk lined; light tan and gray cheviots in latest cut.
Elegant coats and pants in purple and golden blue mixed.
All the latest things in shirts, hats, ties and all the ac
companiments of a well dressed man. Come in and see
them.
C. E. WESCOTT'S SONS
ALWAYS THE HOME OF SATISFACTION
EXAM NAT DNS
RURAL MAILCARRIERS
To Be Held at Plattsmouth and
Weeping Water on Saturday,
April 27, 1912.
There will be an examination
on April 27, 11)12, at Plalts
inoulli and nl Weeping Water by
the postolllce authorities for the
purpose of illling a "vacancy at
Union and other vacancies as they
may occur on the rural routes at
postolllees in Cass county, unless
it shall be decided in the interests
of the service to ft 1 1 the vacancy
by reinstatement, transfer, or
promotion. The usual entrance
salary for rural carriers is from
$(500 to $1,000 per annum."
The age limit i9 from 18 to 55,
on date of examination. The
maximum age limit is waived in
cases of persons honorably dis
charged from the United Slates
military or naval service. An ap
plicant must have his actual
domicile in the territory (county)
supplied by a postolllce in the
county for which tho examination
is announced. The examination
is open to all male citizens of the
United Stales who Van comply
with the requirements. Applica
tion form 1311 and full informa
tion concerning the requirements
of t tin examination can he secured
from the secretary of the local
examining hoard or from the
postmasters at places named
above, or from the U. S. Civil
Service commission at Washing
ton, I). C.
An eligible register for the
position of rural letter carrier for
each county will he maintained.
As a result of such examination
he may become eligible to an ap
pointment as rural carrier at any
postolllce in the county. A rural
letter carrier, after one year's
satisfactory service, may he
transferred to I he position of
clerk or carrier in any first or
second-class postolllce, to the
position of railway mail clerk, or
to other positions in the classi
fied service, subject to such ex
amination as may he required by
Overbed
5 . .
.
OVERLAND MODEL
2 Agents Eastern Cass County, Union, Nebraska
Easter
Greeting
display of our handsome
furnishings, but you will
tho civil service rules.
The information above and
notice has been sent out to the
postmasters at Plattsmouth and
Weeping Water and signed by
John G. Mack, president.
Almost a Miracle.
One of the most startling
changes ever seen in any man, ac
cording to W. U. Holsclaw, Clar
endon, Tex., was elTected years
ago in his brother. "Ho had such
a dreadful cough," he writes,
"that all our family thought he
wus going into consumption, but
ho began to use Dr. King's New
Discovery, and was completely
cured by ten bottles. Now he is
sound and well and weighs 218
pounds. For many years our
family has used this wonderful
remedy for Coughs and Colds
wilh excellent results." It's quick,
safe, reliable and guaranteed.
Price 50 cents and $1.00. Trial
bottle free at F. O. Fricke & Co.
..?. ?Jt J. JLJLJLJL .Ti.T,iTi.TiTnfi ----
. i i i i T n n ti in
. .
J Insure your farm properly j
4 in the Farmers' Mutal Fire
4 and Live Stock Insurance 4
J Company of Cass County,
Nebraska. Limited to Cass 4
4 county only. Incorporated 4
in 1894. Only one as
4 sessmcnt of 2 mills made 4
4 during the entire time. j
4 Amount of insurance In 4
4 force $1,303,955.00. Amount 4
4 of money in treasury. $4,- 4
4 857.69. Membership fee SO
4 cents ' per hundred for S
4 years. For particulars
4 write '
J. P. FALTER, Secretary, 4.
4 Plattsmouth, Neb. 4
M!!! ,I,W,H ,I,W",I,W I"!
It Looks Like a Crime
lo separate a hoy from a box of
Hueklen's Arnica Salve. His
pimples, boils, scratches, knocks,
sprains and bruises demand it,
and its quick relief for burns,
scalds, or cuts is his right. Keep
it handy for hoys, also girls.
Heals everything healable and
does it quick. Unequaled for
piles. Only 25 cents at F. O.
Fricke & Co.
ii
I
