PROLOGUE.
This romance of Freckles and
the Angel of the Limberlost is
one of the most novel, entertain
tng, wholesome and fascinating
ttories 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
guards the Limberlost timber
teases 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'
r love and a home to Freckles.
Duncan, head teamster of Ma
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
f 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 IX.
A FIOBT WITH BULLETS.
IjljltlEN Freckles crossed Sleep?
1 1 Snake creek and the goldfinch,
ill waiting as ever,; challenged,
f j "See mer he saw the dainty,
wsjlng grace of the angel Instead.
What Is a man to do with an angel
who dismembers herself and scatters
over a whole swamp, thrusting a vivid
reminder upon him at every turn?.
"You needn't be thinking," he said
to the goldfinch, "that because I'm
coming down this line alone day after
day It's always to be so. Some of
these days you'll be swinging on this
wire, and you'll see me coming, and
you'll swing, skip and flirt yourself
around and chip up right spunky.
"See me?' I'll be saying 'See you 7 See
her!' You'll look, and there she'll
stand. The sunshine won't look gold
any more, nor the roses pink, nor the
sky blue, because she'll be the pinkest,
bluest, goklost thiug of all. You'll be
jelling yourself hoarse with the Jeal
ousy of her. The saw bird will stretch
bis neck out of Joint, and she'll turn
the heads of nil the flowers. Wherev
er she goes I can go back afterward
and see the things she's seen, walk
the path she's walked, hour the grass
s whispering over all the things she's
said, and if there's a place too swampy
for her bits of feet, maybe maybe
she'd bo putting the beautiful arms
of her about me neck and letting me
carry her over!"
Freckles shivered as with a chill.
He sent the cudgel whirling skyward,
dextrously caught It and set it spin
ning. "Maybe she'll be wanting the cup
me blue and brown chickens raised
their babies in. If there's any feathers
falling that d.'.y, why. it's from the
wings of wo hK kons it's sure to be.
for the only niigel outside the unlos
will bo v:Hkh)f,- this tinil.oi "r.- mid
every stop of the way be 1 - - 1 1 : i vr
nic breath and praying Hint she (! i.i't
unfold wines oo.il sr.: I IT before t'.io
Iiungry eyes of me."
When the wool; was up 'rookies hud
his room crisp and glowing with fresh
living things (hut rivaled every tint
of the rainbow, lie carried birk and
filled up all the mucklost places of tin
trail.
It was middle July. The boat of the
last few days had dried up the water
about and through the Limberlost, n.
that It was possible to cross it on foot
In almost any direction If one had any
Idea of direction and did not become
completely lost In Its rank tangle of
vegetation and hushes.
Tho boat was doing one other thing
that was bound to mako Freckles, as
a good Irishman, shiver. As the swale
dried Its Inhabitants were seeking the
cooler depths of the swamp. They
liked neither the beat nor leaving tho
By
Gm Stated
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE
& CO.
fielJT mice, 'mules 5iul 'young ra1blts
of their chosen location. He saw
them crossing tho trail every day ns
the heat grew intense. The rattlers
were sadly forgetting their manners,
for they struck on no provocation
whatever and didn't even remember
to rattle nfterwnrd. Daily Freckles
was compelled to drive big black
snakes and blue racers from the nests
of his chickens. Often the terrified
squalls of the parent birds would
reach him far down the line, uud he
would run to the rescue of the babies.
He saw the angel when the carriage
turned from the corduroy into the
clearing. They stopped at the west
entrance to the swamp, waiting for
him to precede them ddwn the trail,
as he had told them It was safest for
the horse that he should do so. They
followed the east line to a point oppo
site the big chickens' tree, and Frec
kles carried In the cameras and showed
the Bird Woman a path he had cleared
to the log.
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 he was
to entertain the angel at his study or
on 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
down the tlmberline and the angel was
following him. He asked to bo excused
for going first, because he wanted to
be sure the trail was safe for her.
She laughed at his fears, telling him
that It was the polite thing for him to
do anyway.
"Oh," said Freckles, "so you was
after knowing that? Well. I didn't
s'pose you did. and I was afraid you'd
think me wanting In respect to be
preceding you!"
The astonished angel looked at him.
caught the Irrepressible gleam of Irish
fun In his eyes, and they laughed to
gether. Freckles did not realize how he was
talking that morning. He showed her
many of the beautiful nests and eggs
of the line. She could Identify n num
ber of them, but of some she was igno
rant, so they made notes of the num
ber and color of the eggs, material and
construction of nest, color, size and
shape of. the birds and went on to look
them up In the book. '
At his room, when Freckles had lift
ed the overhanging bushes and stepped
back for her to enter, his heart was nil
out of time and place. The nngel drew
a deep breath and stood staring, first
at one side, then at another, then f:r
Dff down the cathedral aisle. "It's
Just fairyland!" she cried ecstatically.
Then she turned and stared at Freckles
exactly ns she had at hl handiwork.
"What nr you planning to lie?" she
asked slowly.
"Whatever Mr. McLean wants me
to," he replied.
"What do you do mostt' sne ussea.
"Watch me lines."
"I don't moan work!"
"Oh! In me spare time T keep ma
room and study In me books."
"Do you work on the room or the
books most ?" .
"On ihe room Just whnt 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 greot
scholar," she said, "but you don't look
It. Your face Isn't right for that, but
It's got something big In It something
Just great. I must find out what it is
and then you must go to work on It.
Your father Is expecting you to do
something. You can (ell by the way
he talks. You ought to begin right
away. You've wasted too much time
already."
Poor Freckles hnnjr his head, ne
had never wasted an hour in his life.
There had never been one that was his
to waste.
The nngel. studying him intently,
rend his thought In his face. "Oh, I
don't moan that!" she cried, with the
frank dismay of sixteen. "0 course
you're not lazy!' Nobody would ever
think that from your looks. It's this
1 menu: There is something (li e. strong
and fuil of power in your faro. There
Is something you are to do In this
world, and no matter how hard you
work nt all those uthor things nor how
fuiocos-sfiilly yon do thorn It Is all wast
ed until you find the one llilior that
you can do best. If yon could go auy
whore you please and do anything you
want, what would you do 7"
"I'd go to Ohlenso and sing in the
First Kpiscopnl choir." answered
Freckles promptly.
The nngel dropped back on a seat;
Ihe hat she had taken off and hold Jn
bor fingers rolled to her foot. "There," 1
she exclaimed vehemently, "you can
see what I'm going to be. Nothing, I
absolutely nothing! You can slug?
Of course you can sing! It Is written '
all over you."
"Anybody with half wit could have
soon he could sing without having (o
be told." she thought. "It's In the
Blenderness of his lingers and his
quick. nervo-.:s touch. 'It is In the i
brightness f his hair, the tire of his 1
eye. tho breadth of his chest, the !
muscles of his throat and neck and. j
above all. it's iu every torn? of his
voice."
"Will you do something for me':" she
asked.
"I'll d. anything in the world you
want n:e to."' said Froikles largely,
"and if 1 can't do what you want I'll
go to work at once and I'll try till I
can."
"Hood." said the nngol. "Go over
there and stand before that bauk and
sing something anything you thiuk of
first."
It was a children's song that he had
led for the liitle folks at the home
many times.
To fairy land we go,
With a sons of Joy, hclgh-o!
In dreams we'll stand upon that shore
Ami all tho realm bfhold.
We'll see the slfihts so grand
That bclons to fairy land.
Its mysteries we will explore,
Its beauties will unfold.
Oh, tra, la. la. oh. lia, ha, ha! We're hap
py now as we can be.
Our welcome song we wlil prolong and
greet you with our melody.
O fairy land, sweet fairy land, we love to
could have given the intense
sweetuess and rollicking quality of
"THKN OO TLTINO," SAIl TH8 BIRD WO
MAN. Freckles' voice better scope. He for
got everything but pride In his work
with the sound of bis voice. He was
on the chorus, and the nngel was shiv
ering in ecstasy when clip. clip, came
the slmrujy heading feet of n swiftly
ridden horse down the trail front ihe
north. They lxith sprang toward the
entrance.
"Freckles. Freckles!" called the Voice
of the I'.lrd Woman.
Tbey were at tho trail on the Instant.
"Both tliW revolvers loaded?" she
asked. '"''' :- -
"Yes." said Freckles.
"Is there :t way you run cut across
the swamp end tot to the chicken
tree In n few minutes and with little
noise?"
"Yes."
"Then go flying." said the Rlrd
Woman. "Hive the nn;rol n lift tip be
hind me. and we will ride tho horse
back to whore you left him and wait
for yon. I finished T.Ittlo Chicken In
no time and put him back, nis mother
came so clor. I felt sure she would
enter the log. The light was floe, so I
set nud focused the camera and cov
ered It with brunches, attached the
long hose and went away off over 100
feet and hid in some bushes to wnlt.
A short, thick man and a tall, dark
one passed me so closely I could al
most have reached nut and touched
them. They carried a big saw on their
houlders. They said they could work
uutll about noon, and then tbey must
lay off until you passed and then try
to load and get out at night. Tbey
went on not entirely out of sight
aud began cutting a tree. Mr. McLean
told me the other day what was likely
to happen there, and if they get that
tree down be loses bis wnger on you.
Keep to the east and north and bustle.
We'll meet you at the carriage. I am
always armed. We will separate and
creep up on them from different sides
and give them a fusllnde that will
send them flying. You hurry, now!"
She gathered up the reins and started
briskly dowu the trail. The angel, hat
less and with spurkllng 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
whore he thought the men were ns he
felt thnt 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 tho local
ity, Hint he was going to moot.
lie must follow the lllrd Woman's
plan and meet them at the carriage,
but if they really did lucau to try to
help him lie 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 smilo as he went speed
ing on.
When be reached the carriage the
Bird Woman and the nngel had the
horse bitched to it, the outfit packed
and were calmly waiting.
"Give babe one of your revolvers.
Your Easter suit is here. We don't want you to
think for a minute because the carpenters have
charge of our store that we have in any wise neg
lected to provide for your Easter clothes. They are
here in all their Spring-like beauty. Soft elegant
grays, beautiful light blue effects in tweeds and che
viots. Coronation red mixtures, brown effects and light
and dark tans in homespuns and cassimers. These
are our Quality Clothes so popular among the good
dressers of this community. They are thoroughly
shrunk, handsomely tailored and guaranteed in every
way $20 to $35.
G. 1, Uoseott's on
ALWAYS THE HOME OF SATISFACTION
s
quick!" sold the "Bird "Woman. "We
will all creep up until we are In fair
range. The underbrush Is so thick
and they are so bard at work that they
will never notice us. If we don't make
a noise. You will tire first, then 1
will pop In from my direction, and
then you. baby, and shoot quite high,
or else very low. We mustn't really
hit them."
Freckles protested.
The Bird Woman chose the middle
distance, and for a lust time caution
ed the angel to He down and shoot
btgh, as she moved away.
Freckles' " revolver spat fire. Leed
sponged on steel. The saw handle flew
from Wessner' s hand and he reeled
with the Jar of the shock. Black .lack
straightened, uttering h fearful oath
Ills hat was token off by a shot from
the northeast. The angel bad not wait
ed for the Bird Woman, and her shot
could scarcely hove boon 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 n heel
from his boot.
Freckles emptied his second chamber
and the dirt spattered over Wessner.
Shots poured In thick and fast. With
out even reaching for a weapon, both
men broke for the east road In groat,
leaping bounds, while leaden slugs
sung and hissed about tbem In deadly
earnest
Freckles was trimming bis corners
as closely as he dared, but If the an
gel did not really Intend to hit, she
was shaving the limit in a scandalous
manner.
' (To Be Continued.)
George Brooks Injured.
Cioorge Brooks was quite
severely injured this morning
while assisting Dan Rico in mak
ing an excavation for Ihe water
company in tho pavement op
posite K. (1. Dovey & Son's store,
(leorge had been in Ihe excava
tion and had placed his hand on
the edge of the bank to climb out
when his left band received a
blow from tho pick which Dan
was swinging, and a bad cut wag
tho result. Tho band was speedily
dressed by a physician and
(leorge will take an enforced
layoff.
PUBLIC SALE
The undersigned will sell at
Public Auction at his farm, eight
miles west and throe miles north
of IMattsniouth, and three miles
oast and one-half mile north of
Codar Crook, on
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3d,
the following described property,
lo-wit:
One well matched span of bay
colts, 2 years old.
One well matched span of black
colts, 2 years old.
One well matched span of black
mules, 4 and 5 years old, weight,
2,500 pounds.
One black horse, 10 years old,
weight 1,050.
One mare and colt.
Throe head of good milk cows.
One heifer and one calf.
Ten head good brood sows.
Nine fair sized shoals.
One Avery walking cultivator.
One riding lister.
One hay rack.
. One Dooring binder, eight-foot
cut.
One sawing outfit, four-horse
engine.
One set of buggy harness.
Two sets Concord harness,
brass mounted.
3,000 burr oak fence posts, 7
foot long.
200 loads of block wood.
Twenty cords of cord wood.
Seven dozen chickens.
Some household goods.
One organ, and numerous
other articles.
TERMS OF SALE.
All sums of $10 and under,
cash in hand; over $10, a credit
of twelve months will be given if
desired, purchaser giving good
bankable paper bearing 8 per cent
interest from dale. All property
must bo soil led for before being
removed. Sale to commence at
11 o'clock. Free lunch at noon.
THOMAS DOWERS.
Hobt. Wilkinson, Auctioneer. .
ft. F. Patterson, Clerk.
The Mystery Solved.
Considerable doubt existed in
the minds of those from Louis
ville who went to Talmage last
week as to the identity of tho
wrestler with whom Sehmardercr
battled for a three-hours' draw.
This man was said to be Frank
Viox, son of a Talmage hotel
proprietor. It now seems that
this is not the case, but that on
the contrary he is one Azbel of
the state of Misouri, said to b
champion of that state and a man
who has thrown (he 'well known.
Dr. Roller. This reflects no
credit on the Talmage bunch and
only serves to add to the satisfac
tion of the local enthusiasts ia
the ability Schmardorer displayed
in holding his own, and in fact
that the Cass county champion
would no doubt have thrown this
man if he had not tried to do ii
within a twenty-minute time
limit. Louisville Courier.
Gets a Finger Pinched.
Jack Brittian of the Burlington
freight car repair force had the
misfortune to get one of his
Angers badly pinched yesterday
afternoon. The company surgeon
soon had it dressed, and although
quite painful, it will not keep
Jack off duty long.
JI",I"IJ WIM "W,MmI,I M"!"
f Insure your farm properly 4
4 in tho Farmers' Mutal Fire
4 and Live Stock Insurance
J Company of Cass County, Jfr
4 Nebraska. Limited to Cass 4
4 county only. Incorporated
4 in 1894. Only one as
4 sessment of 2 mills made
4 during the entire time. J
! Amount of Insurance In 4
4 force $1,303,955.00. Amount i
I of money in trensury. $4,-
J 857.69. Membership fee 50
J cents per hundred for 5
I years. For particulars 4
4 write
J. P. FALTER, Secretary,
! Plattsmouth, Neb. J
JJJJ J
8
4?
8
8
0
8
e
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Overfeed
ti
8
i:
L rrtfL ' s
OVERLAND MODEL 59 T &y
I
m m . mm . - .... V T
y L. I Mgcnis tastcrn cass county, Union, Nebraska " 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.
tTPhone or write us if interested. Cars in stock here for immediate delivery.
S Onion
verland Company.