SI
Pi?0L0Gl7E.
This romance of Freckles and
ihe Angel of the Limberlost is
one of the most novel, entertain'
4ng, 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
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'
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
tost relative.
The Man of Affairs, brusque
0 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.
CIIAPTER XVII.
KURSIKQ A HEARTACHE.
M
'LEAN rode down to the Lira
lerlost and. stopping in the
shade, sat w a 1 1 1 n g for
Freckles.
Aiong the north line came Freckle,
fairly stnucerlnj;. When he turned eiist
and readied Sleepy Snake creek. slid
las through fho swale like the Ions
black snake for which It wax mimed,
be sat down on the bridge and closed
his burning eyes, but they would not
stay shut As If pulled by. wires, the
heavy lids flew opeu and the outraged
nerves and muscles of bis body
lnneed. twitched and tingled.
lie bent forward and idly watched
the limpid little stream flowing be
neath his feet Stretching buck Into
the swale, It came creeping between
an Impenetrable wnll of ningnltliout
wild flowers, vines and ferns. Milk
weed, golden rod, lronwort. fringed
.gentians, cardinal flowers and turtle
bend stood on the very edge of the
creek, and every flower of them grew
a double in the wnter. Wild clematis1
crowned with snow the bends of trees
scattered here and there along the
bank.
Freckles sat so still that presently
the biim of his hat was covered with
xnake feeders, rasping their crisp
wings uuii singing us they rested.
Some of them settled on the club and
one on his shoulder. He was so quiet
and feathers, fur and gauze were so
accustomed to him that all about the
swale they went on with their dally
life and forgot bo was there.
The heron family waded a'smt the
mouth of the creek. Freckles Idly
wondered whether the nerve racking
rasps thoy occasionally emitted Indi
cated domes:!.' felicity or a raging
quarrel. A shell poke, with flaring
crest, went stalking across a lure
space near the reek's mmtli .
Ftately lu'oivn Mtteiii 'waded out '
the clear slowing water, lifting h's feei
high r.t every ste;t iv.ul settlna the n
down gingerly, as if lie dreaded wei
ting them. and. with slightly par'ed
beak, stood eagerly watching about
him for worms. Ilchind h!n w-ro
some mlgh;,. trees of the swamp
above, and belnw the bank glowed n
solid wnll of guMenrod.
No wonder the nnclents hud chosen
yellow as the color to reprn-ent vie
tory. for the dene, conquering hue of
the sun was in It. They had done well,
too. iu choos'ng purple as the color of
royalty. It was a dignified, compelling
color, and In its warm tone there was
hint or blood.
It was the Umberlost's hour to pro
lam her sovereignty and triumph.
Everywhere she flaunted her yellow
banner and trailed the purple of her
mantle, that was paler in the thistle
ECKLES
By
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUDLEDAY, PACE
t, CO.
heads, took on stFenglh In the first
opening asters, and glowed and burned
In the lronwort.
Coiupolllngly beautiful was the Lim
berlost, but cruel withal; far back lu
there blenched the uncofllned bones of
her victims, and she had missed cra
dling him. oh, so narrowly!
Below the turtle log. a dripping silver
gray head, with shining eyes, was cau
tiously lifted, and Freckles' hand slid
around to his revolver. Higher and
higher came the bead; a long, heavy,
fur coated body rose, now half, now
three-fourths out of the water.
Freckles looked at bis shaking hand
and doubted, but ho gathered his
forces, the shot rang out, and the otter
lay still. lie hurried down and tried
to lift It. - He could scarcely muster
strength to carry it to the bridge. The
consciousness that he really could not
go farther with it niodo Freckles re
alize the fact that he was well up to
the limit of human endurance. He
could bear It little, if any. longer.
Every hour the face of the angel wav
ered before him. nnd behind it the
awful distorted Image or Black Jack,
as he swore to the punishment he
would mote out to ber.
Freckles stopped when he came to
the first guard, and telling him or his
luck, asked hint to go for the otter and
carry It up to the cabin, as he was
anxious to meet McLean. Freckles
passed the second guard without seeing
him. and hurried up to the boss. He
stood silent under the eyes of McLean
The boss was dumfounded. Mrs,
Duncan had led him to expect that he
would find Freckles In a bad way, but
this was almost deathly. The ract
was apparent that the boy scarcely
knew what he was doing. Ills eyes
had a glazed, farslghted look in them,
that wrung the heart of the man that
loved him. Without n thought of pre
Umlnnrles McLean leaned in the sad
die and drew Freckles up to him.
"My poor lad!" he said. "My poor
dear lad; tell me, and we will try to
right It!"
Freckles had twisted bis Angers lu
Nellie's mane. At the kind words bis
face dropped on McLean's thigh ond
hebhook with A nervous chill. McLean
gathered him closer and wnlted.
"Freckles," said McUnn at last
"will you tell me. or must I set to
work in the dark and try to And the
trouble?"
"Oh, I want to tell you! I must tell
you, sir." shuddered Freckles. "1 can
not be bearing It the day out ulone
I was coming to you when I reiulm
bored you would be here."
lie lifted his race and gazed off
across the swale, with tils Jaws net
hard a minute, as if gathering tiN
forces. Then he spoke.
"It's the nngel. sir." he said.
Instinctively Mclean's grip n film
tightened
"1 tried hard the other day." said
Freckles, "and I couldn't seem to
make you see. It's only that there
hasn't been an hour, waking or sleep
log. since the day she parted the
bushes nnd looked Into me room, that
the fnce of her hasn't been hufore me
'In all the tlnderness. bounty and nils
rhler of It She talked to me friendly
like She trusted me entirely to take
.Mght care f her. She helped me with
things about me books. She tralted
ate like I was bom n glntleman. and
scared with me like I was of her
own bltoil. S!ii walked the streets of
the town with tne before her friends
With all the pride of a queen. She
forgot herself and didn't mind the
Bird W:nwin. and run b!g risks to help
mo out that first day. sir This last
time she walked Into that gang of
murderers, took their leader nnd
twisted him to the will of her. She
outdone him and raced the life almost
out of ber trying to save me.
"Since I can remlmber, whatever the
tllng was that happened to mo in the
bcglunlng has been me curse. I've
been bitter, hard and smarting under
It hopelessly. Sho came by and found
me voice and put hope of life nnd suc
cess like other men Into mo In spite of
It"
Freckles held up his maimed arm.
"Look at it, sir!" be said. "A thou
sand times I've cursed It, hanging
there helpless. She took It on the
street, before all the people, Just as if
6he didn't see that it was a thing to
hide nnd shrink from. Again and
again I've had the feeling with her,
If I didn't entirely forget It. that she
didn't see It was gone and I must pull
ber sleeve and be pointing It out to
her. Her touch on it was so sacred
like, nt times since I've caught meself
looking nt the awful thing near like
I was proud of It. sir. If I was born
your son she couldn't bo treating me
more as her eoual, nnd sho can't help
knowing you ain't truly me father.
Nobody can know the ugliness or the
Ignorance of me better than I do and
all mo lack of birth, home, relatives
nnd money and what's It all to her?"
Freckles stepped back from McLenn.
squared bis shoulders and with a
rojatJIft o( bis bend looked straight
Into the boss' eyes.
"You saw her In the beautiful little
room of her and you can't be forget
ting how she begged nnd pleaded with
you for me. She touched me body,
and 'twas snnctltled. She laid her Hps
ou me brow, nnd 'twas sacrament. No
body knows the height or her better
than me. Nobody's studied my depths
closer. There's no bridge tor the great
distance between us. sir, and. clenrot
or all. I'm for realizing It. But she
risked terrible things when she came to
me anions that unng or thieves. Shu
wore herseir past bearing to save me
from such nn easy tiling as deathl
Now. here's nie, n man. u big. strong
man, and letting her live under that
fearful oath, so worse than any death
twould be for her, and lifting not a
linger to save her. 1 cannot bear It.
sir. It's killing me by Inches: If nny
evil comes to her through Black Jack
It comes from her nngel like goodness
to me. Somewhere he's hiding!
Somewhere he is waiting his chance!
Somewhere he Is reaching out for her!
I tell you I cannot, I dare not be bear
ing it 'longer!"
'Freckles, be quiet!" said McLean.
his eyes humid. "Believe mo, I did not
understand. I know the angel's father
well. I will go to him at once I have
transacted business with him for the
last three years. I will make him see!
I am only Just beginning to realize
your agony nnd the real dauger there
Is for the nngel. I will see that she
Is fully protected every hour of the
day und night until Jack Is located auJ
disposed of. And 1 promise you further
that If I fall to move her father or
make him understand the danger I
will maintain a guard over her until
Jack Is caught."
McLean slid from Nellie's back, and
went to examine the otter.
"What do you want to do with It.
Freckles?" asked McLean. "Do you
known that It Is very valuable?"
"I was for almost praying so, sir."
said Freckles. "As I saw It coming up
the bnnk I thought this: Once some
where In a book there was a picture of
a young girl, nnd she was just a breath
like the benutifulness of the nngel. Her
hands were In a muff as big as her
body, and I thought It was so pretty.
I think she was some queen, or the
like. Do you suppose I could have this
skin tanned nnd made luto such a muff
ns that an enormous big one. sir?"
"Of course you can." said McLenn.
"That's n fine Idea and It's easy
enough. It would be a mighty fine
thing for you to give to the angel as
a little reminder of the Limberlost be
fore it Is despoiled, and as a souvenir
of ber trip for you."
Freckles lifted n fnce with a glow of
happy color creeping into It and eyes
lighting with a former brightness.
Throwing his arms about McLean, he
cried "Oh. how I love you! Oh, 1
wh'.i I could make you kuow how I
love you!"
McLean strained him lo his breast.
'' 'Jod bless you. Freckles," ' he said
"1 do know! We're going to have
some good old times out or this world
together, end we can't begin tin) soon
Would you rather sleep lirst. or get a
bl!e of li;:v b and have the drive with
me, and tl.cu rest I don't know but
sleep wl'l mine sooner and deeper to
take the ride and h.tve yor.r mind set
at e.ue before you lie down. Suppo'"
you j.;o." f
"iV.ippose I do." suiJ I'revklr. with a
j,IIramer nt the old light In his eyes
ani newly found strength b sliouldei
t!.e oiler. Together they turned it:'.'
tho swale.
M Lean not bed and spoke of the big
lilac!; (ill -kens.
"They've been hanging round out
there for several days past." said
Fnvkles. I'll tell you what I think
It means. I think the old rattler h:i
killed something too big for him to
swallow, nnd he's keeping guard and
won't let nie chickens have It. I'm
Just sure, from the way the birds have
acted out there all summer, that It Is
the rattler's den. You watch them
now. See the way they dip and then
rise, frightened like!"
Suddenly McLean turned ou him
with blanching five.
"Freckles!" he cried
"You think It's Jack!" shuddered
Freckles.
ne dropped the otter, caught up his
club, nnd plunged Into the swale.
Beaching ror bis revolver. McLwn
followed. The chickens circled higher
at their coming, and the big snnke
Iirted his hend and rattled angrily. It
sank In sinuous colls at the rexrt of
McLean's revolver, and together he
and Frerk.es stood beside Black Jack.
Ills fate was evident nnd most horrible.
"Come," said the boss at last. "We
don't dare touch blin. We will get a
sheet from Mrs. Duncan und tuck over
blra, to keep tbeso swarms or Insects
away, and set Hall on guard, while
we go ror tho officers."
Freckles' lips closed resolutely. He
deliberately thrust his club uuder
Black Jack's body nnd, raising blm,
rested It on his knee. He pulled a
long silver pin rrom the rront or the
dead mail's shirt and sent It spinning
out into the swale. Then ho gathered
up a row crumpled bright flowers and
dropped them Into the pool far away.
"My soul Is sick with the horror of
this thing," Bald McLean as he and
Freckles drove toward town. "I can't
Understand bow Jack dared risk creep
ing through the swale even lu des
peration. No one knew its dangers
better than be. And why did bo
chooso tho raukest mucklest place to
cross the swamp?"
"Don't you think, sir. It was because
It was on n lino with the Limberlost
south of the corduroy? The grass was
tallest there, nnd he counted on those
willows to screen him. Once he got
among them ho would have been safe
to walk by stooping. If ho'd made It
past that place ho'd been sure to get
out."
f
V
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t
y
Owin to the late spring
fencing, and are making the
780 rods, 6 inch stay, 34 inches
Sift Ci " on
X
80
6
3G
1G0
580
580
20
33
100
100
580
120
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
6
12
6
12
16
12
6
12
47
47
26
71
50
47
47
27
27
I
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
12 foot American gates, 50
14 foot American gates, 50
12 foot, 2 bar Iowa gate
X
t
y
y
y
y
y
y
14 foot, 2 bar Iowa gates,
15 a foot 2 bar Iowa gate
14 foot, 1 bar Iowa gate,
15 foot 1 bar Iowa gate
PLATTSMOUTH
"Well. I'm ns sorry for Jack as I
know how to be." said McLean, "but I
cau't help feeling relieved that our
troubles are over with this dreadful
punishment for Jack. Wessner safe In
Jail and warrants out for the others.
Tack knew the swnuip better than
anyone about here. Wheu he found
there were two companies trying to
lease he wanted to stand In with the
one from which he could realize the
most. Even then he had trees marked
here that he was trying to dispose of.
I think bis sole intention In forcing
me to discharge him from my gang
was to come up here and try to steal
timber. We bad no Idea when we took
the lease what a gold mine It was."
"That's exactly what Wessner said
that first day." said Freckles eagerly.
"That 'twas n 'gold mine.' He said
he didn't know where tho marked
trees were, but be knew a man that
did. nnd If I would bold off and let
them get the marked ones there were
a dozen they could take out la a few
days." v
"Freckles." cried McLean, "you don't
mean a dozen!"
"That's what he said, sir a doien.
rie ?nld they couldn't tell how tho
grain of all of them would work up. of
course, but they were all worth taking
out. and five or six were real gold
mines. This makes three they've tried,
so there must be nine more marked,
and several of them for being Just
8ne."
"Well. I wish I knew which they
were," said McLean, "so that I could
get tbem out tirst."
(To Be Continued. )
A Demonstration.
We. will give a demonstration
i f the new Perfection Oil Cook
Stove at our store on Thursday,
May 2d. We want everybody lo
alk'tid this demonstration and
enjoy a free lunch wilh us. The
company will have a represent
ative here to tell joti and show
ou all about Ihe "Perfection,"
demonstrating its many points of
superiority over oilier- oil cookers.
Pitman & Davis.
Miss Minnie (iuthmann left for
Murdock via Omaha on the morn
ing train today, where she will
visit her brother, Henry and fam
ily. 8
$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.
f ITPhone or write us if interested. Cars in stock here for immediate delivery.
Onion Overland
we find ourselves greatly overstocked on woven wire
following prices on stock on hand for SPOT CASH:
high, 9 bar, American fence, weight per
f vi 4
9
Kokomo fence
10
American fence
10
y i u i
21 "
Ellwood Lawn fence
10 bar Kokomo fence
7
inches high, each
inches high, each
each ;
each
- - -
ONE OF IHE GREAT
EST AND BEST
Cole Brothers Big Shows Praised
by Both Press and Publlo
Everywhere.
Wherever I ho Cole Brothers
United Shows have exhibited
press and public have been n unit
in praising the work of the ex
ceedingly largo number of young
and handsome women performers.
Hovies of the fair sex are rep
resented among tho riders, aorial-
isls, contortionists, jugglers, high
wire artists, gymnasts, bicyclists,
clowns', animal trainers, chariot
drivers and in fact even among
the ringmasters. As may natural
ly be expected, keen rivalry exists
between tho lady and gentlemen
artists, a fact which greatly en
hances their performances. The
lengthy imperial program pre
sented this year by those shows
contains only the host and most
modern features that money and
labor can procure and in such
quantity and variety as to satiate
every arenic taste and fancy. Lack
of space prevents an enumeration
of all the different acts, many of
which must be seen to be ap
preciated. There is an extended
list, the last of which does not
by any means end the pleasures
which the Colo Brothers Shows
w ill provide patrons of Cass coun
ty afternoon and evening Satur
day, May 1th, at Plaltstnouth.
There are sports of ancient Rome
and modern fete day races and
contests. Then Ihe big triple
menagerie forms a zoological dis
play without a peer in all the
world. Next is Cole Brothers'
marvelous museum, in which are
exhibited a myriad of human and
animal freaks and other attrac
tions. Thus it will he seen that
there is a royal holiday feast in
store for all who attend this
mighty amusement exposition.
Overland
OVERLAND MODEL 59T7
3 Agents Eastern Cass County, Union, Nebraska T
y
y
y
y
irisinj
100 rods 1230 lbs, per rd 34 c V
.4 - at.
1230
34c
14G0
1080
9G0
3120
2540
38c
28c
26c
$1.00
80c
38c
28c
26c
X
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
x
x
x
y
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22c
$6.50
$100
7 nr
$750
$775
$100
I...!..'... $4.25
4?
NEBRASKA V
V
DR
Herman Grcodor,
Graduate Vetincary Surgeon
(Formerly with U. S. Department
Agriculture)
Licensed by Nebraska State
Board
Calls Answered Promptly
Fhone 378 White, Piattsmouth
Returns From Hospital.
From Saturday's Dally.
Tim Kohoutek wont lo Omaha
on tho morning train today to
bring his mother, Mrs. James
Kohoutek, homo from tho hos
pital. Bhe was operated on at
Immanuel hospital on March 30
and is now strong enough to leave
the care of tho nurse. . 1 )
'! ' -j
Misses Bernese Newell, Clara
Hunter and Ksthor Larson were
passengers lo Weeping Water
this morning, where they attended
a district convention of the
Christian Endeavor, which con
venes at that place today and to
omrrow. ,
Do You want in
AUCTIONEER?
If you do, get one who has
Experience, Ability, Judgement.
Telegraph or write
ROBERT VIKINSOti,
Dunbar, Neb.
Dates made at this office or the
Murray State Bank.
Rates Reasonable
ompany, B
En
IE
If
41