know before this ends, if 'twas me
mother"--Freckles could not even whisper the words, for he hesitated a
second and ended--"IF 'TWAS ME MOTHER DID IT!"

"Freckles! Freckles! Oh, Freckles!" the voice of the Angel came calling.
Freckles swayed forward and wrenched at the rope until it cut deeply
into his body.

"Hell!" cried Black Jack. "Who is that? Do you know?"

Freckles nodded.

Jack whipped out a revolver and snatched the gag from Freckles' mouth.

"Say quick, or it's up with you right now, and whoever that is with
you!"

"It's the girl the Bird Woman takes 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 I thought the Bird Woman would
want extra, and I went to town to tell her last night. She said she'd
come soon, but she didn't say when. They must be here. I take care of
the girl while the Bird Woman works. Untie me quick until she is gone.
I'll try to send her back, and then you can go on with your dirty work."

"He ain't lying," volunteered Wessner. "I saw that tree covered with
butterflies and him watching around it when we were spying on him
yesterday."

"No, he 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," he cautioned.

"Freckles! Freckles!" came the Angel's impatient voice, closer and
closer.

"I must be answering," said Freckles, and Jack nodded. "Right here!"
he called, and to the men: "You go on with your work, and remember
one thing yourselves. The work of the Bird Woman is known all over the
world. This girl's father is a rich man, and she is all he has. If you
offer hurt of any kind to either of them, this world has no place far
enough away or dark enough for you to be hiding in. Hell will be easy to
what any man will get if he touches either of them!"

"Freckles, where are you?" demanded the Angel.

Soulsick with fear for her, Freckles went toward her and parted the
bushes that she might enter. She came through without apparently giving
him a glance, and the first words she said were: "Why have the gang come
so soon? I didn't know you expected them for three weeks yet. Or is this
some especial tree that Mr. McLean needs to fill an order right now?"

Freckles he