Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-10
The Argus Daily Short Story
in DEBT TO FREDDY-BY LULU JOHNSON
Copyrighted. 1908 by Associated Literary Press.

With wall of anger Freddy Owed
shelter close to the center leg. where
he knew that the portly Carson could
not follow.
The laughter of the other guests at
the uniQueness of Freddy's escape an
gered Carson, whose self esteem was
as huge as his girth, and his face
| turned an angry red.
You come out or III go after you,"
lie threatened rs he sought to pull the
| leaves of the table apart
| II won't come out" defied Freddy.
Il guess you wouldn't let me read your
| letters" ~
Another outburst of laughter greeted
| this sally, and CarsOn'S face grew
even more apologize. His penchant
for writing tender notes was well
known to his friends, and he lost the
| last vestige of self restraint as with 4
savage jerk he pulled the sections of
the table apart that he might reach
through and capture the defiant small
son Of his hnstess.,
His jesting demand for the love let
ter which the eight-year-old had writ
ten to his. baby sweetheart now threat
ened to pass from u joke to an ugly
incident, and several OF the men who
made up the Bayard house party
quietly but quickly moved through the
archway landing to, the library.
i Mrs. Bayard stirred uneasily in her
chair and glanced around for her hus-
band, but he was not in sight, and be
fore she could rise to call him Freddy
had shown that he needed no assist
ance. There was sudden scramble
and then from the end of the table
Freddy rolled out upon the floor to re
gard Carson with an irritating look OF
content.
"Where's the letter, youngster" the
man demanded rather sternly.
"Eatin' it." explained Freddy, mo
mentarily pausing in his maSticatioI
to regard Carson with pleased smile
II can write another after you're
gone"
And that's what you went under
the table forT demanded Carson, {
smile breaking through the scowl.
"Sure," assented Freddy. Il knew
could eat 1t before you could get me
That's the way they used to do wheI
they plotted against kings, only the.
D didn't climb under tables" he added
proudly. Il thought of that myself"
: "Take thy freedom. sapient young
, ster," decreed Carson. Mrs. Bayard
owe you an apology. l am afraid"
Il Mrs. Bayard nodded and tried t
smile. and her small son slipped from
|, the room TO the den upstairs. Pau
Dayton sat in the window seat watch
ing the white fakes of snow siftini
down upon the winter landscape.
"Come in, Freddy" he said kindly Il
he saw the youngster hesitate. 'Tw
! letters in one afternoon is rather a
? embarrassment of riches, isn't 1t? VIII
. is the fortunate maiden?'
i Its Bess Pyfrom," explained Fred
8 dy. Il can always write her afte
n school. 1 put the letter in box /
the hedge, and she comes and gets II
then she writes me one. and l get Il
and then l give her the answer in tn
morning, and she gives me the answe
at recess. and we're going to be maj
ried some day" he added irreleyantly
my congratulations" offered Da,
ton gravely. and Freddy beamed hi
youthful thanks. Just so did Dayto
speak to the "big men," and it we
delightful to have his love affair trea
ed With the seriousness 1t deserved
particularly after the adventure dowl
stairs.
This isn't the second letter." he e,
planned. Il was going along the hal
and Mr.. Carson met me and asked m
what was up to, and l told him, an
he said to let him see the letter"
".And what response did you emah
to his impertinent Curiosity" deman.
ed Dayton.
J Il ran under the table and ate 1t