The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-08-05
CHAPTER XVI.

Although she had as yet done moth.
ing that a not helpful or kind. there
was something about Mrs. Baxter that
rang false. and the house In which she
lived was q strange place.
Mrs. Baxter's sitting room and Office
was at the back Of the house up one
flight OF stairs. And here. summoned
downstairs by a neat looking colored
maid, she left Celestia 10 herself for a
while.
sweetzer and Freddie we're In the
front parlor. Mrs. Baxter swept In
upon them with an important air of
mystery.
Got the real thing this time, have
you?" asked Swee:zer.
"You Just bet ! have" said Mrs.
Baxter.
When you've seen her all I'll have
to do will be to name the sum; Just
step upstairs. Billy, and you, too. Fred.
die. II you'd like 20 have a peep at
the real thing"
Usual price?" asked Sweetzer.
Yep. But 20 quiet. She's got ears
like a lynx. and she can see plumb
through paint and canvas"
The men followed Mrs. Baxter on
tiptoe.
Just before they came TO the door
Of Mrs. Baxter's Office Sweetzer and
Freddie duoked on into what appeared
to be n dark closet and pulled the
door TO after them; while Mrs. Baxter.
with a great bustling, noisy cheerful.
ness rejolned Celestia.
You're looking at my pictures,
aren't you, doar?' she said. Il love
beauty. | love nature. Now that girl
with her hands to her hair. Amt she
Just too cute and graceful for any.
thing?"
In moving from one picture to an
other Celestial uncunsciously assumed
many lovely attitudes herself. Once
she lifted her hands to her hair: sey.
eral times she smiled back nj girls
who appeared TO be smiling NJ her.
And at last she stood with her hands
loosely caught behind her and looked
up ut the masterpiece OF Mrs. Bakers
collection.
As art II wasn't bad at all. Some
young fellow with a genuine talent
had made II. II he had also succeeded
In making a name for himself the pic.
ture would have been worth a good
deal OF money; but, as Mrs. Baxter
explained. poor Allison had drank
and dopej himself 10 death. And |
took this over she said. in lieu OF
money that he owed me. It's called
The Peacock Girl"
"The Peacock Girl" was rs delicate.
ly and p%rettily made as an apple bios.
som. And she was as sweet and rosy,
and not a bit proud Of having no
clothes on like the girls in the other
picture. or brazcn or ashamed. She
strolled straight toward you. And In
front OF her and al both sides and be.
hind her all the way 10 the rim OF
the world were peacocks with their
tails spread The %coloring was COR.
geous and the eyes In the peRcocks'
tails were like thousands OF bright
jewels. But the eAes OF the peacock
girl were so frank and sweet, that
after a glance at the rest OF the com
position Celestia could look at moth.
ing else.
Not so Mrs. Baxter. standing be.
hind Celestia and a little 10 one side.
She looked steadily at two of the
eyes in the tail OF the leading pea.
cock. In those two eyes she read rap.
turous approval so she held M one
finger, and then with that same finger
traced three circles in the air.
Al that the eyes In the peacock's
tail tried to look ohdurate and strong.
Mrs. Baxter shrugged her shoulders.
Then the Eyes wlnked slowly three
times. and Mrs. baxter, forgetful OF
everything but her triumph, laughed
aloud.
Celestial turned to her with lnquir.
ing eyes. She did not know that she
had just been sold for a thousand dol.
lars By someone who did not own
her 10 someone whom she had never
seen.
You must be tired standing.
dear.e." said Mrs. Baxter, and hun.
cry and thirsty. too. what1l you
drink-a glass n wine?"
Water. please"
That's nicer, water with a dash OF