The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-19
CHAPTER XVII.

Don't be afraid, said .Celestla
calmly. Il won't hurt you"
And that was almost the last thing
that Freddie's vaguely working mind
expected her to say. She he
thought, ought to be afraid of me.
am a man; she is a girl. ] have
club; she hasn't. | am to take her
to Sweetzer, dead or alive. | can
crack her head like an egg. So why
does she tell me not to be afraid?
Why does she say she won't hurt me?
Maybe she's got gun. Maybe she
knows something"
All the while her magnificent COM
passionate eyes held him spellbound.
He heard something fall heavily to
the floor. He looked to see what t
was. 1t was his club. He tried to
pick it up, but seemed to lack the
necessary muscular control.
whats your name?' asked
Celestia
Freddie Douglas"
do you belong in this house?"
"Yes, ma am"
Then we must be friends, because
l belong here, too"
"You going to live with us?"
Celestia nodded.
Honor bright" smiled Celestia.
Honor bright" asked Freddie sus-
piciously.
1t was then no longer necessary for
Freddie to take sudden action. II
Celestia was going to live on in the
same house it would be a simple mat
ter at some more propitious moment
(when she wasn't looking at fellow,
for instance) to turn her over to
Sweetzer
Nevertheless, it seemed to Freddie
that the matter required thought, and
1e skunk off to think. 1t required time
and luck. He had less good luck at
thinking than at anything else.
His proposition was this: Sweetzer
had paid a thousand dollars for
Celestia and had lost her. He had
said to Freddie in effect, Get her
back. There's money in it." How
much money was there in it? Sup
pose there was so much, how could
Freddie turn it into more? Probably
Mrs. Baxter would also pay money
to know what had become of Celestia.
Freddie knew that his father needed
more money to pay the rent, and the
bright spots in his brain began to
work.
First he went to Sweetzer.
We'll" said Sweetzer
81 shouldn't wonder" said Freddie,
IF was going to find her. l got
a clue"
Good"
How much money is there in it?"
"A dollar"
Freddie simply smiled a sad little
smile. turned on his heel and started
to walk away.
Hold on, Freddie; was kiddin'
you"
You mustn't kid me. 1t drives me
crazy. | shouldn't wonder if | could
find her for"-his lips trembled at
their own audacity-"ffty."
Sweetzer's face did not even show
surprise.
You take me where she is, he
said, and I'll go you the fifty"
A dull spot on Freddies brain tried
to make him say "All right, come
along" but a bright spot suddenly
intervened and made him say instead:
"All right | find her sure"
Next Freddie went to Mrs. Baxter's
home. A taxicab was drawn up at
the curb and the front door was ajar,
Freddie simply walked into the house.
There were voices in the front par
lor. Freddie simply stepped to the
portieres, which served the front par
lor as a door, and stood, listening.
so help me God, have told the
truth" Mrs. Baxter was saying, and
Freddie judged she was crying.
so help me -Mister-Mister
what did you say your name was?"
Barclay"
Mr.. Barclay, | wouldn't worry If
was you. She came to no harm with
me, and I'm as bad as they make en-
Look here" said Tommy. What
would YOU do in my place."
I'D offer big money for news of her.
Money acts quicker than lightning"
why sdlu lOLAHlS' S'O
thousand dollars just to know that |
she was safe"
Freddie, the ferret, stepped into the !
room from between the portieres.
She's safe!' he said, with fine |
dramatic instinct.
Safe" cried Tommy. Where is |
she? You've seen her? Who is this |
young man."
He's called Freddie the Ferret,
said Mrs. Baxter. because he often
finds things that other people can't.