The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1915-10-27


Freddie" exclaimed Tommy, what
are we going to do about Celestia?
Has she been this way ever since
went into the cave?"
--Sne's bughouse," said Freddie
simply.
whats happened? How did you
keep Stilliter from getting hold Of
her? He thought he'd shot me. !
couldn't get out of the cave as quickly
as he could l supposed, Of course,
he'd run of with her"
'He did," said Freddie laconically.
"But here she is. What became of
him?"
Dunno"
What do you know, Freddie7"
Then the Ferret told his little story
of battle, his fight to the finish in the
moonlight
q gets him by the collar" said
Freddie, and beats his face up. And
/ knocks his specs of and they busts,
and he amt got no more, and ducks
out from under, and he calls to her,
and she wants to go to him and !
won't let her"
Where was this?"
Dunno"
Far from here?"
Dunno"
But you must know in Q general
way"
Freddie shook his head.
Look at me. Freddiel You do
now"
But the Ferret's spine stiffened, and
he met Tommy's eyes without finch
ing. He, too, had his standards of right
and wrong. Let the evildoer suffer!
II knows" he said. but / don't
tell"
But, good God Freddie blind
man-in this Wilderness
"Can go to hell" said Freddie.
"Now. look here
what are you two talking about?"
The man ard the boy wheeled to-
ward Celestia as suddenly and with
as much wonder as if she had pointed
gun and shot at them. She had
spoken in her natural voice. She spokt
| again.
"Stilliter?"
"Yes, Celestia; we were speaking of
him He is in awful trouble"
"He was in awful trouble" her voice
was sweet and gentle, but very serl
! Gus. Hes been trying to get me to
help him, but Freddie wouldn't let me
go, and he couldn't make me under
stand just where he was. The fire
was after him. He couldn't see and he
/ got hurt trying TO get away from the
FIRE. But 1t chased him and chased
him, until he fell into lake and
drowned"
Her words carried an astounding
weight of conviction. She felt the
horror of her knowledge and she had
suffered while her enemy suffered, and
yet she was serenely sure that Stilli-
ter's departure had left the world a
little better of.
We'll have a look for him when
we've had bite to eat" said Tommy
'Tm all in at the moment. Freddie,
run down the trail till you come to a
big square basket and bring It back
here, will your"
what are we all doing here. any
way?" asked Celestia,
Tommy told her. 1t was quite a
long story. 1t was hard to make her
understand at first, but It grew easier
and easier II was as II she was rap.
idly convalescing from that sickness 0.
] mind into which Professor Stillitere Is
dark powers had thrown her. Freddie
came with the basket. and he and Ce-
lestia ate ravenously, and Tommy less
ravenously, because he had already
broken his fast and because II was SO
wonderful to be telling Celestia all
about what had been happening and
to have her understand.
"And that's the door of the cave
where you say was brought upf'
Where you we're brought up, Ce
lestia-upon my word of honor"
She shook her head, but without
conviction.
Il want to see." sne said.
But Tommy leaped to his feet.
You're the rascal that stole my
clothes!" he cried.
Old Man smellsgood grinned from
ear to ear.
well. I'll forgive you." said Tommy
land give you money II you'll ind
Professor stilliter."
The Indian shook his head and said
No good"