The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1915-09-01
CHAPTER XVII.

anu ludL WAS dlHlOSl the IdSI Lnlne
that Freddie's vaguely working mind
expected her to say. She" he
thought, ought to be afraid of me.
am a man; she is girl. have a
club; she hasn't. / am to take her
to Sweetzer, dead or alive. l can
crack her head like an egg. So why
does she tell me not to be afraid ?
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 1t up, but seemed to lack the
necessary muscular control
What's 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.
II was then no longer necessary for
Freddie to take sudden action. II
Celestia was going to live on in the
same house II would be simple mat
ter at some more propitious moment
(when she wasn't looking at fellow,
for ipstance) to turn her over to
Sweetzer.
Nevertheless, It seemed to Freddie
that the matter required thought, and
he skunk of 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 1t? Sup
pose there was so much, how could
Freddie turn 1t 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.
WELL" said Sweetzer.
Il shouldn't wonder" said Freddie,
If l was going to find her. got
clue"
Good"
How much money is there in it,"
"A dollar"
Freddie simply smiled a sad little
smile, turned on his heel and started
70 walk away.
Hold on, Freddie; was kiddin
you"
You mustn't kid me. 1t drives me
crazy. l shouldn't wonder If could
hnd her for'-his lips trembled at
their own audacity-"fifty."
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 Freddie's brain tried
to make him say "All right, come
along" but a bright spot suddenly
interVened and made him say instead:
AN 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.
80 help me God. have told the
truth" Mrs. Baxter was saying, and
Freddie judged she was crying.
80 help me OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
what did you say your name was7"
Barclay"
"Mr. Barclay, wouldn't worry II
was you. She came ~ no harm with
me, and I'm as bad as thsy make EN-"
Look here" said Tommy. What
would you do in my place"
"Td offer big money for news OF her.
Money acts quicker than lightning"
why" said Tommy, I'D give q
thousand dollars just to know that
she was safe
Freddie. the ferret, stepped into the !
room from between the portieres.
Shes safe" he said. with fine |
dramatic instinct.
"Safel" cried Tommy. Where is
she? You've seen her? Who Is this
young MANI"
He's called Freddie the Ferret"
said Mrs. Baxter. because he often
nnds things that other people can't