The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-10
CHAPTER XVI.

Although she had as yet done moth
ing that was not helpful or kind, there
was something about Mrs. Baxter that
rang false, and the house in which she
| lived was a 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 to herself for a
while
Sweetzer and Freddie were 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 SweetZer.
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, if you'd like to have peep at
the real thing"
Usual price?" asked Sweetzer.
Yep. But go 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 ducked off into what appeared
to be dark closet and pulled the
door to after them; while Mrs. Baxter,
with a great bustling, noisy cheerful
ness rejoined Celestia.
You're looking at my pictures,
aren't you, dear?" 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 Celestia unconsciously assumed
many lovely attitudes herself Once
she lifted her hands to her hair; sew
eral times she smiled back at girls
who appeared to be smiling at her.
And at last she stood with her hands
loosely caught behind her and looked
up at the masterpiece of Mrs. Baxter's
collection.
As art it wasn't bad at all Some
young fellow with a genuine talent
had made it. II he had also succeeded
in making name for himself the pic
ture would have been worth a good
deal of money; but, as Mrs. Baxter
a In cd hoI vly
and doped himself to 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 as delicate
ly and prettily 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 brazen or ashamed. She
strolled straight toward you. And in
front OF her and at both sides and be.
hind her all the way to the rim OF
the world were peacocks with their
tails spread The coloring was gor-
geous and the eyes in the peacocks'
jewels. But the eyes 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 little TO 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 up one
finger, and then with that same finger
traced three circles in the air.
At that the eyes in the peacocks
tail tried to look obdurate and strong.
Mrs. Baxter shrugged her shoulders.
Then the eyes wi1ked slowly three
times. and Mrs. Baxter. forgetful Of
everything but her triumph. laughed
aloud.
Celestia turned 10 her with inquir- .
ing eyes. She did not know that she +.
had just been sold for a thousand dol .
lars by someone who did not own
her to someone whom she had never .
seen.
You must be tired standing. /
dearie," said Mrs. Baxter. and hun
gry and thirsty. too. What1l you
drink-a glass Of wine:'
Water. please"
That's nicer. water with 8 da,h OF .