Chapter 17 THE BLACK DOUGLASS

"Oh, don't frighten her, Mr. Steele!" begged Ruth, still holding the half wild girl. "You would not send her back to those awful people?"

"Tut, tut! I am no ogre, I hope," exclaimed the gentleman, rather put out of countenance at this outburst. "I only mean the child well. Doesn't she understand?"

"I won't go back to them Perkinses, I tell yo