The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-12-04


Did you get the commission? Are
they delighted with the sketch? But.
Of course! Dios! you are sight to
gladden. the hearth"
Pedro's cheeks were aflame, and his
eyes shone with excitement Iris noted
this with wonder. and thought that
truly his friendship for Leigh must be
great, since the mere sight of the
sculptor aroused in him an enthusiasm
so far beyond any which he displayed
| for others. And, indeed. at this mo-
ment Pedro appeared to see no one
but the tall, gaunt man, whose hands
he held. To break the little tableau,
Iris looked at her watch, and noted
the hour with an exclamation of sur
prise. Then she began slipping into
her outdoor garments.
II must fly!" she cried. when shall
come AGAIN."
"I-er-suppose l call you up and
you can let me known" said Pedro,
looking. however, at Leigh. I'VE must
have 1t soon. All! 1t is good to have
you back, amigo mio!" he added to
the sculptor.
Tomorrow" said Iris. It almost
seemed as If she were persisting. Il
could come In the morning"
"Will you be working tomorrow"
Pedro asked Of Leigh.
Abraham Lincoln Leigh nodded his
long head.
This day loaf with YOU" he said.
Tomorrow l shall begin to set up the
big group"
Pedro turned to Iris.
Tomorrow morning will be splen-
did then!" he said. You will come
early, eh?"
YES" she replied, but now l must
co."
"And I. ALSO" said Leigh. II must
leave an order at Penelli's for plas-
terline. I'll be back in an hour, Pedro.
May l show you to your motor, Miss
Vanderpool? It's waiting out on the
avenue"
Thank you," said Iris, II shall be
glad" Then she turned to Cassie, all
her original antagonism coming back
in full force. What right had this girl
to dictate to her, Iris?
"Good-by," said Iris, stifly ignoring
the girls outstretched hand. Then she
went out with Leigh, her head very
much In the air.
When Pedro and Leigh went down
the stairs, arm in arm, the door Of the
ground-floor apartment was slammed
with violence, just as they passed 1t.
DO you know the chap who lives
there?" asked Leigh.
Never saw him." said Pedro. These
tenants are all very quiet. l never
meet any of them, except Cassie"
I've seen this downstairs fellow"
said Leigh. "Disagreeable fellow.
Names Rowe. believe"
Il have never seen him." Pedro re-
piled. Where shall we go, eh?"
"Paleri's," said Leigh; I'VE can talk
there"
1t was close on to one o'clock in the
morning when, in very enthusiastic
mood, Pedro saw Leigh to the latter's
door. They stood for several moments
in the shelter Of the vestibule, compar-
ing the English of Oscar Wilde to that
Of the King James Bible. Then Leigh
found his latchkey and Pedro turned
homeward. \
But he was not destined to reach the
studio Immediately.
Before he had gone to the end of
the block he turned and stood quite
motionless, looking up at Leigh's win
dow, where dim light soon appeared
behind the cracked and yellow blinds.
Until this light had been extinguished
he waited, looking up with a strange
expression in his eyes. Then, when
the window went dark, he buried his
face in his hands and seemed to purge
his soul of some trouble. After a mo-
ment or two, however, he abruptly
squared his shoulders and resumed his
homeward way, only to be halted by
the sight of two men, who issued from
the swinging door of little subter-
ranean cafe and paused together un-
der a street lamp.
At his first glimpse of the taller of
the two men, Pedros heart gave a
great thump of surprise. 1t was Mr..
Vanderpool, Iris father! And who
was the disreputable-looking fellow to
whom he was talking? Why had the
chap such familiar look? Where had
he seen the fellow before? Impossible
to remember. But whatever their for.
mer encounter, 1t paled In interest be-
side the fact that the mystery he had
undertaken to unravel was probably
being enacted, In part, under his very
nose.
Clearly some mischief was afoot. BY
his tone and gestures the smaller man
appeared to be debating to the mil
lionaire, who followed his words anx
iously. Assuming a careless manner
Pedro pulled his cap far down over
his eyes and walked past the two.
"A week is impossible; too long, by