Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-10-24

she 6Woke Mia nAo vanished Ana
every one was away. And now Sam
hill. he, too. is gone. OH Merciful
Mothert"
sit down and be calm!' cried Pc
| dro- feline ALL Whx1 has hap
pened?''
Lucky it Is that SamhiII left the
address," exclaimed Gunivfere. "And
lucky. too. that 1 could find thee Now,
all will be well.''
Thanks. OH smooth tongue, for thy
faith in me-" replied Pedro. But what
has happened? Tell me. quickly"
Yesterday we left her with Anna
began Guneviere, and told of Nita's
illness and strange disappearance.
How very queeri" he commented.
| when she had finished. How unlike
Nitai And Hill? What has he done ?"
He has not come homei"
But there is nothing strange in
that!" objected Pedro. Does he not
often stay away all night, eh?"
But the bear came home!" walled
Guneviere.
Mr.. Jones, Alone, Impossible.''
"A policeman-of-the-law brought
him." explained Guneviere, saying
that he found the bear near the river.
The name was on the collar, and the
number, tn savis!''
Saint Joseph. but that does look
seriousl" Pedro exclaimed Quick
is there nothing more?"
only that the policeman-of- the-law
made much noise when he found that
four bears dwelt within the tenement.
He says we must move out. Four
bears are not permitted. One bear
perhaps. If much money be paid. But
four! No, that is not alIowed!''
And what have you done?"
1--WE have arranged to go into the
back tenement" said Guneviere, evil
IDENTIFY convinced that the change
would solve the difficulty.
But, Hill, Something must have
happened to him? And the bear left
himi" said Pedro, walking up and
down excitedly. He may have been
hurtl Near the river, Ell? Good
heavens. l scarcely dare guess what
has occurred"
The hospitals?" suggested Gune-
Were with some faint return of her
usual practically.
"Ahl yes" he exclaimed, ct shall
telephone them at once, and then 1
shall go to Jones street with you. AS
for Nita, we shall have to find her
without help; she has made me swear
never to invoke public aid in her
behalf, you know"
Yes, yes." said Guneviere, you
will come, then?''
Directly" he cried mo time must
be lost"
But as it proved, time mattered
little. for the hospitals told nothing,
and neither did that grim lost and
whole days Pedro alternated between
his studio and the rear tenement on
Jones street, his mind in an agony of
uncertainty. He could not work for
nervousness, and the combined sus-
pense and inaction played havoc with
his spirit. Leigh had been called out
of town to see his mother, who was
i'll, and there was no one else to whom
Hill himself had forbidden that his af-
fairs be made known to anyone but
the sculptor. or Pedro might have
asked Milligan's assistance. AS it was,
he could only fume impatiently, and
eat his heart out with worry. At last,
no longer able to endure doing moth
ing, he called a council of war in the
tenement kitchen. To the assem- led
bear-dancers, with exception only of
the still mysteriously absent Mia, he
arose and spoke.
Il am going to find Sam Hill, if he
is on the face of the earthi" he an
nounced. Il am convinced that some
misfortune has befallen him. In half
an hour 1 am going to take Mr.. Jones
with me, and am not coming back till
we have succeeded in discovering the
whereabouts of my friend"
"Bienl And l." said Beau-Jean,
from his seat on the foot of the bed.
Il will go with you to find that Sam
hill. who is my friend, aussi."
Very good." said Pedro, "all is ar
ranged. Come, Strong Arm. we will
co.
On the instant they began collecting
the few traps necessary for a short
absence, and while they were in the
midst of these preparations. the door
was thrown open to admit an old
woman.
INITIAL" yelled Pedro. springing
toward her.
Instantly the room was in an up
roar, all talking at once, laughing and
weeping, shouting questions, making
offers of help, proffering food and
drink, crowding around the crone with
such clamor and persistence that Pc
dro could scarcely manage to get her
to a chair. Then she sat beaming
upon them all, apparently in the best