The Clio messenger., 1914-12-18
CHAPTER xiII-continued.

signature. 1t was Hills and came
from Jersey City! AT last the scent
was getting warm. What good for
tune! But he must not seem too
anxious, or she might grow reticent.
Diplomacy, diplomacy!
you are treated better than ami"
he complained whimsically. II haven't
even had a card! But then, you are
. lady, which makes all the difference
All! woman. lovely woman! How you
fascinate and abuse us!"
She giggled self-consciously.
$50 this Is the latest news of Hill"
said Pedro. II suppose you write to
zach other frequently?"
We'll, mol" said she. "You see, I'm
engaged. I told Mr.. Sam 1t was use
less, but he's so persistent"
She giggled again.
Poor Sam!" said Pedro. you are
very cruel!"
do you happen to know his Jersey
address?" she asked, thereby giving
Pedro the information he wanted, to
wit that she was unaware Of Hills
present Whereabouts.
"Oh! he was only there for day!"
said Pedro, putting the coin which she
indicated out Of his handful, upon the
counter. "He might drop in here any
time. If he does, tell him Pedro was
asking for him, will you? And now
good-by; must be off"
AS Pedro joined his waiting COM
panion outside he was met with a
string of reproaches.
Never before have l seen you
tarry so long with woman, oh,
waster OF precious moments!" said
Beau-Jean. How shall it benefit
thee?"
1T has already done SOL" declared
Pedro. Come, hasten with me. We
are going to Jersey City. / shall ex.
plain on the way"
So of they went to the ferry, Mr.
Jones, the inadvertent detective, shut.
ding after.
To discover where the picture post
card had been purchased would have
been almost impossible; but to locate
the district In which 1t had been
mailed was easy enough, and that
combined with the hour which had
been stamped upon 1t, was sufficient
evidence to show that Sam had been
near the waterfront at some time be.
tween eight and ten o'clock on the
evening of the previous Monday. Con.
sequently, the next problem that con
fronted them was what Hill had done
after dropping this exquisite chrome
into a district tx" pillar-box? Pedro
at once tried to picture his own prob
able actions were he to find himself
IN such district at such an hour
with, presumably, no company but Mr.
Jones! All! of course! the cabarets
the saloons Of the dance! That
seemed the obvious answer, but he
consulted with Beau-Jean, to be Ger.
tain. Yes, Beau-Jean would
make straight for the cafes, and Hill
had probably done the same.
Thus 1t came about that the shades
OF evening found them lettering from
one low-browed ramshackle dive to
another, ever inquiring for Hill, OF
whom they found no further sign
Finally, when nine o'clock had come
and still nothing had been discovered
BeauJean suggested that they post
pone their effort until the following
day. and rest their weary brains and
bodies for a while. But Pedro would
have none Of these suggestions.
"But I am hungry!" protested the
giant. Here It is, of an hour, and we
have eaten nothing since noon. More
over. the bear is famished. Presently
he will begin to growl."
WELL" admitted Pedro reluctantly
81 am hungry myself. Let us go and
eat and smoke. Afterward, we shall
feel more inclined to search! Where
shall we go?"
Il think there is q lunch-wagon
down by the DOCK" said Beau-Jean
''let US make an examination"
"All right" Pedro assented, and they
set or at a brisk pace, In the direction
of the lights.
Sure enough, there was a lunch
wagon backed up against the ferry
house, and as they approached. 1t took
ON an increasingly familiar air. Pc
-dro's interest was now quickened by
more than the thought of food. Where
had he seen that gaudy decoration be
foref Holy saints! 1t was hie
rownl At the same instant Beau-Je ear
recognised the movable hostelry Of Mr
IsAAo Lovejoy, with q whoop Of glee
and they Qvioksnsd their pace to q
run. The worthy proprietor was occu
pisd In serving . pair Of customers-
- car conductors, or ferrymen. they ap
peared to be-but when he caught
sight OF Pedro he dropped the alice
Of pumpkin pie that he was In the ACT
q transferring from platter to plate
/. and, entirely disregarding this email
mishap. he stretched out both hands
70 the boy. . broad smile OF welcome
spreading over his row ruddy face.
well, we'll. I'm blessed!" he cried
Tho great little feller! and the big
husky one. tool Well. well, amt this
f, grand? Come In. come In and eat
Il certainly does my eyes good ter sec