The Spectator., 1914-12-25

renew our IT1enGsnlp dL tne bdHe time."
 "Friendship!" said she, with mirth- less little laugh
 "Come!" he cried, with an attempt at putting the incident behind them. 'I must talk to you about something very important. You asked me to help you find out who was troubling your 
 Yes" she assented, without much interest, however.
 Well" he said slowly, T am most distressingly placed, Madonna. I am almost certain that he is being either biackmailed or misled in some man. ner, and yet my hands are absolutely tied. 1 can do nothing"
 What do you mean?" she demand ed, aroused.
 'I seem fated to be a man of mys- tery," he lamented, but cannot help 1t! have ascertained that a man of doubtful character is in communica- tion with your father; that much learned last week. But at the instant of my discovery of this fact a cir cumstance arose that makes 1t impos- sible for me to continue as your de- tective. More than this I cannot say. But you will have to find some one else to help you"
 Iris was turning the matter over in her mind very rapidly. Did Pedro really not care for her? Hardly, Why he said such things He had followed her from the country! Had he not begged to paint her, and paid her such compliments as no one yet had done? That night at the Milli- gans' came back with rush of mem ory. An! he had surely cared then! What had since occurred to change him? Samuel Hill! That was it! He had learned of her former attachment, and meant at all costs to be loyal to the man who had befriended him. Something must be done to make him see, quite clearly and unmistakably, that his sacrifice to Hil1's trust of him was vain and useless thing But how was this to be accomplished? Mean while, Pedro was still talking.
 ''I say with regret that have every reason to believe that your father is being defrauded in some way. The character of the man with whom I saw him. is sufficient to justify this. Also, alas! this same man now appears to be standing in such a connection with me as makes 1t impossible for me to inform any ordinary person of the facts. I might injure an innocent undoubtedly fnnocent-person by so doing, to say nothing of perhaps let ting out a secret which your fathers actions prove he wishes kept dark. For whole week have been trying to see my way clear. and at last I know that 1t lies only in refusing to help you"
 And yet" said Iris slowly. rising and putting on her wraps. 'I would re- ward the right person to the best of my ability, if only the work of help ing, perhaps saving, my father could be continued"
 He gave her the muff for which she stretched out her hand.
 'I wish indeed that I could help you," said SC. "I know the danger of confiding so delicate matter to any one. But, perhaps, for a reward what would it be. this reward?"
 For an instant the audacity of what she was about to say rose like an i'm pediment in her throat, holding her silent, while her heart beat violently. Then, at last, she found her voice.
 T would marry him, no matter though he thought there were insur- mountable objections" she said with meaning
 He stood astounded, scarcely able to credit his hearing. and could only look and look at her.. open-mouthed. Then a gleam of light swept across his face as though he were suddenly possessed of a glorious idea.
 ''Iris!" he gasped. will you-will an-what you call it-affidavit?"
 "Afiidavit?-yes!" she replied
 Then do SOL" he cried. pushing pen and paper toward her.
 Do you really want it?" she asked, looking straight into his eyes.
 You bet!" he shouted joyously.
 She laid down her nun. and draw ing of her glove. she wrote:
 hereby promise to marry you on the day you can tell me my father is not be- ing subjected to danger. or has been res cued from that. if any, which now im- perils him. And I furthermore agree to overcome any debatable objections you may have to the marriage.
 IRIS vANDERPOOI.
 'There!" she said. laughing a trife hysterically, when she had finished, will that do?"
 "Splendidly!" said Pedro, and thrust. ing the folded paper into his breast pocket, seized her hand and kissed it with the grace of courier.
 Iris blushed. watching him with ten der eyes. Then she submitted to be- ing led downstairs and shut into her coupe. No sooner was this accom- plished than Pedro fled across the