Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-10-24
,ur friendship at the Same

| renew our friendship at the same
| time"
Friendship" said she. with a mirth-
less little laugh
Comet" he cried, with an attempt
at putting the incident behind them.
Il must talk to you about something
very important You asked me to help
you find out who was troubling your
| father
Yes" she assented. without much
interest, however.
Well" he said slowly, 81 am most
distressingly placed, Madonna am
almost certain that he is being either
| blackmailed or misled in some man
ner, and yet my hands are absolutely
tied / can do nothing
What do you mean?' she demand
ed, aroused.
terry" he lamented, but 1 cannot help
it. 1 have ascertained that a man of
doubtful character is in communica-
ton with your father; that much
| learned last week But at the instant
of my discovery of this fact cir
cumstance arose that makes it impos-
sible for me to continue as your de-
tective. More than this 1 cannot say.
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 Mill
gans' came back with rush of mem
DRY. All! 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 Enthusiastically,
that his sacrifice to Hills trust of him
was vain and useless thing. But how
was this to be accomplished? Mean
while, Pedro was still talking.
81 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 1 saw
him, is sufficient to justify this. Also.
alasi this same man now appears to
be standing in such a connection with
me as makes it impossible for me to
inform any ordinary person of the
facts. ! might injure an innocent
undoubtedly innocent-person by so
doing, to say nothing of perhaps let
ting out secret which your fathers
actions prove he wishes kept dark.
For whole week I have been trying
to see my way clear, and at last 1
know that it lies only in refusing to
help you
"And yet" said Iris slowly, rising
and putting on her wraps. 81 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.
II wish indeed that 1 could help
you." said Sc. 81 know the danger of
confiding so delicate a 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
II 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 CLEAN of light swept across his face
as though he were suddenly possessed
of a glorious idea.
-Irisi" he gasped, will you-will
you put that down on paper? Make
an-what you call it-affidavit?"
Affidavit ?-yesI" 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 beti" he shouted joyousIy.
She laid down her muff, and draw
ing off her glove, she wrote:
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 i'm
perils him And I furthermore agree to
- IRIS V4NDERPoo1.
"There." she said, laughing a trife
Historically, 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 1t
with the grace of courtier.
Iris bluehed, watching him with ten
der eyes. Then she submitted to be-
ing led downstairs and shut into her