The Spectator., 1914-12-25

TOT auSWoT, Sn0 LOOK TourOS IdCo between her old hands that were like withered leaves.
 "Dost thou know who is in the city?" she asked. Thine enemy and mine, Ricardo! He struck me, and l was senseless. But when mine eyes opened, I arose and went in search of him. I took the long, slender machete with the handle of pearl, but l found him not. There was a woman with
 Yes said Pedro, my mother"
 Then thou, too, hast seen him! Where?" she asked eagerly. And with thy mother? Surely you are mad"
 Not mad, only bewildered and frightened" he answered. 'T know where they are, but not for what pur- pose! 1 shall tell thee all that have seen, but not now. Can't you hear the others saying that my benefactor has vanished? Before anything else we must find and help him, if need be-"
 Where are Ricardo and thy mother?" | asked Nita, her eyes fixed upon Pe- | dro's, and her hand closed tightly | upon some object that was hidden among the bundled shawls and scarfs about her waist. Pedro's eye followed the movement
 Tt is very far from here, oh, ancient lady" he lied glibly, and l shall not tell you where until I return. Then we shall attend to your little matter, and I shall see why and how my mother comes in such company My mother!" he turned away and sighed. T had forgotten how loved her!" he said as though to himself Then he picked up the pole and chain, and sig naled to Beau-Jean that he was ready Nita arose to her feet.
 Where is the murderer, the se- ducer of my daughter?" she screamed Where Is Rioardo?"
 At the other end of the city," said Pedro. Come quickly, Beau-Jean"
 And with that they were off, leaving Nita screeching imprecations at them healthy manner. AS they reached the street Beau-Jean asked: What is all this murder business of which Nita talks? Couldn't we man. age to avenge her, when we have found Samhill?"
 Perhaps" said Pedro soberly. flor this man, Ricardo Valdez, is a very wicked man. He used to live near my home. Nita was my nurse, once, and her daughter was my foster-sister | When she was only fifteen Ricardo stole her away. Then he deserted her, and when she came back to us she killed herself and her baby. Ever since Nita has been looking for him, to avenge her child But she Is so old now, that I think we had best not let her do it l am sure she would really prefer dying with us, to dying In jail!"
 I agree" said Beau-Jean.
 And now which way shall we turn?" said Pedro
 AS the bear came from the river, let us to the river go," suggested Beau-Jean.
 "A good notion," said Pedro, "and as likely to prove fruitful as any"
 More likely uptown than down, from here" said Beau-Jean. and again | Pedro assented
 And so. in accordance with the plan, if plan 1t could be properly called, they made their way westward, straight | toward the docks. and, once reaching them. began pilgrimage uptown. MT. Jones now began acting in a most peculiar manner. Something on the sidewalk had attracted his atten- tion. and nothing could divert him until he had made thorough inspec- tion. To Beau-Jean and to Pedro there appeared to be nothing on the pavement but good deal of dirt and | refuse; but one particular spot seemed to have fascinated Mir. Jones, and there was nothing for it but to stand waiting while he nosed about. Shall chasten him?" asked Beau Jean, who was accustomed to using this method with Koko.
 No, certainly not" said Pedro. q believe he's been here before. Per haps he recognizes something. Let us watch!"
 Pedro's surmise was an eminently correct one, for MT. Jones had recog- nized-honey! Very shortly he raised his head, found the scent, and came upon second spot of interest. How delightful this was the neighbor- hood in which he had found that nice hive where there were no bees to sting. and where the honey was so plentiful! He really had not taken half of 1t last time! And here were his own footsteps. his sticky, honey made footprints, which would help him to find the treasure again. Thus it happened that in time they reached the doorway of the little dairy, which MT. Jones recognized with a joyful bound, and sort of purr, which brought the dairyman (who had spied him through the window) to the en-