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

tiOnings, one thing she could and
would discover: What did Pedro
know about Hill?
Have you known Mr.. Hill long?"
she asked 81 see that it is his studio
that you have taken
No." said he; Il have seen him only
once. But feel great friendship for
him." he added in a significant tone.
She changed the subject hastily.
How could this stranger have learned
of her former attachment? And yet
his tone implied that he had. All at
once the idea for which she was
searching flashed into her mind.
81 hope you will not think what / am
about to say, too strange" she began,
or consider me very presumptuous in
assuming that you are already sufh-
GENTLY my friend to permit my making
such a request of you; but remember
that / owe you a rescue and that we
have come together instantly on the
same plane without any of the usual
preamble. Perhaps indebtedness al
ready incurred is scarcely a ground
for claiming further help; but you will
understand you must, for I am in
great distress and trouble, and there
is no one to whom l can go with my
difficulty
Pedro, who had been examining a
vase, turned to her with surprise. Ever
ready with sympathy, he put out his
hand with single expressive gesture.
Madonna" he exclaimed you
know I would willingly serve you. If
it is in my power to help, surely you
must know that l would not hesitate"
Very well, then,'' she said gravely.
&C. %l,s-
man, brave man, I am sure, and one
who is not easily daunted or disturbed.
You noticed how he acted today? Why,
he was scarcely civil to you. Such
rudeness, believe me, is far from his
customary habit, and there is only one
explanation for it. He must be deeply
troubled about something and for it to
disturb him SO, that thing is a very
serious matter; otherwise he would
throw it off, or, at worst, conceal it,
"Have you no idea of what this
trouble is?" he asked.
Il have tried to get him to tell me"
she replied, but it has been useless
aefort. My father and I are close
friends, but he persists in saying there
is nothing wrong, which simply means
that something is very wrong indeed:
SO much so that he is unwilling to tell
me-"
4 am sorry said Pedro, but how
can / help?"
The case is just this," she cried,
rising in her excitement: It have
good reason to believe that he is be-
ing either defrauded by a pack of
scoundrels who have managed to de-
ceive him into some questionable I'M
| dertakmg, or that he is being black
mailed. Could you-oh. do you think
that you could in any way find out if
he is being deceived, imposed upon,
and help him, or at least set ms dis
| turbed mind at rest2''
1T is a curious request" said Pedro
| slowly. Il to help your father. Why,
he is a great mana wonderfully sue
| cessful person. Surely you cannot
really believe I could serve him.
You do not yet understand" she
urged. He is strong and capable, but
he is almost ridiculously sensitive on
| lines which touch his honor, and is
| quite susceptible to being worked and
tormented by INSCRIPTIONS people
And l have some real proof that this
is happening, although | cannot actual
~ SHOW it to you at this moment. Do
| you remember my saying that l car
| rieG papers of value the day you res
| cued me with your bear? Well, the
| sight of them excited my father great
ly, and ever since, he has been receiv-
ing letters which have nothing to do
| with his regular business or his social
correspondence. / know it for a fact.
because l stumbled upon them acct
| dentaIly. in a secret drawer of his
desk. They are in a foreign language
Spanish, think-and he keeps them
all with great secrecy. Oh, am sure
he is being harried by some mysteri-
GUS people Why, that note he received
at luncheon was directed in that same
fine foreign handwriting in which the
others are written. Now won't YOU
help me? Don't you see that it is an
exauisitely delicate matter with which
cannot go to every one?"
Have you no relations whom this
would concern?" he asked.
No said she, we have only some
distant cousins whom we seldom see
and who would not do at all
Then" said Pedro, Il will help you
1t Is a position of questionable honor
almost, which you require for this
spying and / cannot go about il DELHI
erately. Yet, if you sometime can give
me a definite task in the matter, will
make sure to perform it; or should
chance throw me any information
shall not fail to use it and follow il
up, and / shall be on the watchout for