The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-12-11
CHAPTER xi-Continued.

Ole LADY hurted!" beamed this
oherubic parsonage.
mo, only tired out" lied Hill glibly.
I'll histe yer to a car" suggested
the man. Never deserted a lady in
distress. Nope!"
I'm afraid they wouldn't let us on
q car" exclaimed Hill. Are you go
Ing downtown, by chance?"
mo, I'm a-goin' a-purpose!" grinned
the man. Get in; III take yer fur es
I'm goin'!"
Hill did not wait to be urged fur
Their, but carried Nita to the carriage
door, which the heavily muffled coach
man held open.
Easy there, with yer NAL" the lat
ter warned him. Now Jump in yer
self. This heat Is too fierce to lay
about in"
The horse, which had stood pas
sively under its meager blanket for
hours, scarcely shifting a foot, now
scented the bear. and sided off little,
It's city-trained senses scarcely revolt
ing, yet finding in that unfamiliar odor
some warning Of danger, and the two
men noted the action.
What about the bear?" gasped Hill.
From within the saloon came sounds
which indicated that Mickey had dis
severed the trick played upon him.
Whoa, my baby!" roared the happy
sabby. Push the d-n bear inside!"
In a moment 1t was done, not with
out protest from Mr.. Jones. And as
the bony horse, tossing his old head
about with many a suspicious sniff, set
OF at q tremendous pace, the window
Of the saloon flew open to disgorge the
rotund figure Of Mickey, who shouted
an unintelligible threat, or command,
upon the snow-filled air.
At Twelfth street the cab came to
sudden halt beside the curb, and the
driver. dismounting from the box,
opened the door and looked in.
This is where my stable is at" he
announced. Right down the block.
Guess you'll have ter git out. How's
yer mar he added solicitously, as
though to repair his rudeness in eject
ing them.
Pretty bad" said Hill. "Gone OF
again, I'm afraid"
The cabby wrinkled up his face with
q perplexed stare, and removing his
hat, scratched his head with one
heavily mittened hand.
II really hadn't oughter." said he,
~considerin' the hour and all, but
guess It's gotter be done. Where
abouts do you liver"
Little Jones street." said Hill, and
gave the number. 1--WE bit OF money.
Gould you get us around there, do you
think?"
WELL" said the cabby, II might as
well make q night of It, I suppose.
Take good care Of yer ma, now, and
I'll have yer home In q jiffy!"
Then he remounted the box, and
soon they were vending tortuous
way through the silent squalor of
lower Greenwich village. They stopped
at last before tall tenement, a build
ing of uncompromising ugliness, whose
intricate network OF fire escapes was
hung now with fairy drapery OF
white.
Whining With disgust at being again
disturbed, Mr.. Jones jumped out
clumsily, followed by Hill, who, with
the cabby's help, carried the uncon-
scious Nita into the unlighted hallway,
which gaped, sinister and forbidding,
under the nethermost of the crowded
flre-escape balconies. Here Hill, one
arm about his charge, fumbled In his
breast for his wallet. But the cabby
put up restraining hand.
Never mind the coin!" he laughed.
"Youse need It more'n me. I guess.
Better let the doctor take It; you're
a-goin' ter need ter call him inl Yer
seem all to the good, even II yer be
dagoes!" HfH
You're q gcntlemani'' excraimec
Hhl, holding out his hand. Many
thanks for your kindness. You seem
very happy. Msy ask why? should
IKE to congratulate you"