The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-12-18

she awoke Nita had vanished. And
every one was away. And now Sam
hill, he. too, Is gonel oh! Merciful
Mother!"
sit down and be calm!" cried Pc
dro. Tell me all. What has hap
penedf
Lucky 1t is that Samhill left the
address," exclaimed Guniviere. And
lucky, too, that could find thee. Now,
all will be well!"
Thanks, oh! smooth tongue. for thy
faith In me-" replied Pedro. But what
has happened? Tell me, Quickly!"
Yesterday we left her with Anna"
began Guneviere, and told of Nita's
illness and strange disappearance.
How very queer!" he commented.
when she had finished. How unlike
Mia! And Hill? What has he done?"
"He has not come home!"
But there Is nothing strange In
that!" objected Pedro. Does he not
often stay away all night. eh?"
But the bear came home!" walled
Guneviere.
mr.. Jones! Alone! Impossible"
"A policeman-of-thelaw brought
him." explained Guneviere, Saying
I that he found the bear near the river.
The name was on the collar, and the
number, tn savis!"
Saint Joseph! but that does look
serious!" Pedro exclaimed. Quick!
is there nothing more?"
only that the policeman-of-the-law
made much noise when he found that
four bears dwelt within the tenement.
He says we must move out. -Four
bears are not permitted. One bear
perhaps, II much money be paid. But
four! No, that Is not allowed"
"And what have you done?"
1--WE have arranged to go into the
back tenement" said Guneviere, evil
IDENTIFY convinced that the change
would solve the difficulty.
But, Hill! Something must have
happened to him? And the bear left
him!" said Pedro, walking up and
down excitedly. "He may have been
hurt! Near the river, Ell? Good
heavens! / scarcely dare guess what
has occurred"
THE hospitals?" suggested Gune-
Were with some faint return Of her
usual practically.
"Ah! yes" he exclaimed, II shall
telephone them at once, and then
shall go to Jones street with you. AS
for Nita, we shall have to find her
without help; she has made me swear
never to invoke public aid In her
behalf. you know"
Eyes, yes!" said Guneviere, you
| will come, then?"
DIRECTLY" he cried. mo time must
be lost"
But as It proved, time mattered
little. for the hospitals told nothing
and neither did that grim lost and
found office, the morgue. For two
whole days Pedro alternated between
his studio and the rear tenement on
Jones street, his mind In an agony OF
uncertainty. He could not work fol
nervousness, and the combined sus
pense and inaction played havoc with
his spirit Leigh had been called out
of town to see his mother, who was
Ill, and there was no one else to whom
Pedro dared 60 for advice and help
Hill himself had forbidden that his af
fairs be made known to anyone but
the sculptor, or Pedro might have
asked Milligan's assistance. AS 1t was
he could only fume impatiently, and
eat his heart out with worry. At last
no longer able to endure doing moth
ing, he called a council of war in the
tenement kitchen. To the assembled
bear-dancers, with exception only Of
the still mysteriously absent Nita, he
arose and spoke.
Il am going to find Sam Hill, II he
is on the face of the earth!" he an
nounced. II am convinced that some
misfortune has befallen him. In hal
an hour am going to take Mr.. Jones
with me, and am not coming back til
we have succeeded in discovering the
whereabouts of my friend"
"Bien! And l." said Beau-Jean
| ITOn ulS scat Ou tuo loOS VI LILO uou
II will go with you to find that Sam
hill, who is my friend, aussi."
VERY good!" said Pedro. "all is ar
ranged. Come, Strong Arm, we will
CO."
On the instant they began collecting
the few traps necessary for a shor
absence, and while they we're In thu
midst of these preparations, the doc
was thrown open to admit an OLE
woman.
"Nita!" yelled Pedro. springinl
toward her.
Instantly the room was in an UP
roar, all talking at once, laughing ant
weeping, shouting questions, making
offers Of help. proffering food ant
drink, crowding around the crone witt
such clamor and persistence that Pc
dro could scarcely manage to get he
to a chair. Then she sat beamin
upon them all, apparently in the bes
OF health and delighted at the we
come afforded her. Her clothes were