Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-11-18

! mat naQ spoken DerOre. hes JUS
woke up. It's only my bear!"
Then Sam Hill realized that the
creature at which he was staring in
the dimness was a small bear, tc
which was attached chain that
clanked upon the asphalt walk.
mr.. Jones. is it?" snapped Hill
and who the devil are you?"
Il am Pedro" replied the animals
custodian. And even in the gloom
! Hill could see the white CLEAN of a
smile. The slender figure Strengthened
up on the bench beside him.
What Pedro? Pedro who?" de-
manded Hill, interested In spite OF
himself. -
"Only just Pedro" came the answer
Then followed a laugh-a wonderful
ripping laugh, ending abruptly, as
| though door had been closed upon
music.
| well, Pedro, whoever you are" re-
| piled Hill, "you seem to be in as Ill
| straits as myself, else you would not
} be sitting in the square at such an
| hour" 1T
Are you hungry. too?" Pedro In
| CURED.
Hill laughed, short laugh, not so
pleasant to hear as the others.
I'm way" said he.
"Ah!" said Pedro pityingly, and by
the tone Hill knew that the youth had
guessed at a hidden meaning in his
words. 5.;.
"Why do you come to the city?"
asked the latter, after pause. your
brotherhood usually keep to the open
road"
II come because I am an artist, and
here l shall have more opportunity
to paint" replied Pedro.
you speak as though you were a
genius" said Hill bitingly. i.sg3s.
perhaps am" Pedro returned.
There was silence, during which
Mr.. Jones fumbled the hand of his new
acquaintance affectionately. Then
said Pedro: G9
What is your trouble?"
Somehow Hill was not in the least
offended by the question. For mo-
ment he considered it, then: 5,NE
II must 60, away and hide myself"
he said. .N3&' i
And you don't want to 60 away?"'
"Yes-or rather, I want to 60, al
though it is a duty 1 take a bitter
pleasure in discharging. But must
60, because must hide" #&
- "Oh!" said Pedro. "Why go of to
hide? A good way to get out Of sight
is to remain where you are, and tell
no one about it. People so promptly
forget about you" 5t 80
Hill peered at the youthful face to
see if the bear trainer was joking; but
no trace of mirth could he discover.
"Perhaps!" said he. Then to change
the subject, when did you arrive In
the city?"
This afternoon"
"And what, exactly, do you expect
to do?"
ITO find a master, and to study; to
find studio. and to paint" was the
terse reply. III
"And meanwhile 60 hungry! Are
you saving all your money for the ends
you mention?" r.
ri have no money" explained Pedro
cheerfully
Then how do you plan to get your
studio?" ~
~ do not know yet" Pedro told
him. But there must be great many
in so large CITY,"
$50 you are not daunted by the
somewhat uncertain future before
| you," remarked Hill, "even though
| you are unfed?" s
II have been that BEFORE" retorted
Pedro dryly.
"Well." said Hill, "the most imme-
date Of our troubles can be mended.
l, too, am hungry. Will you dine with
me?"
I'VE shall be glad to-" said Pedro.
Hill had forgotten the bear, but
when Pedro said I'VE" he realized that
there we're three hungry beings. !
"All right" he said. making rapid
| mental inventory Of the restaurants he
knew. Hitting at last on the right
one, he got to his feet with Jerk.
| Come along, we'll 60 over to Ca
lotti's."
They ate the entire menu with very
little conversation. Then they pushed
back their chairs a little, and talked.
| Hill tossed a package of cigarettes
upon the table, lighting one himself.
Pedro followed suit, inhaling the fumes
with a long sigh of contentment.
"You are fond of that bear?" asked
Hill.
Il am" replied Pedro. "He Is my
good friend; he is the thing I love
most Of all"
Tell me of your wanderings with
him." he asked.
| And Pedro told him. The elder man
sat very still as he listened, his chair
tilted back against the brick wall, his
eyes narrowed to mere Sits Of light
| as he watched the young raconteur
through the blue haze of smoke. What
| tales these were to which he listened;
how they stirred the wanderlust in
him.
Then, too, the fascination of the an.
cient and honorable profession Of bear
| dancing had taken hold on Hill. But
though he listened well, every little
| while came the thought of his lost
love, and with it wave of depression
swept over him. With desperate ef-
fort to pull away from 1t he asked
| another question.
Where are your companions
very near the public garden from
which we have just come" responded
Pedro. Down the little cobbly street
| to where the air-railway turns; then
in a little door, through a court, to
an old house with wooden balconies.
| They await me there"
How fitting!" murmured Hill. How
every woman occasionally snatches
from the worlds noise and clamor.