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

studio was in there! At the thought
he sprang up and flung the door wide
to discover If his memory of the night
was a vision or reality.
AS he stood upon the threshold he
seemed for an instant to see, not the
room before him, but the upright, fash
ionably clad figure Of Hill. leading a
bear off into the dark regions beyond
Washington square. Then, throwing
back his head, he laughed, and stepped
into the studio.
Once it had been the attic covering
the upper floors of two adjoining
houses. In every sense the place was
workshop. replete with the most per-
feet tools for the trade of the brush.
| and the only spot conducive to idling
was the chimney corner. Upon the
smaller easel stood the half-fnished
portrait of man. while against one
wall pile OF canvases was standing,
| their faces hidden.
| Pedro drew long breath of delight
Then it was true: 1t had not been q
dream, after all! He thought of Mr.
Jones again, and for moment the
pang of that dear remembrance was
bitter. How was Hill getting on with
Old Nita? he wondered. If only it
| were possible to be with them, and
here at the same time! All, we'll! one
| could not serve two masters, and he
had chosen and did not regret.
On the mantel shelf stood a letter
| that Pedro had placed there on the
previous evening. Hill had given it
to him with the injunction to deliver
1t at the earliest possible moment. He
read the superscription with interest:
= Abraham Lincoln Leigh
An address on Tenth street followed.
Pedro determined to deliver it at once.
Na =.
The house in which Abraham Lin
coin Leigh lived. was, like almost ev-
cry other building in this neighbors
hood, now being put to use other
than that for which it was, originally
intended, for once it had been a ware
house for the storage of paper.
"Yep!" said the hallboy, in response
to Pedro's inquiry as to whether Mr..
Leigh was in. Third to your right.
Last door," 49, >
So Pedro mounted and knocked. y.
Comet said a resonant voice,
which was like the booming of great
bell. And Pedro, rejoicing at the mu-
sic of it, promptly obeyed. - u
1t was large studio which he en-
tered, large and crowded and disor-
dered beyond belief. Several corners
had been screened off for uses other
than those of sculpture, which was the
self-evident occupation of the proprie-
tor,
At the moment of Pedros entrance
Abraham Lincoln Leigh was STOPPING
over a fryingpan full of bacon, which
was sizzling on the stove; and the in
Simultaneous impression which his Wis.
itor received was that the mans name
had in some curious fashion 1nflu-
enced his personal appearance. He
was very tall. and his leanness was
extraordinary. As. Pedro entered, he
did not even turn his head for a mo-
ment, but continued manipulating the
bacon deliberately. When it was re-
versed, he looked up at his visitor, and
again the mellow voice rang out like
the slow chimes OF a church bell.
who are you?"
II am Pedro" said the owner Of that
name, flashing his white smile. Il
have letter from Sam HILL"
"Ah!" remarked Leigh, not, how
ever, offering to take the missive, but
looking at the bearer. and, as was so
commonly the case, liking him. Then,
in response to that smile of Pedro's,
Leigh smiled, rare thing in him. and
an Illuminating.
Have you had your breakfast" he
asked, ......
"Why, no! 1 haven't" exclaimed the
boy, evidently surprised at the recol-
lection of his lack. T., 49,.
Leigh looked him over again, his
face grave despite the gathering up
of the little lines at the corners of
his eyes.
You're "a friend Of sam's?" he
asked.
Il am his most devoted one!" ,ex-
claimed Pedro fervently.
Again Leigh smiled.
"No, you are not" he said. "How-
ever. the forks and spoons are in that
bureau, and you'll find a cup on the
shelf behind that screen"
Pedro stared at him for breath,
and then, with laugh, he threw his
hat and his letter down upon chair.
and went in search of the articles men
toned.
"Gracias!" he said. Il am very hun
cry. Maybe you know what that feels
like, eh?"
"You bet!" said Leigh solemnly.
CTO BE CONTINUED)