The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1914-11-27

Wnen she mad nn1Shed. HOW unlike
Nita! 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-the-law brought
him." explained Guneviere, Saying
that he found the bear near the river.
The name was on the collar, and the
number, tu 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, if much money be paid. But
four! No. that is not allowed"
And what have you done?"
1--WE have arranged to 60 into the
back tenement" said Guneviere, evi-
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. eh? 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"
Yes, 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 for
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 go 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 half
an hour l am going to take Mr.. Jones
with me, and am not coming back till
we have succeeded in discovering the
whereabouts Of my friend"
"Bien! And l." said Beau-Jean.
from his seat on the foot of the bed.
81 will 60 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 short
absence, and while they were in the
midst of these preparations, the door
was thrown open to admit an old
woman.
INITIAL" yelled Pedro, springing
toward her.
Instantly the room was in an up
roar, all talking at once, laughing and
weeping, shouting questions, making
offers of help, proffering food and
drink, crowding around the crone with
such clamor and persistence that Pc
dro could scarcely manage to get her
to a chair. Then she sat beaming
upon them all, apparently in the best
Of health and delighted at the well
come afforded her. Her clothes were,
II possible, a trife more worn and
soiled than usual, but, otherwise, she
seemed to have suffered no harm.
"Where hast thou been? What hast
thou done? Where Is Samhill? Art
well? Tell us!" they shouted all at
once.
aye, am well, lucky for mel" said
Nita, with twinkling eyes, "for l have
been a bird in my day, and am in
no haste to meet what awaits me in
the hereafter"
Beloved Nita!" exclaimed Pedro,
kneeling beside her, how 1 rejoice
that thou art safe! But where is Mr..
Hill?"
"Samhill?" she queried. 'I have not
seen him, nor thought of him! have
been abroad on other business. What
Of Samhill?"
Don't you KNOWN cried Anna. And
then the clamor began anew. Not
know where Samhill was? Where
could he be. then? Did she not even
know Of his disappearance? What
had she been doing?
For answer, she took Pedro's face
between her old hands that were like
withered leaves.
"Dost thou know who Is in the
city?" she asked. Thine enemy and
mine, Ricardo! He struck me, and l
was senseless. But when mine eyes
opened, arose and went in search of
him. l took the long. slender machete
with the handle Of pearl. but l found
him not. There was a woman with
MIN
YES" said Pedro, my mother"
Then thou, too, hast seen him!
Where?" she asked eagerly. And
with thy mother? Surely you are
mad?"
mot mad, only bewildered and
frightened" he answered. Il know
where they are. but not for what pur-
n0sat 7 shall fell thee all that hava