Las Vegas optic., 1914-08-20

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gested that you be called upon. but she
was unwilling-you have had little
quarrel, eh?"
The speaker watched Hills eager
face closely, to note the effect of this
rema: k. The result was confirmatory
to his own deductions.
"Yes," said the elder man, ut was a
silly quarrel about nothing"
"Aha!" said Pedro, $50 felt sure.
But she-ah! she thought you would
not come to her aid. knew different
ly, and so l told her. Then she wrote
this little paper Che spread it out upon
his knee) and set out to find you and
give it to you."
Hill took the f1uttering bit of white,
and read, with glad incredulous eyes:
I hereby promise to marry you on the
day you can tell me my father is not be-
ing subjected to danger, or has been
rescued from that. II any. which now i'm
perils him. And ! Furthermore agree TO
overcome any debatable objections you
may have TO the marriage.
IRIS VANDERPOOL.
"For mel" said Hill tensely. "She
sent it to mel"
There was an instant's pause, and
then Pedro lied manfully.
"Yesl" said he.
Hill let out such a whoop at this
, that Beau-Jean and Mr.. Jones woke up
long enough to shift their positions.
"Tell her that l shall claim the re"
ward within the week." Hill ex-
claimed exultingly; $50 she had better
prepare to pay up! When will you see
herr"
Tomorrow night there will be a
masquerade at the Milligans," replied
Pedro. "She Is to be there"
"Then tell her" Hill began.
But Pedro stopped him, for every
moment was bringing them nearer to
the city, and he had not yet finished.
81 will" said he "But listen now
to my own part of the story. You peo-
pie know nothing about me. Well, |
am-but no, l shall not say that until
| have to. But this / must tell you.
By some strange circumstance, the
character of which / have not yet
solved, my mother is in New York in
company with Rowe, whose real name
is Ricardo Valdez, an ex-minister OF
the Venezuela government. He is as
much villain as my dear mother, my
lovely girl-mother, is an angel! Until
few days ago imagined her safe in
her own home, and now discover her
here, and with that man! Some rea-
son that seems good to her must have
brought her, but what 1t is, I cannot
even guess. But this l know-what.
ever of evil Valdez is engaged in, she
is innocent, and to you must confide
her interests, and beg that you allow
no harm to. touch her."
But why don't you look after her
yourself2" gasped Hill in amazement
Il cannot" cried Pedro, his eyes
full of distress. "You see, ran away
oh, long, long ago, because she
would have forced me to-oh! l can
not explainl But if she once saw me
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gang-for my own good, as she thinks
and then | would have to go off to q
| far country, and take up job | loathe
, that would kill me, that would stoI
my being painter And even for my
mother, / could not submit to that!"
But how the devil can she make
you go against your will?" demanded
Sam. "And why did you leave her in
the first place? It's all very mysteri
ous!"
"Yes, know it sounds strange re
piled Pedro, 'but can only explain 6
little. You might take her side. In
deed, almost every one does, excepI
Old Nita. They seem to think that tC
be rich and powerful Oh, they
do not understand. They have giver
me too much freedom for their pur
pose, and now they cannot tie me
down. AS for having left her
it was really she who left me. hat
a little esoapade-very harmless mis-
chief it really was-but afterward Val
dez told me that my mother would no
receive me any longer. l gave him {
letter to her in which l begged her t.
relent, but she never answered it, mo-
my others. Were it not for my Low,
of her, 1t would be relief to have
, severed my connection with my past
because of the different life / woulC
lead should | go back, and now that
have begun to paint. to lead my owl
life. But please, beg of you
, as l have served you, promise to pro
tect her, and ask me no more. Som'
day l may be able to tell you every
, thing, but not now"
VERY WELL" assented Hill reluctant
J. ly. "But l may call upon you to ge
, her out of difficulty If it should prov
absolutely necessary to do so?"
: "Yes," returned Pedro. "But remem
Der that for me to take any activ,
/, part in the matter would have terribl.
serious results for me. Now tell mi
about Mr.. Vanderpool."
Il don't know much to TELL" replied
Hill. "He recognized me, allowed him