Las Vegas optic., 1914-08-11

H%*<- @N.S-@a@ -
CHAPTER II-Pedro. Old Nita and the
hear trainers start for New YORK. feoro
iDaints a portrait for a lunch-wagon man
and so earns meal for the company
The lady OF the purse adventure sees re
,aro painting as she passes.
CHAPTER III-New York. Miss IRIS
vanderpool quarrels with her artist low
bar. Sam Hill, and they part She uls-
covers in her fathers desk portrait
which she recognizes as that OF feuro'
who rescued her from the purse-snatehei'
CHAPTER IV-Hlll, the respondent
lIover, meets Pedro and Mr. Jones IN
washington square. They dine tosetnel,
Hin discovers talent In Pedros CRAVINGS
land in a mad desire 10 lose himself, gives
his studio and all in 1t TO Pedro In ex-
lchange for Mr. Jones.
CHAPTER V-Pedro occupies HilIs
lstudio and calls on Leigh. the sculptor,
with a letter from Hin. Leigh, calling IN
lreturn in the alley bumps into TWO men
lone Of whom is Reginald Vanderpooi,
Iris father. In disguise
CHAPTER VI-vanderpool's compan-
lion goes into the basement of Hills studio
land talks with Ricardo, or Rowe, tne
basement tenant. of a conspiracy against
"a foreign government. NanaetpoVi.
over whom Rowe has a secret hold, Is
implieated. Sonora Daussa and her child.
supposedly dead in an uprising Rowe
KNOWS to be alive.
CHAPTER VII-Pedro gains entrance
10 an artists meeting at Milligan's, meets
Iris again. makes many friends anu pc
lcomes unconsciously a subject for news
paper copy.
Behind the bar sat Mike, adding up
his accounts. From his ledger he
glanced at the wide pasty face of the
clock opposite, and then at the group
at the largest table. Would they never
40 home? Their glasses were empty.
Then suddenly, as one man, they arose
and following Rowe (who was friend
to Mikey by virtue of a fifty-dollar
bilD. went to the inner room. They
did not enter, but stood at the door
Mikey strained his ears to hear the
lady speak, but whatever greeting she
uttered was said In so low voice as
mot to be articulate from where he
sat. Then the man who had produced
the paper spoke.
1--WE shall not disturb you, sonora, F"
he said, for you are fatigued. We
lHtf6l9 Wlon W pay JOu Oui hcAANoN
and assure you of our fidelity"
Again that low murmur, and then
one by one, all bowed and left save
Rowe and the cab driver, who entered
ne little room, closing the door after
them.
"Aw, some funny things happens,
sald Mikey, not however, with any spe.
<Ial reference to humor. He stretched
himself and yawned. They'll be go
ing in a minute" he added presently.
GLORY be, they are the last"
Suddenly he stopped, remembering
"a couple who were seated in the semi
obseurity by the stove. Earlier in the
evening these two and their bear had
entered the then crowded saloon, and
though the throng had grown steadily
less, and the coins fewer, they had lin.
gered, loath to be turned out into the
storm. Also they had bought, so Mikey
let them remain and now the woman,
an ancient soul, picturesque and hag.
gard, had fsslen asleep where she sat,
overcome perhaps by her last glass Of
rum.
Her companion was man of per
haps thirty-five. unshaven, shabby in
suit of clothing that had originally
been of faultless cut and style.
1t was Sam Hill, but Hill so stripped
of smugness. so shorn of vanity, and
so sensitive to the true context of his
environment, that his friends would
have been hard put to recognize him,
AT his feet lay Mr.. Jones, the bear,
asleep, and between his teeth he
iclutched a short blackened pipe OF
clay. On the table at his hand a liquor
glass of brandy stood untouched. TIC
himself he was saying, apropos OF
Rove: Now who the deuce is that
man? Where have seen his rascally
face before?" Then Mikey advanced.
You'll have to get out of this, you
Itwo," he said sharply; "come on now
rouse up and be off with you!"
Without otherwise moving, Hill tool
up his glass and drained it.
you've snug berth here" said he
~'Why not let US sleep the night b.
your stove? It's showing now, and W
are honest folk You'll find nothin
missing in the morning."
That's good one" laughed MikeS
Let you sleep here, indeed! I CUES
mott Come on now, old lady, wake u
and shuttle"
He was about to lay his hand upo
her shoulder when Sam gripped hi
forearm and gently pushed him aside
Astonished at his guests strength, tn
husky Irishman stepped back, an
watched while Hill gently awoke tn
old woman.
Awake, Nita," said Hill. Come, Ii
tie blossom of the bramble-vine, ou
host is giving lis godspeed."
Quickly she was awake, regainin
consciousness with that speed which
q faculty Of those who are old. Wit
a grotesque gesture she straightene
the handkerchief upon her head, an
gathering her shawl about her wit
one hand. she stretched the othe
across the table to her glass.
"Oh, my immortal souli" she NUT
tered. Just another little drop to keel