The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-12-18

For answer. she took Pedros 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
was senseless. But when mine eyes
opened. l arose and went In search OF
him. took the long. slender machete
with the handle of pearl, but l found
him not. There was woman with
him
YES" said Pedro. my mother"
Then thou, too, hast seen him!
Wheref" she asked eagerly. And
with thy mother? Surely you are
mad?"
Not mad, only bewildered and
frightened" he answered. II know
where they are, but not for what pur
pose! / shall tell thee all that have
seen, but not now. Can't you hear the
others saying that my benefactor has
vanished? Before anything else we
must find and help him, IL need be-"
Where are Ricardo and thy motherf'
asked Mia, her eyes fixed upon Pc
dro's, and her hand closed tightly
upon some object that was hidden
among the bundled shawls and scarfs
about her waist. Pedro's eye followed
the movement.
1T is very far from here, oh, ancient
lady" he lied glibly. land shall not
tell you where until / return. Then
we shall attend to your little matter
and ! shall see why and how my
mother comes in such company. My
mother!" he turned away and sighed
Il had forgotten how / loved her!" he
said as though to himself. Then he
picked up the pole and chain, and sig
nailed to Beau-Jean that he was ready
Nita arose to her feet
Where is the murderer, the Sc
Queer of my daughter?" she screamed
Where Is Ricardo?"
"At the other end of the city," said
Pedro. Come quickly, Beau-Jean."
And with that they were off, leaving
Nita screeching imprecations at them
from the stair-head, in the most
healthy manner. AS they reached the
street Beau-Jean asked:
What Is all this murder business
of which Nita talks? Couldn't we man
age to avenge her, when we have
found Samhill?"
Perhaps" said Pedro soberly, "for
this man, Ricardo Valdez, is very
wicked man. He used to live neal
my home. Nita was my nurse, once
and her daughter was my foster-sister
When she was only fifteen Ricardo
stole her away. Then he deserted her
and when she came back to us she
killed herself and her baby. Ever
since Nita has been looking for him
to avenge her child. But she Is sc
old now, that think we had best moi
let her do 1t. am sure she woult
really prefer dying with US, to dyins
In jail"
Il agree" said Beau-Jean.
"And now which way shall WI
turn" said Pedro.
"As the bear came from the river
| let US to the river co." suggested
Beau-Jean.
"A good notion" said Pedro, "ant
as likely to prove fruitful as any"
More likely uptown than down
from here" said Beau-Jean, and agar
Pedro assented.
| And so, in accordance with the plan
II plan 1t could be properly called, the!
made their way westward, straigh
toward the docks, and, once reaching
them, began a pilgrimage uptown.
Mr.. Jones now began acting in ,
most peculiar manner. Something OF
the sidewalk had attracted his atten
ton, and nothing could divert hin
until he had made a thorough inspec
ton. To Beau-Jean and to Pedr,
there appeared to be nothing on tn,
pavement but good deal of dirt an,
refuse; but one particular spot SCENE,
to have fascinated Mr.. Jones, an,
there was nothing for 1t but to stan,
waiting while he nosed about
"Shall l chasten him?" asked Beau
Jean, who was accustomed to usinl
this method with Koko.
mo, certainly not" said Pedro,
believe he's been here before. Pei
haps he recognizes something. Let u
watch!"
Pedros surmise was an eminentl
correct one, for Mr.. Jones had recof
nized-honey! Very shortly he raise
his head, found the scent, and cam
upon a second spot of interest. Ho,
delightful!-this was the neighbol
hood in which he had found that mic
hive where there were no bees I
sting, and where the honey was 8
plentiful! He really had not take
half Of 1t last time! And here wer
his own footsteps, his sticky, hone!
made footprints, which would hel
him to find the treasure again. Thu
1t happened that in time they reache
the doorway Of the little dairy, whic
Mr.. Jones recognized with a joyf,
bound. and sort of purr, whic
brought the dairyman (who had spie
him through the window to the Ell