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


less little laugh.
"Come!" he cried, with an attempt
at putting the incident behind them.
II must talk to you about something
very important. You asked nae to help
you find out who was troubling your
father"
YES" she assented, without much
interest. however.
WELL" he said slowly, II am most
distressingly placed. Madonna. ] am
almost certain that he IL being either
blackmailed or misled In some man.
ner. and yet my hands are absolutely
tied. I can do nothing"
What do you meanr she demand
ed. aroused.
II seem fated to be q man Of mys-
terry" he, lamented. but cannot help
1t! have ascertained that man Of
doubtful character is In communities
ton with your father; that much
learned last week. But at the instant
of my discovery of this fact cir
cumstance arose that makes 1t impos-
sible for me to continue as your de-
tective. More than this cannot say.
But you will have to find some one
else to help YOU"
Iris was turning the matter over In
her mind very rapidly Did Pedro
really not care for her? Hardly! Why
he said such things He had
followed her from the country! Had
he not begged to paint her, and paid
her such compliments as no one yet
had done? That night at the Mill
gans' came back with rush Of men,
DRY. All! he had surely cared then!
What had since occurred to change
him? Samuel Hill! That was It! He
had learned Of her former attachment,
and meant at all costs to be loyal to
the man who had befriended him.
see, quite clearly and Enthusiastically,
that his sacrifice to Hills trust of him
was vain and useless thing. But how
was this to be accomplished? Mean
while, Pedro was still talking.
81 say with regret that have every
reason to believe that your father is
being defrauded In some way. The
character Of the man with whom saw
him, is sufficient to justify this. Also,
alas! this same man now appears to
be standing in such connection with
me as makes 1t impossible for me to
inform any ordinary person of the
facts. l might injure an innocent
undoubtedly inpocent-person by so
doing, to say nothing Of perhaps let
ting out a secret which your fathers
actions prove he wishes kept dark.
For a whole week have been trying
to see my way clear, and at last
know that 1t lies only In refusing to
help YOU"
"And yet" said Iris slowly, rising
and putting on her wraps. II would re-
ward the right person to the best Of
my ability, IL only the work of help
ing. perhaps saving. my father could
be continued"
He gave her the mum for which she
stretched out her hand.
IT wish indeed that could help
you," said Sc. 81 know the danger Of
confiding so delicate matter to any
one. But, perhaps, for a reward
what would 1t be, this reward?"
For an instant the audacity of what
she was about to say rose like an i'm
pediment In her throat, holding her
silent, while her heart beat violently.
Then, at last, she found her voice.
'T would marry him, no matter
though he thought. there were insur-
mountable objections" she said with
meaning.
He stood astounded, scarcely able to
credit his hearing, and could only look
and look at her, open-mouthed. Then
CLEAN of light swept across his face
as though he we're suddenly possessed
of glorious idea.
"Iris!" he gasped, will you-will
you put that down on paper? Make
an-what you call it-affidavit?"
"Affidayit?-yes!" she replied.
"Then do sol" he cried, pushing pen
and paper toward her.
do you really want it," she asked.
looking straight into his eyes.
"You bet!" he shouted joyously.
She laid down her muff, and draw
ing off her glove, she wrote:
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 res
cued from that, II any which now i'm
perils him. And I furthermore agree to
overcome any debatable objections you
may have to the marriage.
IRIS VANDERPOOL.
"There!" she said, laughing trifle
Historically, when she had flashed
twill that do?"
"Splendidly!" said Pedro, and thrust.
ing the folded paper into his breast
pocket, seized her hand and kissed II
with the grace Of a courtier.
Iris blushed, watching him with ten
der eyes. Then she submitted to be-
ing led downstairs and shut into her
coupe. No sooner was this accom-
plished than Pedro fed across the
little court and up to the studio as II
all the devils in the demonology were
J after him. and slamming the door be
hind him. he proceeded to dance the