Las Vegas optic., 1914-08-24
understanding brJk;es upon her lips.

other! We have been very, very busy
loving each other, and dancing the
bear. do not believe we ever thought
about getting married"
So serious and obviously sincere was
this reply that Hill scarcely knew
whether to laugh or frown. But to
refrain from making the patent sugges-
ton was impossible.
why not do 1t, now that 1t occurs
to your" said he.
Rico looked at him earnestly.
do you advise 1t, Samhill?" he
asked. I'VE could not love each other
the more because of few words said
over us!"
VERY true" replied the painter
gravely. but there is the child to con-
slider. You would like 1t to bear your
name, would you not?"
ut shall be called Rico if 1t is
boy" said Anna's lover, ''but girl
would be Anna, so what is to be gained
in that case?"
But your last name." insisted HILL
Last name? But have nonel" OBJ
jected Rico.
To gain time Hill finished his coffee.
''It would take a long while to ex-
plain just why it is a good plan to
be married." said he at last. But if
you are willing to take my word for it,
allow me to say that 1t is good! In
fact, am contemplating doing it my
self before very long"
WELL" said Rico, 'if you say it is
good, 1t must be so. We will find a
priest if you agree, Anna"
i've no objections" replied Anna;
and so 1t was arranged.
Leaving them to discuss the idea,
Hill fell to planning how best to ap.
proach Vanderpool. Why not go direct
to him at his office? Preposterous as
the notion seemed at first, the more he
thought upon it, the more plausible it
appeared. Was there not as good a
chance of finding out the truth in this
manner as in any other? Vanderpool
had agreed to his (Hill's) Incarceration,
it was true, but the reasons for so
doing were strong, and his objections
had been overruled by the rest of the
gang with whom the asphalt magnate
had appeared to be associated. At any
rate, 1t was worth trying. Vanderpool
was aware of the knowledge which he
child possessed, and under any cir.
cumstances the latter would be work
ing under a search-light, so to speak,
the moment his escape was discovered.
On the whole, the notion seemed a
good one, for by it's execution nothing
could be lost, while much might be
gained.
"And l think" he said aloud, that
shall take Mr.. Jones; he will make
me more conspicuous and conse.
quently, safer"
What's thatP" queried Nita.
Merely that l am going out now
mother" responded Hill, rising forth
with
Out from the dimness and dirt OF
the back tenement, from the low.
rooted houses, degraded mansions OF
an earlier day, out from the muck
and squalor, the slush and CRIME OF
unswept Greenwich into the roaring
canyon of commerce to the east, went
Hill, the little brown bear tagging
after, and joining with his master the
river of humanity that swept between
the towering cliffs of granite on either
hand; the strange, incomprehensible
towers, which stretched up, up higher
than one at their feet could see, at q
single glance, any more than he could
grasp their significance with single
thought. Before one of these build.
ing Hill paused, and assuring himself
that 1t was that which he sought, be.
gan maneuvers to gain admittance.
At first there was difficulty with the
door-keepers on Mr.. Jones account,
but they were successfully persuaded.
and he passed them only to be baked
by the elevator man. There was more
protest than that of the uniformed Off.
cial to cope with, for Mr. Jones fatty
refused to enter the car, and in the
end Hill was obliged to leave him in
charge of half-delighted, half-fright.
ened porter
Just as WE'LL" murmured the paint.
er, as he was spirited upward "If
they have any clap-trap mysteries
about that office, secret dungeons, etc,
and don't come down, they will get
tired of holding the bear, and come VI
after me-"
Even before he had come to this
optimistic conclusion they reached the
twenty-oddth floor, and the offices of
United Asphalt company.
However, difficulties were not at
an end, and it was only after consider
able argument and hauteur that Sam
succeeded in having his name sent in
to the president of the concern. The
name, it seemed, was magical in its
effect, for almost instantly the super
cilious office boy who had condescend-
ed to take it in returned briskly, and
invited "Mr. Hill to please to step this
way'-and so, without more ado, Sam
found himself face to face with Iris
father
A. Al