The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-01-01
CHAPTER XVIII.
And Counterpiots.

ana Counterplot6-
When Pedro and Sam Hill separated
on the night of their Jersey adventure,
the latter made straight for Jones
street, accompanied by Beau-Jean, and
upon reaching the refuge of the rear
tenement tumbled into bed without
more ado, and for seven hours slept
the sleep of the Just, his head upon
an improvised pillow of quilting-be-
meath which his hand grasped the pre-
cious document that Iris, as he thought,
had sent him.
Very possibly his repose would have
continued for a much longer period,
had it not been for the activity of Gun
eviere and Hermania in the room i'm
mediately below. These ladies, their
household duties, as usual entirely
neglected, were loudly applauding Old
Nita's efforts to instruct Koko In a
new accomplishment; namely, to use
as cymbals the lids of two fish kettles
strapped to his front paws.
Now the clash of cymbals, no mat
ter how amateurish and uncertain the
performers efforts, is not conducive
to slumber, to say the least of it.; and,
therefore, with groan of protest,
Sam returned to consciousness of all
that had befallen him, and all that
was yet to be undertaken. While he
washed and shaved he pondered deeply
upon how he should set about getting
the information that Iris desired. AS
he drew on his boots he still won
dered, and uncertainty did not cease
with the knotting of the silk bandanna
about his throat But at about this
point hunger began to distract his at.
tention. and so, deciding that he
would be able to think more collect
eddy upon a full stomach, he descend
ed to the fiat below and demanded to
be fed.
Koko dropped to his all-fours at this
intrusion, glad to be rid of the encum.
bering kettle-lids, which Old Mia un.
tied, grumbling at the interruption of
the lesson, but nevertheless delighted
| to see HILL The other two women
hustled about and prepared food for
him, and soon he was munching rumi-
natively, oblivious of, and impervious
| to, the questions that they showered
upon him. At last Hills attention was
arrested by them, however, and he in.
| CURED II Anna were ill.
NO" replied Nita. "She Is going
to have baby In the spring. that is
ALL and she Is getting so that she will
| ,Nt Lot nf hnr ioh
she go out with him to dance the bear
How they will live do not know, what
with bringing no money in, and such
idleness! They are pair Of fools
those two. am very wicked WON
an, l am, but l really do think they
should get married now"
Are they not married?" said Hill
surprised. "Why not do you sup
| poser
Nita merely shrugged and turned
away upon some matter Of her own
Hill, cup in hand, arose and ap
preached the lovers.
Bon jour-" said he abruptly. "Why
the devil aren't you married?
Rico looked up pleasantly, his smile
ever ready and friendly for the be
loved Samhill. Then. as the latter's
words sank into the unknown depths
of his slow mind, a cloud crossed his
handsome face.
Married? Why, do not really
know, mon ami" he responded slowly
"Anna-why are we not married?"
| For a moment she looked as Devil
dered as Rico, and then smile Of
understanding broke upon her lips.
"why!" she said, I'VE love each
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 it, 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 IL Il is q
boy" said Annals lover, but Cir
would be Anna. so what Is to be gained
in that case?"
but your last name." insisted Hill