Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-01-13
repare to pay up! When win you see

y
herr" r<sSF
Tomorrow night there will be .
masquerade at the Milligans," replied
Pedro. "she Is to be there" ~.
Then tell her" Hill began. = 4.
But Pedro stopped him. for every
moment was bringing them nearer to
the city, and he bad not yet finished.
Il WILL" said he. But listen now
to my own part of the story. You peo-
pie know nothing about me. Well. 4
am-but no, shall not say that until
have to. But this must tell you.
BY some strange circumstance, the
character OF which have not yet
solved, my mother IN in New York In
company with Rowe, whose real name
IL Ricardo Valdez, an ex-minister Of
the venezuela government He II -
much villain al my dear mother, my
lovely girlmother. IN an angell Until
a few days ago I imagined her safe in
her own homo, and now discover her
here, and with that man! Some 'rea-
son that seems good to her must have
brought her. but what 1t II, I cannot
even guess But this I know-what-
ever OF evil Valdez Il engaged In, abe
il innocent, and to you must confide
her interests, and beg that you allow
no harm to touch her"
But why don't you look after her
yourself?" gasped Fiji in amaxement.
II cannot" cried Pedro, his eyes
full OF distress. You see, ran away
-oh. long, long ago. because she
would have forced me to-oh!, I can
not explain! But ii. she once saw me.
she might betray me to, that Valdes
gang--for my own good. as she thinks
and then would have to go on to
far country. and take up Job loathe
that would kill me- that would stop
my being painter! And even for my
mother, could not submit to that!"
"But how the devil can she make
you go against your will?" demanded
Sam. "And why did you leave her in
the first place? It's all very mysteri-3
ous!" st,
yes, / know 1t sounds strange" 70
piled Pedro, "but / can only explain
little. You might take her side. In
deed, almost every one does. except
Old Nita. They seem to think that to
be rich and powerful Oh, they
do not understand. They have given
me too much freedom for their pur-
pose, and now they cannot tie me
down. q. AS forl having left her.
it was really she who left me. had
little escapade-very harmless mis-
chief 1t really was--but afterward VAL
jdez told me that my mother would not
receive me any longer. l gave hip
letter to her in which / begged her to
relent, but she never answered it, nor
my others. Were it not for my love
OF her. it would be relief to have
severed my connection with my past
because OF the different life would
lead should ! go back, and now that
have begun to paint, to lead my own
life. But, please, I beg of you,
as IThave served you. promise to pro
tect her, and ask me no more. Some
day may be able to tell you every
thing, but not now" al II. IT,. H.
n Very WELL" ;assented Hill reluctant
ly. "But may call upon you to get
her out Of difficulty II it should provo
absolutely necessary to do SO = ~ ~.
Yes returned Pedro. But remem-
Der that for. me to take any active
part in the matter would have terribly
serious results for me. Now tell me
about Mr.. .Vanderpool." .35
$; Il don't know much to tell" replied
Hill. "He recognized me, allowed him
self to be persuaded that i should be
locked up till this damned boat had
reached Its port, whatever 1t was, and
gave orders that1 was not to be hurt
Then he went OF before could get
word in edgewise. and l haven't seen
him since" H. I:.s 3s3y. as ;ESSs
: The ferryboat had reached its slip.
and they aroused their sleeping com
panions. .3} :, ..E.; : sSsz @z5 fin
Z will you 60 to the studio?" Pedro
asked when they had landed. tS'r s.
Hill considered for moment.
q NO." he said, Il shall 60 back to
Jones street with Beau-Jean and the
bear I'm going to get at the bottom
Of this business before tomorrow-that
is, today--is over. have not yet de.
cided on I plan Of action. but in al,
probability, I shall be better able to
work from the stratum OF the tene-
ments than Is myself. n In the mean
time, thanks, and good night, and God
bless you for this!" He tapped the
breast pocket wherein lay the prop1is-
sorry note signed by Iris. '
/ (TO BE CONTINUED o.. -
I. =