Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-01-06
one s""s*A* !. ....... j..
IMPOSSIBLE ! BOY
1pNLNA Wl[QCM PUINAM
ILLUSTRATIONS % Is ~ , DRA H


hundredth time that Hill had chosen
well. Small wonder that the latter hat
been driven to despair by her! Ane
she-did she still care for the absent
painter? She seldom spoke of him
and that argued we'll for Hills cause
And what had parted these two? Some
silly, silly quarrel, he again assured
himself. How well matched they
were, how admirably suited to each
other! But how about the girls atti
tude toward himself :? A subtle
smile crept to the corners of his mouth
at the thought, and he hastily took his
eyes from her face. looking 1ntently al
the glowing cigarette between his I'm
gers instead. -.
What is the matter?" she asked
"A second ago you were merry. Now
you look quiet, wise-dangerous? How
you changed" II
Dangerous! Far from it," he ex'
claimed, pushing back his chair, that
is, unless you call overwhelming curl
osity dangerous. Personally / think
1t less dangerous than lack Of curl.
osity; to the individual, at least" 7
* And what makes you curious?" she
asked. a.'.e-e III 81 .'1s''
<: :, Then Pedro. who did not know how
to lead !. gently up to any subject,
plunged in. .ri@- e'f- f. D..
Were you engaged to HIP" he
asked abruptly. 81 -, - '->r--
Without answering, she arose and
walked away to the window, where she
stood for several moments before re-
plying, her back turned. - 4 .''. &,% 5tFs E.
EYES," she said at last. -
"And do you still care for him?" D., f,
.. To her own Intense surprise she
found that she could not reply. at once.
II beg your pardon, Madonna" said
Pedro softly. -. .5@.~5.,..,.@
"Oh, you don't understand" she
cried wildly, throwing out her hands.
II don't care, hate--oh! why did you
ask me?" ig..' .., 7,.,9 IT,
IT think / do understand" he said
very distinctly, looking straight at her.
h A wave of crimson flooded her
cheeks. What did, he mean? Unable
to face him longer, she buried her face
in her. hands. .s5 He came toward her
and stood where he could have touched
her. B. 4 .,i., J.. Is - ST. I&;+ PLY.
Sam Hill Is great SOUL" said he
softly. HE is generous and good. He
is talented. he Is 49,. =."tt@sssf ( tsS3&'
'"'He is nothing to me!"' she gasped.
looking up. 49, 4 = Il: t% :, Il 1
"He is my friend" finished Pedro
firmly. " 'szs.$. rs. - g., ~ Il ..
She flung her arms wide, and turned
to him with an appealing gesture. her
face revealing an emotion she made
no attempt to conceal, nor he to
ignore. =. ~ r.. = ~ ~
"Pedro!"' she began passionately,
you will think me mad for saying It.
but ali! I cannot help it--you make
me! Pedro, love ~ 3'' i 43i$#
There was q crash Is his liquor
glass fell to the floor. 49, II ,$z$4
Hush - said he. e IA.
4 What lis TT" she asked. for the mo.
ment startled into normality.
1Nothing!" said he. "only you are
not to finish your sentence. Never
mind the glass. it was done intention
ally. Let us talk Of other things"
"But, Pedro" she said Historically,
Il cannot! am possessed! How can
you be so cruel?" ~ .5si.., a. z.
!. Please, pleased he begged her.
Madonna, am abject; am in tor
ture! Have pity!"
1T is akin to pity" she replied.
Pedro walked to the hearth and
stopped to mend the. fire. Then he
Strengthened up and spoke.
.Impoesible!" he said quietly. ut
terly impossible" NJ W. ,.S e,
Y And she, watching him intently
knew he had believed her, although he
presented this denial. She felt, too
that her cause was nearly hopeless.
you do not care, them" she said in
a low voice. t:st Z. e.
FL Madonna Lady," he said sadly, 81
care for you a great deal, but not al
Hill does; not as man should, to be
your lover. You charm me beyond
words; you are lovely as dream, and
If I could love any woman. 1T woulG
be you-but you are not for me-"
."Why not?" she, asked sharply, be
tween her tortured breaths. ,.,4.u...
1.-The reason is beyond my. power tt
alter" said Pedro. rs
Then. said she. II suppose hat
better 60, Shall you wish to finish the
picture?" t$-4s
! "Iris!" he cried in a suddenl,
changed tone. come here, listen! O.
course I want to finish the picture; Il
is going to be good! And what ii
more, if you will be so gracious, will
your permission we will finish it, ant
renew our friendship at the sam,
time"
"Friendship!" said she, with mirth
less little laugh.
"Come!" he cried, with, an attemp
at putting the incident behind them
II must talk to you about something
very important. You asked me to hell
you find out who was troubling YOU
| father" h.
YES" she assented, without mucl
interest, however. f., -
WELL" he said slowly, Il am mos
distressingly placed, Madonna. an
almost certain that he Is being eithe,
blackmailed or misled in some man
ner, and yet my hands are absolutel.
tied. I can do nothing" r.
What do you mean?" she demand
ed, aroused. ~.0
II seem fated to be man OF mys
terry" he lamented, but cannot hell
it! I have ascertained that man o
doubtful character is In communlca
ton with, your father; that much
learned last week. But at the tnstan
of my discovery Of this fact cir
cumstance arose that makes it impos
sible for me to continue as your de
tective. More than this cannot say
But you will have to find some ont
else to help YOU