The Dolores star., 1916-03-31

1 she ewoks RITA haA va1ishea An
| every one was away. And now Gan
hin. he. too. u sonsi Obi Msrciful
Motheri"
-sit down and - ealmi- cried Pc
dro. TELL me all What has hap
penedf"
Lucky It IL that samhin left the
address!" exclaimed Guniviers. "And
lucky. too. that I could and thea. Now
all will be welli"
Thanks. oh! smooth tongue, for thy
faith in me-" replied Pedro. But whai
has happened? Tell me. quickly"
Yesterday we left her with Anna.
began Guneviere. and told Of Nita'a
illness and strange disappearance.
How very queer!" he commented
when she had finished. How unlike
Mia! And Hill?- What has he donef'
He has not como home!"
But there IL nothing strange in
that" objected Pedro. Does he mot
often stay away all night, eh?s
But the bear came home!" walled
Guneviere.
Mr.. Jones! Alone! Impossible!"
"A policeman-of-the-laW brought
him." explained Guneviere. saying
THAT he found the bear near the river.
rhe name was on the collar, and the
number, tn savis!" -
Saint Joseph! but that does look
serious!" Pedro exclaimed. "Quicki
is there nothing more?"
only that the policeman-of-the-law
made much noise when he found that
four bears dwelt within the tenement.
He says we must move out. Four
bears are not permitted. One bear
perhaps. II much money be paid. But
four! No. that il not Allowed"
And what have you done?"
We have arranged to 60 into the
back tenement" said Guneviere. evil
IDENTIFY convinced that the change
would solve the difficulty.
But, Hill! Something must have
happened to himf And the bear left
him!" said Pedro. walking up and
down excitedly. He may have been
hurtl Near the river, Ell? Good
heavens! scarcely dare guess what
has occurred"
THE hospitaIs7" suggested Gune-
Were with some faint return of her
usual practically.
"Ah! yes" he exclaimed, II shall
telephone them at once, and then I
shall go to Jones street with you As
for Nita, we shall have to find her
without help: she has made me swear
never to Invoke public aid In her
behalf. you know"
Yes. yes!" said Guneviere, you
will come, then?"
Directly" he cried. mo time must
be lost
But as 1t proved. time msttered
little. for the hospitals told nothing.
and neither did that grim lost and
found ONCE, the morgue. For two
whole days Pedro alternated between
his studio and the rear tenement on
Jones street, his mind in an agony of
uncertainty. He could not work for
and tho combined sus.
pense and inaction played havoc with
bis spirit. Leigh had been called out
Of town to see his mother. who was
III, and there was no one else to whom
Pedro dared 60 for advice and help.
Hill himself had forbidden that his al:
fairs be made known to anyone but
the sculptor, or Pedro might have
asked Milligan's assistance. AS 1t was,
he could only fume impatiently, and
eat his heart out with worry. At last,
no longer able to endure doing moth
Ing. he called q council of war In the
tenement kitchen. To the assembled
with exception only Of
the still mysteriously absent Nita. he
arose and spoke.
Il am going to find Sam Hill, II he
b on the face Of the earth!" he an
II am convinced that some
has befallen him. In half
an hour am going to take Mr.. Jones
with me, and am not coming back till
We have succeeded in discovering the
Of my friend"
"Bien! And l." said Beau-Jean,
from his seat on the foot of the bed.
II will 60 with you to find that Sam
hill. who is my friend, aussi.''
Every good!" said Pedro. "all Is ar
ranged. Come, Strong Arm. we will
CO."
: On the instant they began collecting
the few traps necessary for q short
absence, and while they were in the
midst of these preparations, the door
was thrown open to admit an old
woman.
initial" yelled Pedro, springing
toward her.
Instantly the room was in an up
roar. all talking at once, laughing and
weeping, shouting questions, making
offers Of help. pronering food and
drink, crowding around the crone with
such clamor and persistence that Pc
dro could scarcely manage to get her
to a chair. Then she Sat beaming
upon them all, apparently in the best
Of health and delighted at the vel.
novv,o a fporAoH hor unr or1xhno ~-,e,,.,