The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1916-04-21

jected Rico.
To gain time Hill finished his coffee.
1T would take a long while to ex,
plain just why 1t is a good plan to
be married." said he at last But II
allow me to say that it is good! In
fact. am contemplating doing it my
self before very long"
Well" said Rico, "if you say 1t is
good, it must be so. We will find .
priest II 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 1t, the more plausible 1t
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 tHill'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
(HilD 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
good one, for by its execution nothing
could be lost. while much might be
gained.
And l think" he said aloud, that
l shall take Mr.. Jones; he will make
me more conspicuous and. conse-
quently, safer"
What's that?" 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
single glance, any more than he could
grasp their significance with a single
thought. Before one of these build
ing Hill paused, and assuring himself
that it was that which he sought, be-
gan maneuvers to gain admittance.
At first there was difficulty with the
doorkeepers 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 a half-delighted, half-fright-
ened porter
Just as WELL" murmured the paint
or, as he was spirited upward. "If
they have any claptrap mysteries
about that office, secret dungeons, etc.,
and don't come down, they will get
tired Of holding the bear, and come up
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.
AS Hill entered the luxuriously ap-
pointed office, the distinguished man
at the wide shining desk did not look
up until he had finished addressing
the letter upon which he was en-
gagged When he had done so. and
secured the seal. he turned and faced
Hill with the frank, direct look
was known to be characteristic of him.
We'll. Samuel Hill" he said, so
you have not only escaped, but felt
it safest to beard the lion in his den
to seek out the conspirator in the
midst of the market-place. Why?"
For an instant Hill wavered as to
what course was best; and then. in
view of the attitude with which he
himself had come armed, decided to
return frankness for frankness.
Il have come because of this" said
he simply, taking Iris manifesto from
his pocket and spreading it upon the
desk before her father. Vanderpool
fumbled at the black silk ribbon that
secured his eyeglasses, found and
adjusted them, and began to read the
little paper. When he had come to