The Washington herald., 1921-05-15

enrulfed Ridenour with Hldegards clnstng
to his arm in frank holiday fashion and
carried them at . slow pace until they de-
bouched on the wide square Of the soccolo.
Here Hildegarde pulled one way and Mark
another. Attracted by the nars Of color of
thu flower market In the last days Of its
treat glory, she was all for following up tho
stream Of people carrying armfuh of nam-
boyant gladioluses. huge rosettes Of nve thou
sand vsolets, punches Of roses and carnations
or handfuls Of purple, pink. and saffron col.
ored sweetpeas; but Ridenour was irm.
Come with me-" he said. i've been
waiting for . Sunday morning to take you
to the Thieves Market"
They crossed the socoolo diasonaIly, en-.
tered Avenue Joseph Mary Pine suarez,
laushed at the burden of that name, and
presently came upon the narrow grill which
gives access to one Of those rare relics of .
bysone sss that stiil link certain of the great
cities 81 the world to day when crime had
q social standing The bright lights Of To-
kio's Yoshfwara are no more: the scratching
posts Of Argyle stand only as a monument
to the itch Of generations dead and gone;
San Francisco's Chinatown has been purged
with fame; but the Thieves Market Of Mex
leo City still holds its own as q recognized
institution, q neutral zone between upper
and under worlds where owner and stolen
goods may meet and reunite tat q price, and
where pifferer and pilfered smile and pass
the time Of day
The Bolador. as It Is oficially known
forms the entrails Of entire city block.
Facing the four streets are shallow shops Of
patent respectability. but he who pierces
this screen through one of the two iron
grills which give access to the Thieves Mar.
ket plunges Immediately into an intestinal
maze of tumbled alleys whose sides are lined
with tiny crowded stalls displaying every
variety of secondhand wares, Here are
books bought or stolen from ravaged libra
ries; censers, candlesticks. and lesser brasses
supposedly looted from churches. but mostly
counterfeits huge punches Of keys Of every
description. for sale hire by the pound;
bibelots; 1ewelry. real and unreal: hand
painted fans and galvanized bathtubs: en-
broidered capes and pilfered electrical hx.
lures mountains Of hats and cracked glass
necessitous put on sale by robbers or find-
srs. It is the meeting place par excellence
Of lost. strayed. and stolen
From staring indolently into one Of the
showcases Hildesarde drew suddenly erect
her face q study in perple1ed wonder and
sudden determination.
DO you see the brass paper-cutter1 she
asked. Buy 1t for me-"
After Q vast amount Of dickertng the
paper mifs vas purchased and delivered
into her hands. On one side It carried q
heur-de-rs holding cupped . woman's face
and throat In bold relief; on the other II was
nat and smooth. She turned it over. stared
the knife to Ridenour. Hndesarde Estes"
he rad. and smiled at the trininE vindication
Of the Thieves Markets great fame.
Tt was stolen with q lot Of other things
from our house in Boston," said Hildegarde.
Years and years ago-when was a little
girl. And you doubted we could nnd an ad-
venture by looking for ons!"
DO you call this an adventure!" asked
Rdenour, and then his eyes directed over
her shoulder and lighting in sudden admira.
ton:
Look what's coming"
She turned and saw approaching as noble
proud. and lovable q dog as ever walked.
He was held not in a collar but by q har
ness Of two.inch leather straps which met
in . large steel ring above his shoulders. To
the steel ring was attached a heavy chain
and at the other end Of the chain. restrain
ing the tugging dog. came the rogue Of that
unforgettable face into which Ridenour had
blown a pun Of smoke three days before.
well. Juan" said Ridenour. acknowledg-
ing a stealthy, enismatical gleam Of recogni-
ton from the slanted almond eyes, what's
the price Of the dog today7"
ITO you. sefor. fifteen pesos" replied the
Mexican with q twisted smile and q leer at
q man who accompanied him.
Fifteen pesos!" exclaimed Miss Estes.
"How cheap" She stopped to pat the proud
head 80 eagerly carried. At any kennel
show the dog would have been classed a
mongrel. but he had royal blood in his veins
for all that, even II IT was crossed with the
bar-sinister.' He had almost the bulk and