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ir i-r:' 1 *, ,f? kstm 70' .*s -$* I 'v" I** S' \'A $ fa i' ri'v fc v* I "-v 11 „v t" WM •. •,- fVT*.' Ttfv S N O S IS 1 &&&*<' mfli .. W'* FW.Ar I Ky i*i JL. '.V 'V -, 1$ Pedro and the dancing bear, Mr. Jones, prevent a tramp from stealing a young lady's purse- Pedro's ambition to become a painter spurs him. to quit Old Nlta and the strolling bear dancers. Pedro, Old Nlta and the bear. trainers start for New Tork. Miss Iris Vanderpool quarrels with her artist lover, Sam Hill, and they part. She discovers In her father'^ desk a por trait, Which she recognizes as that ot Pedro, :who rescued her from the purse snatcher. Hill meets Pedro and Mr. Jones In Washington square. Hill discov ers. talent In Pedro's drawings and In a mads desire. toyJoae.Wrasielf. gives,- his studio and 'all in ft tfi Peilro in exchange for Mr. Jones. Pedro otectiples' Hill's' stu dio and calls on Leigh, the sculptor,-with a letter from'Hill. Leigh, calling In re turn, in the alley bumps Into two men. one. of whom Is Reginald Vanderpool, Iris father, In disguise'. Vanderpool's compan ion, goes Into, the basement of Hill's studio and talks with Ricardo. or Kowe, the basement tenant, of a conspiracy against a foreign government.. Vanderpool, over whom Kowe has a secret hold, is Impli cated. Senora Daussaand her child, sup posedly dead In an uprising, Rowe knows io be alive. Senora Causpa Is driven by Rlcardo -to a resort where the conspira tors meet her. and profess loyalty. Sam Hill sees Rowe unexpectedly attacked by Old Nlta, and rescues her. Pedro takes luncheon with Iris in'her home meeting Vanderpool, who is disturbed by Pedro presence. Iris tells Pedro Vanderpool, asphalt king, appears as "Senor Chief.", J'- Ur' CHAPTER XII. A Compromise. The day on which Iris'" came to Pedro's studio for. her second pose was sot that which had been appointed, but one nearly a week later. During the intervening period the young painter had remained locked in the studio as long as daylight lasted, emerging only at night, in company with Leigh. Pedro had given her no explanation for putting her off, simply sending, word that he could not have her at present, but would get some work done on the background of the .por trait, Iris had telephoned, several futile in vitations, and at last, catching Pedro on the wire, had arranged for a sit ting. At the hour appointed, she mounted the stairs slowly, 'writh fast beating heart, starting and trembling at every sound within the ancient building. She .reached the door unchallenged, and rapped upon it. "Lady! Most gracious Madonna!" he cried in greeting "See^ here is the blue robe—quick, quick! I am all im patience to begin. Do you know the good tidings? Of the ridiculously au dacious thing I am going to do? Ex hibit nly pictures! Yes, me. Pedro! Ha!, ba! 1 am not unknown, it seems I Read the newspapers. I am Pedro, the great Spanish artist! 1 db not inow how to paint, but it matters not they will say 'an Impressionisjr-Matisse ou tdone!' Ah! ha! your portrait will be the chief gem of the display. In two weeks comes, the exhibition, so I must finish it soon, soon!" During the first part of the pose, he, contrary to hisusual habit, talked rap idly. 1 "It will be a lovely exhibition!" said he, "there will be Leigh's' stuff—beau tiful marbles,, rich in form, and with such textures and high lights. You .know! And the virginal white bas-re liefs—the jqyous one of the ladies dancing. And. around the walls, be tween these things will .hang many gorgeous paintings by that great Span ish painter—myself." Iris couid not'but laugh with him. A- "And of all' these fine pictures," he continued, "the most lovely will be a Madonna with hair that is red-gold, like Joy!" Then there was silence and he worked fiercely, cruelly, for, as usual, he forgot the rests, and it grew late before either spoke. At last, exhausted by the long pose, by his indifference, by her own emo tions, she could bear it no longer, but holding out her arms toward him, she swayed slightly, and eaid his name in a broken voice "Pedro!"' Then he saw how white and drawn her lace had become, and with a little cry he dropped his palette and sprang to lier side. "Madonna!" he said, "forgive me! Come down! So! Let me help you. Lie here upon this couch. Oh, I am cruel and thoughtless! Whimpering a little, she clung to his arm, burying her face In the crotch of his elbow, fondling his hand., "Pedro, Pedro, I-am so tired!" she said over and over again. "I know! A little sherry!" he ex claimed. "A bite of luncheon! You will see now what a splendid house wife I can really be, at need. We will have a charming, meal directly." He poured wine into an antique Venetian glass, aid brought it to her, clasping both her hands about the fragile thing as one would clasp a child's untrained fingers around a precious toy. "Drink!" he commanded, "and lie quite still with your lovely head among the caressing' pillows. You are an eastern queen now, and I your humble .'serving slave. See! Like magic the feast shall appear!" Then he drew up a, little round table before- the hearth,* stirred the dying embers witti' fresh wood, threw an Arabian cloth- over the table and pro ceeded to lay.-the'feast. She sat up and allowed him to feed her. The solitary fork, gave them much cause for-mirth, for she insisted that they share it, and before the meal was finished they were playing like children. Pedro's moods were generally irre sistible, and he was determined that she forget and forgive his thoughtless ness. As he sat Opposite, seeing her The Curfew. If there Is a curfew in your vicinity, it is probably a signal, Imposed by the town authorities, which, when sounded in the evening, requires small boys to retire within doors. In its beginning the curfew served a far different pur pose, and applied to all classes of whatever age. In the middle ages, when we first hear of the curfew, the curfew bell was commonly tolled in cities as a warning to all inhabitants to extinguish or cover up all fires and lights. This was a common practice ILLUSTRATIONS CD. RHODES CPPyPlGHT 6QBB5-/y\ERRIl.L CO her suspicion that her father is being blackmailed and enlists his' help.. Iris poses for Pedro. Pedro sees Rowe with Vanderpool and peeping through1-' Rowe's basement win dow is astonished' at sight of a, woman whose face, feature for feature, is like his own. Hill hears from the bear dan cers that Pedro Is a Venezuelan. Hill and Mr. Jones wander about,, and stumble -upon Rowe,-loading a steadier with con traband of. war.'. Hill is seized as a spy. came£like beauty, he thought for the hundredth time that Hill had chosen well. Small wonder that the latter bad been driven to despair by her! And she—did shei still care for the absent painter? She Seldom spoke of him, and that argued well for Hill's 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 girl's-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 intently at the"1, glowing cigarette between his fin gers instead. "What is the matter?" she asked. "A second ago you were merry. Now you look quiet, wise—dangerous? How you change!" "Dangerous! Far from it!" he ex claimed, pushing back his chair, "that is, unless you call overwhelming curi osity dangerous. Personally I think it less dangerous than a lack of curi osity to the individual, at least." "And what makes you curious?" she asked. Then Pedro, who did not know how to leadgently up to any subject, plunged in. "Were you engaged to Hill?" he asked abruptly. Without answering, she arose and walked away to the window, where she stood for sieveral moments before re plying, her back tutned. "Yes," she said at last. "And do you still care for him?" To. her own intense surprise she found that she could not reply at once. "I beg your pardon. Madonna," said Pedro eoftly. ...... "Oh, you don't understand!" she cried wildly, throwing out her hands. "I don't care, I hate—oh! why did you ask me?" I titfnk .1 do understand," he said very distinctly, looking straight at her. A wave of crimson flooded her cheeks'- What did he mean Unable to face him longer, she buried her face in her .hands. He came toward her and stood where he could have touched her. Sam Hill is a great soul," said he softly. "He is generous and good. He is talented, he is ." He is nothing to me!" she gasped, looking up. "He is my friend," finished Pedro firmly. 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. "Pedro!" jj'fliev began passionately, "you will think me .mad for saying It, but ah! I cannot help it—you make me! Pedro, I love ." There was a crash ae his liquor as el to "Hu»h!". said he. .v "What iB it?" she asked, for.the mo ment startled into normality. "Nothing!'/ 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, P^dro," she said hysterically, I cannot! I.am possessed! How can you be so cruel?" "Please, 1 please!" he begged her. "Madonna, I am abject I am in tor ture! Have pity!" "It is akin to pity," she replied. Pedro walked to the hearth and stooped to mend the- fire. Then he straightened up and spoke. "Impossible!" he said quietly. "Ut terly impossible." 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, then," she said in a low voice. "Madonna Lady," he said sadly, "I care for you a great deal, but not as Hill does not as a man should, to be your lover. You charm me beyond words you are lovely as a dream, and if I could love any woman,'it would be you—but you are not for me." "Why not?" she asked sharply, be tween her tortured breaths. "The reason is beyond my. power to alter," said Pedro. "Then,", said she, "I suppose I had better go. Shall you wish to finish the picture?" "Iris!" he cried in a suddenly changed tone, "come here, listen! Of course I want to finish the picture it is. going to be good! And what is more, if you will be so gracious, with your permission we will finish it, and renew our friendship at the same time." "Friendship!" said she, with a mirth less little laugh. "Come!" he cried, with an.attempt at putting the Incident behind them, "I must talk to you about something very important. You asked me to help you find out who was troubling your father." "Yes," she assented, without much interest, however. "Well," he said slowly, "I am most distressingly placed, Madonna. I am almost certain that he is being either blackmailed or misled in some man ner, and yet my hands are absolutely tied. I can do nothing." "What do you mean?" she demand ed, aroused. "I seem fated to be a man of mys tery," he lamented, "but I cannot help it! I have ascertained that a man of doubtful character is in communica tion with your father that much I learned last week. But at the instant of my discovery of this fact a cir cumstance arose that makes it Impos sible for me to continue as your de tective. More than this I cannot say. But you will have to find some one else to help you." Iris was turning the matter over in her mind very rapidly. Did Pedro throughout Europe and was a very necessary precaution against fire. All of the houses were of. wood and the fires were kindled in a hole in the floor, with no other vent than another hole in the roof above the hearth. Un der such circumstances it was all too easy for afire to start, and wooden buildings and crude fire-fighting appa ratus offered small check to afire once it was under way. Many histories state that the curfew was Introduced into England by William the Conqueror, who in 1068 really not care for her? Hardly! Why he said such things iHe had followed her from the country! Had he not begged to paint her, and paid her such compliments as no one yet had done? ,That night at -the Mllll gans' came back with a rush of mem ory. Ah! he had surely cared then! What had since occurred to change him? Samuel Hill! That was it! He had learned of her former attachment, and meant at all costs to be loyal to the man who had befriended him. Something must be done to make him see, quite clearly and unmistakably, that his sacrifice to Hill's trust of him was a vain and useless thing. But how was this to be accomplished? Mean while, Pedro was still talking. "I say with regret that I "have every, reason to believe that your father is being defrauded in some way. The character of the man, with whom I saw him, is sufficient to .justify this. Also, alas'! this same man now appears to be standing in such a connection with me as makes it impossible for me to inform any ordinary person of the facts. I might injure an Innocent— undoubtedly, innocent—person by so doing, to say nothing of perhaps let ting out a secret which your fathers actions prove he wishes, kept dark. For a whole week I have been trying to see my way clear, and at last I know that it lies only in refusing to help you." "And yet," said Iris slowly, rising and putting on her wraps, "I would re ward the right person to the best pf my ability, if only the work of help ing, perhaps saving,' my father could be continued." He gave ,her the muff for which she stretched out' her hand. I wish indeed that I could help you," said ae. "I know the danger of Confiding so delicate a matter to any one. But, perhaps, for a reward— Vhat would .it be, this reward?" For an instant the audacity of what she was about to say rose like an imr pediment in her throat,' holding her silent, while her heart'beat violently. Then, at last, she found her voice. "I would marry him, no matter though he thought there were insur mountable objections," she said with meaning. He stood astounded, scarcely able to credit his hearing, and could only look and look at her, open-mouthed. Then agleam of light swept across his face as though he were suddenly possessed of a glorious idea. "Iris!" he gasped, "will you—will you put that down on paper? Make an—what you call it—affidavit?" Affidavit?—yes!" she replied. Then do so!" he cried, pushing pen and paper toward her. Do you really want it?" she asked, looking straight into hie eyes. "You bet!" he shouted joyously.* She laid down her muff, and draw ing off her glove, she wrote: I hereby promise to marry you: on the day you can tell me my father Is not be ing subjected to danger, or has been res cued from that if any, which now im perils him. And I furthermore agree to overcome any debatable .objections you may have to the marriage. IRIS VANDERPOOL. There!" she saldf laughing a trifle hysterically, when she had finished, will that do?" "Splendidly!" said Pedro, and thrust ing the folded paper into his breast pocket, seized her hand' and kissed it. with the grace, of(a courtier. Iris blushed, watching him with ten der eyes. Then she'submitted to be ing led downstairs and shut into her I "There," She Said, "Will That Do?" coupe. .No sooner was this accom plished than Pedro fled across the little court and up to the studio as if all the devils in the demonology were after him, and slamming the door be hind him, he proceeded to dance the coquette at a mad pace, upsetting sev eral articles of furniture in the proc ess. "And now to find Mr. Samuel Hill!" he shouted gleefully, waving the paper above his head. "AhKMeestre Samhill," was echoed in a wail from outside the door. "Where, oh! where is he?" CHAPTER XIII. Some Adventure* With Variation*. Pedro stared at the door as if trans fixed, and then, the wall being repeat ed, he opened his portal. On the land ing stood Guneviere. "Madre de Dios!" he exclaimed, "what.ails thee? Come in." ,"Oh! 'tis terrible!"'moaned Gune viere, "that Anna! that irresponsible one! We left her in charge, and when She awoke Nlta had vanished. And every one was away. And now Sam hill, he, too, is gone! Oh! Merciful Mother!" "Sit down and be calm!" cried Pe dro. "Tell me all. What has hap pened?" "Lucky it is that Samhill left the address!" exclaimed Guniviere. "And lucky, too, that I could find thee. Now, all will be well! "Thanks, oh! smooth tongue, for thy faith in me," replied Pedro. "But what has happened? Tell me, quickly!" "Yesterday we left her with Anna, began Guneviere, and told of Nita's iilness and strange disappearance. ruled that on the ringing of the curfew bell at 8 p. m. all fires and lights should be immediately extinguished. Students of history have discovered traces of a curfew in England inf much earlier times and insist that it'was in use in Oxford in the time of Alfred the Great.—American Boy. Water Power of the World. The tremendous water power of the world which will some day take the place of fuel, Is shown in recently compiled statistics from various coun- "How very queer!" he commented, when she had finished. "How unlike Nlta! And Hill? What haB he done?" "He has not come home!" .. "But there is nothing Strang^ in that!" objected Pedro. "Does he^not often stay away all night, eh?" "But the bear came home!" wailed Guneviere, "Mr. Jones! Alone 1 Impossible!" "A pollceman-of-the-law brought him," explained Guneviere, "raying that he found the bear near the river. The name was. on the collar,,and the number, .tu savis!" "Saint Joseph! but that does look serious!". Pedro exclaimed^ "Quick! 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, if much money be paid. But four! No, that is not allowed!" "And what have you donp?" "We have arranged -to-go into'the back tenement," said, Guneviere, evi dently convinced that the change would solve the difficulty. "But, Hill! Something must have happened to him? And the bear left him!" said Pedro, walking up and down excitedly., "He may have been hurt! Near the river, eh? Good heavens! I scarcely dare guess what has occurred!" "The hospitals?" suggested .Gune viere with some faint -return of her usual practicality. "Ah! yes," he exclaimed, "I shall telephone them at once, and then I shali 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 publio aid in her behalf, you know." "Yes, yes!" said Guneviere,"you will come, then?" "Directly!" he cried. "No time must be lost.". But as it proved, time mattered little, for the hospitals told nothing, and neither did that grim lost and found office, 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 nervousness, and the. combined sus pense and inaction, played havoc with liis spirit Leigh, had. .been called out oit town to see, his mother, who., was ill, and there was no one else to whom Pedro dared go for advice and help. Hill himself had forbidden that his af fairs be made known to anyone but the sculptor, or Pedro might have asked Milligan's assistance. As it was, he could only fume impatiently, and eat his heart out with worryAt last, no longer able to„ endure doing noth ing, he called a council of war in the tenement kitchen. To the assembled bear-dancers, with exception only of the still mysteriously absent Nlta, he arose and spoke. "I am going to find Sam Hill, if he is on the face of the earth!" he an nounced. "I am convinced that some misfortune has befallen: him. In half an hour I am going "to take Mr/ Jones with me, and I am not coming back till we have succeeded In'discovering the whereabouts of my friend." "Bien! And I," said Beau-Jean, from his. seat on the foot of the bed. "I will go with you to find: that Sam hill, who is my friend, aussl "Very good!" said Pedro, "all is ar ranged. Come, Strong Arm/ we wjll go." On the instant they beg^tn collecting the few traps necessary'for a short absence, and while they were. in the midst of these preparations, the door, was. thrown. open to admit an old woman. ,,M'' "Nito!" yelled "Pedro,- 'springing toward her. Or-' •"''V Instantly the room was in an up roar, all talking *t once laughing and weeping, shouting questions, making offers of' help, proffering food and drink crowding around the crone, with such clamor and persistence that Pe dro" could' scarcely, manage to get .her to a. chair. Then she- sat'beaming upbn.,thebsrali, apparently in. the best of'. health and delighted at •-the' wel-, come afforded her. Her clothes were if possible, a trifle tiore worn and soiled than usual, but, otherwise, she seemed to have suffered no^harm. "Where hast thou been? What hast thou done? Where is Samhill? Art' well? Tell us!" they shouted all at once.* "Aye, I am well, lucky for me!" said Nlta, with twinkling eyes, "for I have been a bird in my day, and I am in no haste to meet what awaits, me in the hereafter." "Beloved Nita!" exclaimed Pedro, kneeling beside her, "how I rejoice that thou art safe! But where is Mr. Hill?" "Samhill?" she queried. "I have not seen him, nor thought of him! I have been abroad on other business. What of Samhill?" "Don't you know?" cried Anna. And then the clamor began anew. Not know where Samhill was? Where could he be, then? Did she not even know of his disappearance? What had she been doing? For answer, she took Pedro's face between her old hands that were like withered leaves. "Dost thou know who is in the city?" she aekeji. "Thine enemy and mine, Ricardo! He struck me. and I was senseless. But when mine eyes opened, I arose and went in search of him. I took the long, slender machete with the handle of pearl, but I found him not. There was a woman with him ." "Yes," said Pedro, "my mother." "Then thou, too, hast seen him! Where?" she asked eagerly. "And with thy mother? Surely you are mad?" "Not mad, only bewildered and frightened," he answered. "I know where they are, but not for what pur pose! I shall tell tbee all that I have seen,- but not now. Can't you hear the others saying that my benefactor has vanished? Before anything else we must find and help him, if need be." "Where are Ricardo and thy mother?" asked Nita, her eyes fixed upon Pe dro's, and her hand closed tightly upon some object that was hidden among the bundled shawls and carfs about her waist. Pedro's eye followed the movement. "It is very far from here, oh, ancient lady," he lied glibly, "and I shall not tries. The authorities preparing these statistics believe that with the ex haustion of the world's coal supply this water power would be sufficient to continue the lighting and heating of the world by means of electricity. Some of the statistics follow: France has an estimated horsepow er of 4,500,000, of which 800,000 is now in use. Italy with the same total horsepower has about 30,000 utilized. The United States has an estimated horsepower of 1,500,000, while Japan ha* 1,000,000 and Russia's resources THE MANCHESTER DEMOCRAT, MANCHESTER, IOWA. tell you where until I retarn. Then we shall attend'to your little matter, and I shall see why and how my mother comes in such company. My mother!" he turned away and sighed.' "I had forgotten how I loved her!" he said as though to. himself. Then he picked up tie pole and chain, and sig naled to Beau-Jean that he was ready. Nita arose to her feet. "Where i* the murderer, the 'se ducer of my daughter?" she screamed! "Where is Rlcardo?" "At the other end of the city," said Pedro. "Come' quickly, Beau-Jean." Anji with that they were off, leaving Niia screeching imprecations at them from the" stair-head in the most healthy manner. As they rwiched the street Beau-Jean asked: "What is all this murder business of which Nlta talks Couldn't we man-, age to avenge her, when we have found Samhill?" "Perhaps," said Pedro soberly, "for, this man. Rlcardo Valde*, Is. a very wicked man. He used to' live near "Where I* Ricardo and Thy Mother?" my home. Nita was my nurse, once, and her daughter was my foBter-sister. When she was only fifteen Ricardo stole her away. Then he deserted her, and when she came back to ub she killed herself and her baby. Ever since Nita has been looking for him, to avenge Ijer child.' But she is so old now, that I think we had best not let her do it. I am sure she would really prefer dying with us, to dying in jail!" •/. .. "I agree," said Beau-Jean.' "And now which way shall we turn?" said Pedro. "As the- bear came from the river, let us to the river go," suggested Beau-Jean. "A good notion," said Pedro,' "and as likely to prove fruitful as any.1' "More likely up-town than down, from here," said Beau-Jean, and again Pedro assented. And so, in accordance with the'plan, if plan it could be properly called, they made their'Kray westward straight toward the docks, and, once reaching them, began a pilgrimage up-town. Mr. Jones now began acting In a most peculiar manner. Something on the sidewalk had attracted Mb atten tion, and nothing could divert him until he had made a thorough inspec tion. To Beau-Jean-and to Pedro there appeared to be nothing on the pavement but a good deal of dirt and refuse but one particular spot seemed to have fascinated Mr. Jones, and there was nothing for it. but to stand waiting while he nosed about "Shall I chasten, him?" asked Beau Jean, who was, accustomed to using this method with Koko. "No, certainly not," said Pedro, "I believe he's been here before. Per haps he recognizes something. Let us watch!".' Pedro's surmise was an eminently correct one, for Mr. Jones had recog nised—honey! Very Shortly he raised his head, found the scent, and came upon a second spot of interest. How delightful!—this was the neighbor hood in which he had found that nice hive where there were no bees to sting, and where the honey was so plentiful! He really had not taken half of It last time! And here were his own footsteps, his sticky, honey made footprints, which would help him to find the treasure again. Thus it happened that in time they reached the doorway of the little, dairy, which Mr. Jones recognized with a joyful SYSTEM SAVES WOMAN'S TIME Many Farm Wive* Lose by Not Map ping Their Work Out In Me thodical Manner.. A program is a great labor saver, we are told, but some women use a program as a robin does a pole something to fly from. They never know what is to be done next, says a writer in Country Gentleman. A regu lar order, wherein the work is dove tailed, inakes for real efficiency. While the woman who does her work hit or miss is in the throes of inde cision as to what shall be done next the really methodical woman has her work all mapped out a week ahead. She moves swiftly and surely from one task to the next with no lc^st time. The amount of work she turns off is a mar vel to the other woman. A good homemaker plans her work and works her plan. She is envied by less', executive women, but she must pay the price in careful thought and in an inflexible will that holds lier to the prescribed procedure. A weaker wom an makes a good plan, but circum stances are forever altering it. She never drives her work, but her work drives her continually. It worries her it becomes a nightmare. Because are believed *to be about 11,000,000. Norway has 900,000 horsepower and Sweden about 750,000. In India 50, 000 horsepower is already being used, In Great Britain 70,000 and in Spain 65,000. Mother No Artist. Mamma is no natural artist, but she does her best when asked by the youngsters to "draw pictures." The other day, upon little George's demand, she made a sketch of a hen. When finished George regarded it with po- bound, and a sort of purr, which brought the dairyman (who had spied hlni through the window) to the en trance, with a shower of abuse ready at hand. "Get oat of this, youse!" shouted the milk vender. "Don't you dast ter come in any of youse! I ain't-a-goln'-ter sell yer nothln'. Get off, you smashln', murderln' bunch of dagoes! I'll set the cop on yer if yer don't skidoo!" "Why?" asked Pedro, wUdly eiclted. "But-why won't you sell to us?" "Go on now! none o' yer back talk!" growled the man. "I sold to one dago feller with a bear last week, an* the brute eat up all me comb-honey! So get out quit talkin'." "A man with a bear?" cried Pedro, scarcely able to believe his ear*. "I'll bet it's the one I want to find. That bear he had belongs to me." "Well, what do I care for that?" said the milk vender sourly. "Get out, or will I call the cop?" "Which way did he go?" persisted Pedro—"same way as we came?" A malicious smile came upon the weazened features of the dairyman. Here was a chance to mislead and annoy a bearrdancer, and to do so was a wondrous source of satisfaction. "He went this way, bad luck to him!" he lied, pointing east "if yer catch up with him, I hope the bear eats 'both of yer!" When they had been walking for about half an hour Pedro laid his hand upon the arm of hiB 1b companion. "Look, Beau-Jean!" said he. "Look, there. In the window of the little shop' of women's finery! See the girl with the red-gold hair? 1 am painting a picture of the Holy'Mother, and the hair'is of just such a color!" "Indeed!" said Beau-Jean soberly. "It a terrible color. Do you think that the Holy Mother will be pleased?" "I had not thought of that!" replied Pedro. Then he added suddenly— "Oh! see, the shop-lady knows Mr. Jones!" It was true. The red-haired girl had given very animated signs of rec ognizing the bear, and lifted her gaze to the persons in whose company he appeared, fvlth a smile on her lips, which cwiftly gave way to a look of disappointment as she met their eyes. "Wait!" said Pedro, halting before the door, "that, lady has seen this bear before, or I am much mistaken! And what is more, she expected, to see some one she knew, when she looked at us! Come in, I want to buy some thread." Whereupon he opened the door, and, with the bear, entered the crowded little shop, leaving Beau-Jean gasping out on the pavement Behind the counter stood the smil ing Lola La Farge, alias Lizzy Hlnkle. "What can I do for you?" she asked, laying aside the bit of knitting upon which she had been engaged. "Thread, please!" said Pedro, flash ing his smile at her.. '. "What color?". she Inquired, admir ing his' eyes and teeth. "Er—ah—green, please!" said. Pe dro, because her eyes were rather of that color, and consequently it came first to mind: "Green, and a needle please." ."A needle!" she exclaimed, "you mean a package of needles!" "I only need one at a .time," he told her. Would she speak of the bear? Ah! she was going to! "Seema as if training bears^and sew ing didn't go together very good," she giggled. "There was-) a gent In here not long ago, who didn't know much more'n you! He had a bear, too!" "Yes?" said Pedro. "Yes, indeed," she responded, busily getting out the articles he had named. "I do declare to 'goodneBS, I thought this was, the very identical bear, when I seen you coming!" "It is the:identical bear," remarked Pedro. "What!" said she, with a little shriek of surprise—"well, I never! How is the other fellow? Ain't he got the bear wfth him then?" "No, I've got him!" said Pedro dryly. "You don't say!" exclaimed the girl, peering over the counter, as though seeing the animal for the first time. "And so you know my pal, eh?" said Pedro. "Now that is nice!" He smiled again, and, as was usu ally the case, hypnotized her-into in stant response. Encouraged by hlB interest, and by the fact of their mu tual friend,! she drew a postal card not from the bosom of l)er pink shirt waist—from her pocketbook. "Well..'I certainly do know him!" said she. "I bad this postal from him only three days ago!" (TO BE CONTINUED.) "f \J '•.•wvi she is always putting things off she is always behind time, and therefore what she.does' do is done under pres sure and In a hurried way that is al ways wasteful. Take Rest in Time. Rest is mental. When the mind Wearies the body relaxes. Drudgery is mental monotony. The climate of the mind loses its distinct seasons when drudgery steals away vivacity and variety. Idleness is not rest but rust. A change of air refreshes the whole man. What most people need for a vacation is anew duty, not a new climate. If you would rid yourself of an old trouble and escape from a gall ing condition, take up a new task. In action leads to atrophy. Rust does as much harm as friction. There 1B no reward for the idler whether he be rich or poor. The lazy man is seldom an optimist. To Raise Mint. To those who are fond of mint, this may be a helpful suggestion. Place good sized sprays of mint in a jar of water and you will find that you have' a fine mint bed. If the jar is kept well filled with water the mint will grow as well as though planted in a window box. lite but critical attention. At last sighing, he requested: "Please writ* 'Hen' underneath it, mamma. I want it to know where it b'longs." The Waiter. The reason why the tipping system will never be abolished is that the at titude of the average patron of the restaurant toward the high-mighty waiter is that of Alice, who wept with delight when Ben Bolt gave her a smile and trtmblf a with fear at hi* frown. v.'- HAD FAITH IN LETTER JOHN FELT EPISTLE SHOULD WIN5LADY LOVE. At Any Rate, If It Didn't, Swain Ai* nounced Very Decidedly That No Further Attempt Would Be Made by Him. Drifting into town, a homeless' waif, John Henderson had grown to man hood, and by thrift and hard work had acquired a amall farm and built a neat pottage. One day John called on Squire Ol cott, and being a man of few words, expressed himself thus: "Squire, you know I came to this town a poor boy, you know I. have made friends of ev erybody here, you know I have saved my money and bought a farm and built a house, you know. I am thirty and have a. bank account." "Yes," said the squire, "all you say is true." "Well, squire, I want to get mar ried." "Good for you, John. Who's the lady?" "You ain't never noticed a nice lit tle black-eyed schoolteacher passin' up the street every day, have you? Well, that's her." "I suppose you have her consent and the affair 1b all arranged," sug gested the squire. "Well, no, not exactly that is what I want you to do for me. I have nev er, spoken to the lady in my life." The squire, with a hearty laugh, said: "Where'do I come in?"-. "Don't laugh, squire. This is a seri ous thing. I want you to write her a letter. Tell her about my being a poor boy, how I have worked early and late and saved my money, how I bought the farm and built the house, and-how I want her to—to—-ah—to be my wife," and here John stopped, the blushes coloring his honest, tanned face to the roots of his hair'. So the old squire, wlio was a past master in the art of letter writing, spent a long time in composing the letter, while John patiently waited. Finally it was finished, and the squire said: "Perhajte had better read it to you, and if it is wrong in any particu lar you can say so, and I will change It to suit your ideas." So be read the letter, and it was a beautiful statement of John's life, his work, his desires, Jiis accomplish ments,- about his farm and little cot tage.' §o realistic was it that long be fore, its,dose John was deeply dis tressed and big tears rolled down his cheeks. *'v: "How will, that do?" .asked the squire as he finished reading. y.J "Do?" said John. "Do? It's just splendid!" Then, with a sudden burst of tears and candor, he blurted out: "Squire, if that letter don't fetclvher, Bher—she—she can go to blazes! Mack's Monthly Magazine. "Souvenirs." There was a crowd of French vil lagers round the driving seat of the motor truck, writes a reporter to the Daily Mail. '-'Will yer get out of this, •yer little imps!" came in familiar cockney tones from under the shadow of the hood. "I* tell yer, yer can't have It—not for a souvenir, nor noth Ink. "Ah, thank 'evlngs, there's someone in this country that can speak Eng lish, any'ow," went on-the voice as I interrupted-it, and then the face of a London omnibus driver peered out from under the tilt to welcome me. "What is the matter?" I said. "Matter!" was the plaintive answer. "Why, a girl's taken the A. S. C. badge off me shoulder strap, and now that little French boy there wants to unroll me putties. 'Souvenir*—that's wl^at they keep on saying." Activities of Women. Philadelphia has 25 independent woman shoemakers, Linn county, Oregon, harf five post mistresses. In Switzerland there is one divorce for every 22 marriages in France one for every 30 in Germany one for ev ery 44 in England one for every-400, and in the United States one in every 12. Women have no rights among the natives of New Guinea. They are treated as slaves, worked almost to death and savagely beaten When their owners happen to be in a bad humor, which is often. It is their, business to cultivate the fields of banana and rice while their lords-and masters attend to the fighting and hunting. If a man chooses to murder his wife no one interferes and nothing much seems to be thought of it. Extremes. The man making money in a small town up- the state met a friend not making money in New York—there area few there in that class—and they were talking of their respective places of residence. "I tell you what it is," said the rural visitor in a woeful tone, "it's .terrible to have a lot of money and live where you can't spend it." "Oh,' I don't know," responded the impecunious city man. "I guess it isn't auy more terrible than not to have7 a lot of money and live where you can spend it." Applying Varnish With Air Spray. The application oit varnish by means of an air spray has. heretofore been attended with considerable difficulty on account of the tendency of the var nish to stiffen.and turn white when it struck the surface being coated. This has apparentl/ been overcome by the simple expedient of putting an electric heater in the pipe that furnishes the compressed air for forming the spray. With the air heated in this way the varnish flows free'y through the ori fices of the air byush, and dries quick ly and smoothly. Plan a Lee Highway Now. A project which is being considered in the South and which is receiving considerable publicity is the Lee High way, which it is proposed will run par allel to the Lincoln highway, although south of the old Mason and Dixon line bisecting the two Virginias. Uncle Eben's Philosophy. "I kain't help beln" superstitious about Friday," said Uncle Eben, "but I reco'nize dat it ain't so much whut you does on Friday dat brings bad luck as whut you sidesteps on Friday an' five or six ether days a week."— Washington Star. Good Nature. When was you~g I used to say good-natured things and nobody lis tened to me. Now that I am old I say ill-natured things nnd everybody lis teria.—Samuel Rogers. SYRUP OF FIGS FOR It is-cruel to force nauseating, harsh physic into a sick child. ,. Eook back at your childhood day*. Remember the "dose" mother insisted on castor oil, calomel, cathartics. How you hated them, how you fought against taking them. With our children it's different Mothers* who cling to the old form of physic simply don't realize what they, do. The chUdren'a revolt Is well-found ed. Their tender little "insides" are injured by them. If your child's stomach, liver and bowels need cleansing, give only deli cious "California Syrup of Fig*." Its action is positive, but gentle. Millions ot mothers keep this harmless "fruit laxative" handy they know, children love to take it that it never tail* to clean the liver and bowels and sweet en the stomach, and that a teaspoonful given today saves a sick child tomor* row. Ask at the store for a 50-cent bottle of "California Syrup of Fig*," which has full directions for babies, children of all ages and for grown-up*: plainly on each bottle. Adv. SHE KICKED THE WRONG SHIN .. Captain'* Wif* Finally Understood Why Her Warning* Had Net Reached Her Husband. Summer had come, and the sea captain's wife was accompanying her husband across the ocean. And it chanced also that the owner's sister was making the. trip. She was a strong-minded woman, and the wife of the captain, knowing the argumenta tive nature of her husband, saw seri ous trouble ahead. Wherefore, she warned him that' when at meals, if she thought he was approaching dangerous ground, she would give him a polite reminder by kicking him on the shins. But, alas, her reminders passed un heeded, though her kicks grew harder and harder. And one day she .kicked more vigorously than ever. A shadow of pain passed across the face of the mate, who Bat opposite her. "Oh, Mr. Boddy," she said, "I'm so sSrry, but was that your shin?'' "Yes, Mrs. Brown," replied the mate meekly "It's been my shin all the voyage, ma'am!" CLEAR YOUR SKIN By Dally UB* of Cutlciira Soap and Ointment Trial Free. You may rely on these fragrant supercreamy emollients to care for your skin/scalp, hair and hands. Noth ing better to clear the skin of pimples, blotches, redness and roughneM, the scalp of dandruff and itching and the hands of chapping and soreness. Sample each free by mail with 32-p. Skin Book. Address postcard, Cuticura, Dept. Y.Boston. Sold every where. Adv. Lost Watch on Rhlne.-fe'.'^$ Harmon Ma cGregor, the American comedian, is-just back from Europe after a couple of years in that part of the-world, spent chiefly. in viewing eights mentioned in Baedeker. When he returned he brought .with him many things, but a very interesting souvenir was not one of them. The souvenir was a diamond-studded watch, present ed him by the members of the com pany. "There was one unfortunate Incident of my trip abroad," he remarked to Langdon McCormick. Mr. McCormick wanted to know. "I lofct my watch on the Rhine," he answered. TAKE SALTS TO FLUSH KIDNEYS IF BACK HURTS Saya Too Much Meat Forms Urle Acid Which Clog* the Kidney* and I rr it at est he Bladder. Most folks forget that the Kidney*, like the bowels, get sluggish and clog ged and need a flushing occasionally, else we have backache and dull misery in the kidney region, severe head aches, rheumatic twinges, torpid liver, acid stomach, sleeplessness and all sorts of bladder disorders. You simply must keep your kidneys active and iclean, and the moment you feel an ache or pain in the kidney region, get about four ounces of Jad Salts from any good .drug store here, take a tablespoonful in a glass of water before breakfast for a few day* and- your kidneys will then act fine. This famous Baits is, made from the acid of grapes and lemon Juice, com bined with llthla, and is harmless to flush clogged kidneys and stimulate them to normal activity. It also neu tralizes the acids in the urine so it no longer Irritates, thus ending blad der disorders. Jad Salts is harmless inexpensive makes a delightful effervescent llthla water drink which everybody should take now and then to keep their kid neys clean,- thus avoiding serious com plications. A well-known local druggist says he sells lots of Jad Salts to folks who be lieve in overcoming kidney trouble while it is only trouble.—Adv. "1 never Favorite Fiction. "pM ubo but seven tons of coal a winter in my furnace." "Since I have'been with these peo ple they have raised my salary four* times." "1 go to bed at ten o'clock just as regular as clockwork." "I always wash them out myself be cause the washerwoman loseB so many?" "I'll pay that bill next month, sure.", NO MORE GRAY HAIRS Restore Youthful Color. No One Will Know You're Using Anything. Physicians advise against harmful bairstains and dyes. But why use them when you can tiring back the natural, youthful color with Bay's Hair Health? This is accomplished by the action of air, due to an element con* tained in this fnmotw preparation. Absolutely harmless so poaltiiVin results that druggists will refund money If it falls. Keeps new gray hairs from showing. Routs dandruff tones svalp:malcestliehalrstronir,vigorousandbean tlful. 25c, 50c and $1.00 at drug stores or direct on receipt ofpricoaud deal cr'a name. Phuo Hmf, Specialties Co., Newark, N. J. Adr. The Official Publication. Knicker—What happens when you have a fight with your wife? Bocker—I have to get a white or yellow or pink checkbook to prove didn't start the war. Woman may not be able to keep your secret but she can generally keep her own.