Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-06-17
: Cherub
~
I)eVine
~ By
K SEWELL FORD
& $3.50 Il Copyright. by Mitchell Kennerley 81
-s Copyright 1905 by Mitchell Kennerley 81

he paced M ard down the reception
hail Mr.. Hevine was shown into the
library with rs much formality as if
this was his ..rSt ,i.!t Nor was the
attitude of Mr. IIcwington as he re-
ccived the Cherub ut all reassuring.
1--WE been looking up that count Of
yours" remarked the Cherub. Hes
been defunct for nearly two years. !
had man investigate the records. and
it's all O. X"
Impossible. Mr.. Devine. Why-why
Il have been in communication with
him"
THAT was your mistake. You've
been in communication with a smooth
young chap who couldn't resist the
chance to play a new bunko game for
all it was worth. How were the let
tiers signed which came from the count
after he was sent to that sanitarium"
'By his secretary. l believe. Per
f. c. That was it."
"Sure. And the F. C. stood for
Francois Cunetto. I've had a heart to
heart talk with Francois and got his
whole history. AS you might guess
by his name. he's half French and
half Italian, which Is not a bad COM
bination. There was good blood on
both sides. but no money on either.
so that's why he didn't finish the med
ical course that he came over here to
take. When his funds ran out he goes
back to Italy. drifts up into Switzer-
land and gets job as assistant house
doctor in this sanitarium where they
were trying to cure Count Vecchi Of
seeing pink whiskered tadpOles and
other variegated fauna"
Really. now, Mr.. Devine!" protested
Mr.. Hewington.
"Why shy so at the facts?" asked
the Cherub. Count or no count. that
was his complaint. Why. his nerves
were in such shape he couldn't even
sign his name to letter. And that's
where young DIR. Cunetto was let in.
When the counts remittance from you
was overdue he dictates n letter to
Francois. He gets him to cash your
check. too. and Francois learns the
whole story about the runaway count
ess and her rich father. Then the
count dies. a delayed check comes
in. and tile doctor is tempted to see
that the money isn't wasted: also he
observes thar the passing of the count
Is kept quiet. II occurs to him that You
hadn't been notified Of the sad event
That being the case. he sees no reason
why the remittances shouldn't con-
tinue. SO he keeps you posted on the
dates when they're due. See how II
works out:'
why. the srOundrpl.' exclaimed
Mr.. HewiEgton. 1--WE been swindled.
I shall write to him ut once and
NO nred. to write. He's over here.
He's coming 10 cali Oh you this after
noon."
",rhe impudrnt rascal: Why. IL
shall have him appreheuded.:"
Il hope not" said the Cherub mild
ly. That would ccmpIicate things
We didn't treat him very we'll the
last time lie waS here"
THE last time!" echoed Mr.. Hew-
ington.
Yes. lie was the chap we had
shut up III the icehouse. you know.
He was scouting around To see what
style you lived In before be played his
cards."
''The unpriucipled wretch
lie isn't TX honest as he might be.
but then circumstances have been
against him."
Il shall refuse to hear word from
him. slrr' declared Mr.. IIewington.
Nov. that's too bad. Hes coming
to refund tho amount he tricked voy
out Of. You see. I've taken MIN on
my private stan and advanced him
six months pay. SO he could start
square. Isn't that better than getting
into legal snarl with him. chr
But ] fail to understand. Mr.. De-
vine. What Is your motive In doing
this:"
1T has something to do with the
countess" he confessed.
THE countess: Pray. Mr.. Devine.
| kindly leave my daughter out Of this
| discussion
Not much declared the Cherub
SAY. you might just as we'll get used
20 1t now as later. think a whole
lot Of your daughter. Mr. Hewington."
Indeed. sir. Your impu.!cncc is as
founding. trust that y,aI are not SO
presumptuous rs to suppose that your
-er-your regard is In any measure
returnedY'
THAT just describes the case. Mr..
Hewington. At least did have some
such idea until this fool Francois mud
died things up for me. Do you know
what he told the countessY'
Il am not interested. SIR"
Just the same. and want you to let
aim tell his revised story to the count
IS. Why. see here, she thinks
locked that chap up because I was in
terested IN his wife. Says be didn't
mean to tell any such yarn. but he
was posing as the count, and she
couldn't see him. and it just naturally
slipped out Nice position to put me
in, wasn't it?"
But Mr.. Hewington shook his head
mulishly.
But. great Scott" protested the
Cherub. "he meant that / was In
love with the countess. He'd guessed
that much. And. say. he guessed right
I've been in love with her ever since
the first minute saw her, and it's
getting worse every hour. l don't
know just how 1t is with her. She's
never had a fair chance to say vet,
but now that I've found out that count
OF yours is out of the way ! mean to
ask her once more II SIZE thinks I'll
do"
well, Cherub. why don't yoU?"
From behind a tall revolving book
case which hid from view a corner of
the library appeared the Countess vec-
chi. flushed and smiling.
adele" came from Mr.. Hewington.
I've been listening. you see," she
confessed. II couldn't help 1t. came
In to find father. and heard you tell
to- Ixs.