Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-07-19

l SeSS
rather be with me too. How about
Rimmer, ehY'
Mr.. Driscoll sent quick but appre-
ciative glance at the Cherub. He in.
dorsed the Rimmer nomination.
"Then that's settled" observed the
Cherub. "You send for him In the
morning and put it up to him. ! fig-
ure that he'll be mighty glad to crawl
on the band wagon. Now for item
No. 2. Bet million you couldn't
guess what I've been doing"
stake too high" laughed Mr.. Dris-
coll. but think l could come near
guessing. You've been getting mar
ried."
"Z-z-z-ing. but that was close-I don't
Think" replied the Cherub. you're
within gunshot. though, Bob. And l
expect I might as well own up that
Id like to. but there's no hope. l
found the right girl. all right. and I'd
just told her about II, when who
should show up but hubby"
mot hers?"
Right! thought all along she was
widow. Every one thinks so. Hes
one of these cheap macaroni counts.
regular wife beaten. and their honey
moon didn't last more than a few
hours. She leaves him In Italy and
comes home. Then it's reported that
be has died in sanitarium-family
don't deny it. girl puts on black. and
all hands hope it will soon be so. But
he refuses to die and comes over here
to hold them up for cash. AS it hap
pens. the first person be runs across
Is me. Now. what do you suppose l
did to him?"
MIR. Driscol's eyes concentrated Sc
riously on the bland face of Cherub
Devine.
II hope he began.
"Oh. didn't hurt him. interrupted
the Cherub. Pm no hothead-never
struck man in my life-wouldn't
know how. But perhaps did worse.
| decoyed him to an icehouse and
locked him in there"
You what" Even the composure
Of Bob Driscoll was stirred by this
unique confession.
Something had to be done right
away. So Just jollied him along to
the icehouse. toIled him inside and shut
the door on him."
$50 you locked him up. did you?
Why didn't you let him make his de-
mand and then have him arrested on
charge Of blackmail?"
Couldn't. That would bring out the
whole story. See? She's been posing
as widow. That's her fathers work.
Think Of what the papers would make
of that! No. no! We don't want to 60
into court. and the count mustn't"
I'm afraid. Cherub. that he's right
when he calls you kidnaper. That
would be the technical charge. It's
rather a serious offense. too-felony.
you know"
''All right; I'm not squeamish. Look
up some good criminal lawyer. will
you, and have him let me know how
far | can go?"
"M-m-m-m-"- murmured Mr..
Driscoll through pursed lips. why
not soothe him with few hundred
dollar bills and let him outY'
That's where my fool pride comes
in. Bob Didn't know l had any. but
| guess I have. See here: can't buy
off the husband of the girl l-well. it
don't seem right. That would stick in
my crop"
But you can't imprison man in
definitely on your own hook, Cherub
Why. man. you would run the risk of
a long term Of imprisonment"
II suspected that Well. can stand
it If he can. And he gets his dose
first"
Mr.. Driscoll looked long and earnest.
~ at the Cherub. At last he suggest
ed. "You must be very fond Of the
young woman. Devine."
That's putting 1t mildly. Bob. and
she's worth it too. Why. say. she's
the finest. sweetest. cutest- But
there! I've got no right to talk like
that. It's all OF. There's that infer
nal count"
"Why hasn't she divorced him?"
against her principles. like her
all the better for 1t too. oh. she's
the genuine article. Bob: And I've got
to give her up. Honest. it's tough!'
For q moment or SO despair tried
to dim the cheerful CLEAN Of Cherub
Devine's blue eyes. Then. with a
shake of hi, shoulder. he threw 1t on.
But this isn't getting on. Bob. IL
I'm going to have dealings with this
Count vecchi. l want to know who he
is and all about him. Might stir up
something that would be useful. you
know"
Good idea," commented MIR. Dris-
coll.
Its the way like to do business.
Now. what connections have you with
any private information bureau on
the continent?"
There's rDeufstetters. In Vienna"
"Slower than creeping paralysis!
We'd get a report in about six months.
No: well try Jimmy McQuade. Used
to be one of the Record Herald boys
In Chicago. Now he's at the head Of
a newspaper syndicate in Paris. He's
got columns Of stuff out of me. And
he's the kind that will get move on.
I'll cable him tonight to look up this
count of mine and wire back full de-
tails. Eth? So long. Bob. I'll drop
In at your office about noon tomor-
row."
At midnight. from downtown de-
tective agency. four men started out
to guard the exits to Hewington Acres.
with orders to stop and hold slim
young man wearing frock coat and
a silk hat should he attempt to leave