Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-06-10
-, ,lfinr toward him at top speeu.

Minis wanted somebody stopped, and
stopped he should be. With surpris-
Ing agility she got her huge bulk In
motion and moved imposingly and at
right angles upon the refugee. AS
she did this Timmins. dragging the
calf and followed by Mr.. Hewington.
closed In on the other side. But the
bessie was tired of the game or else he
was winded. He no longer bounded
merrily upon his wabbly legs. now
ahead, now just behind Timmins. He
stuck his forefeet straight out and
sawed balkily at the lead rope.
This left a gap of some ten yards In
the line of offense, and through it the
hunted man bolted bravely. the tails
Of his frock coat fiuttering haunting
salute as he spurted toward freedom.
The sedate Eppings was just in time
to view the escape with open mouth
and staring eyes.
"Tyke after i'm, you blooming
chumpw screamed the disguised Tim
Minis. IVY don't you tyke after
im?"
Thus exhorted, the butler did break
into a stiff trot. which was so patiently
ineffective that Timmins might have
laughed had the occasion been less
serious. As 1t was, he only gasped out
an exclamation Of disapproval. threw
the Calls lead rope to Mr.. Hewington,
with the suggestion. Here. you old
I'm, governor" and darted after his
prisoner.
Do you wonder. then. at the amaze
/ ment Of the Countess Vecchi when
into the calm of the sunset hour burst
this animated procession-frst. a man
swinging Il L hat in his right hand
and painting as he ran: next. Tim
MINIS his elbows close to his sides
and his jaw thrust out In approved
Marathon style; third. Mrs. Timmins.
very red Of face and her ample chest
billowing up and down like stormy
sea. but getting over the ground quite
rapidly; fourth. Eppings. his solemn
eyes almost popping out Of his head.
and at the rear her father. vainly try
ing to urge the reluctant calf into q
livelier gait?
The race between Timmins and his
elusive prisoner was progressing very
PRETTY. They were keeping to the
driveway now. and the smooth macad-
am offered fire footing. At once there
came to the ears of all concerned the
sharp. imperious hork-honk Of an au-
tomobile horn.
The next instant big red car whirl-
ed in through TIE gates and at sight
Of the advancing procession in the
roadway was brought to n sudden
stop. From the lack seat of the tom
neau stepped forth Cherub Devine. 1t
was the most dramatic and opportune
entrance liz had ever made in all his
career
The painting fugitive halted. stared
apprehensively at the Cherub, then
cast Il hurried lcck over his shoulder
at TimUins. Quickly he made his
choice Turin like flash lie dcdg-
ell Timnirs neatly. Another moment
and be had circled around Mrs. Tim.
MUS.
Perhaps he would have been dou-
bling and lodging yet had there not
occurred Il diversion The calf in its
excitement had begun running in a
circle AID had wound Mr.. IiewingtOn
: up with the rape so that he could
move neither hands nor feet Mr..
Hewington was loudly calling for Ep-
pings.
: just then. however. II was Eppings'
turl to try stopping the prisoner He
was already jumping from one side of
the road to the other In order to con-
fuse the enemy when Mr.. Hewing-
tons cries FOX assistance distracted
his attention from the game Years
Of training showed there. Eppings
! abandoned his post and started for his
master. \ yell Of rage from Timmins
Z reached his ears. Eppings saw the
. fugitive about to speed past him. For
!: u second he hesitateI. Then. unlim-
beling his long legs and throwing dis
erection to the winds. he hurled him
self headlOng across the road wrap
ped his long arms midway about the
frock coat. and. amid cloud of dust.
I captor and captive came desperately
3 to earth.
I AS such things 60 1t was rather q
I stirring finish-for 1t was all over.
p las fine a tackle as ever saw
made" declared the Cherub. "Ep-
g pings. you're a winner. But how did
$ 1t all happen? How did he get outY"
q The Countess Vecchi, who, with the
! help Of Mrs. Timmins, had separated
5 Mr.. HewingtOn from the calf, came
( up just In time to hear this question
asked.
Il think can best answer Mr., De-
vine," said she, with just suspicion
, of sarcasm in her tone. ut was l who
, released this gentleman from the Ice
house. Timmins, will you please step
one side?'
But, miss, 'e's such az
"Timmins" reproved the countess.
+ you want to let him 60, do you,
countessY queried the Cherub.
II do"
Then scoot," and Cherub Devine
pointed a chubby thumb over his
, shoulder.
Thanks" said the ex-prisOner, and,
with faint grimace in the very face
ct the bafiied Timmins, he started OF.
Not until he had disappeared around
the first curve Of the driveway was O.
word spoken. Then Cherub Devine,
who had been regarding the averted
face Of the countess with a whimsical
look in his blue eyes. broke the spell.
Il suppose" he began. you wonder
why we had him shut up in'-
Il understand perfectly" said the
countess. HE told me all about 1t
himself"
"Oh, then you had talk with him,
Ell"
Il did" The countess was looking
steadily at him, and she paused as II
to invite criticism Of her action.
The Cherub shrugged his shoulders.
He was beginning to realize that some
thing more than the mere escape Of
this C0uuf VonnIt hod <,<,os, rro<y