Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-05-05


Yet Cheruh Dcviue had come to ASSOC
ciatc tuat particular part of Long Is
land with all sorts of surprises.
1t appeared that this new arrival had
intended to see without beius seen,
but he had not been quite quick
enough. Without stopping to consider
Just why he was doing 1t Mr.. Devine
promptly joined In the gams Ivy step
ping into the shrubbery also.
The Cherub parted the Bushes cau-
tiously. lie discovered the stranger
doing the same thing. Twice the
Chcrub stole steolthily around bush.
sure Of having executed successful
dark movement on the unknown. only
% fad that he had disappeared like a
lash.
Taking off his straw hat. the Cnerub
balanced It carefully on the top OF
rhodOdrndron and began making IL
cautious detour. To walI IN n stoop-
need to I've in good condition. and Il
thirtv-cight waist measure doesn't
help The Cherub was already red of
face and breathing heavily when he
suddenly rounded little thtcket of
Stunted frs and found himself within
arms length of a slender. sallow faced
person. who was holding a silk hat b.
hind HIN and intenti.c gazing n the
crown Of n straw one which showed
above bush some twcnty yards
away.
Even a side view from behind WIS
enough to reveal the foreigner. for the
lot black mustache anti the little UNI
derllp tuft that cured over the chin
were distinctly of alien cut and trim.
We'll, what's the game
The stranger was an amazingly cool
sort. He merely turned quickly. meas
ured Mr.. Devine with one fash Of
keen brown eyes. lifted his brows OK
pressively and shrugged his shoulders
Now. perhaps you'll tell me what it
Is all about" asked the Cherub.
The strangers response to this was
politely impudent stare.
Il do not quite understand" he said,
with Just the slightest foreign accent.
''No?" drawlcd the Cherub mocking-
ly. Then there's two of us in the
dark. But perhaps we can clear mat
ers UP. | found you skulking in tho
,tshes. Now. Why"
"Eeg pardon. sir, but do not recog
nize your right to question me in that
manner"
"Whe-e-ew, What naughty little
nan it is" laughed the Chcrub. All
come down off the stepadder. 4 min
ute or two ago you were dodgin2
fruit stand. Now, what are you VI
tor
Il am attending to my own affairs
sir"
Then I'll help you" said the Cher
ub. for I'm a good deal interested il
this place and what is going on here"
Indeed" Again the stranger shrug
eed his shoulders. But don't know
you. sir"
Didn't act rs If you wanted to
either. But here's where we get ac
quainted. just the same My name.
bcN luc--SucI w OcN me.
Eth? What?" gaspcd the stranger
staring incredulously. "Why-er-a
thousand pardons. MI Devine; allow
me-" and he hastily brought ont Il
sardcase.
Luigi Salvatore Y Vecchi," read the
Cherub. with some hesitancy in pro
nOuncing the names. "Vecchi. eh? All
I see! Some relation Of the late
rount'si'
The stranger smiled indulgently
Il am known as Count Vecchi."
Had the Cherub been at all emo
tional lie would have gasped then. A,
It was, he nearly did. but seemed t,
eecover In time.
But but you're NOT the Count Vec
mi who-who married Miss Hcwing
Nn:"
The cigarette was waved toward tn,
hin OF his silk hat.
~ have that honor"
1t was the Cherub's turn 70 stare in
,redulously
See here" lie said protestingly
either you're Il dead count or liv.
dar, ana ! guess the last description
lis best. Come, come! You've sprun
That bluff Oh the wrong person.
happen to know that the real Coun
Vecchi has been dead for a couple O
ears"
81 cnn only quote the words OF you
hDp,nriCt tbnt 'tNn rpnOrt
pf my death have been greatly eAai
rerated,' Here am. you see
The Cherub noted that the leatht
cardcRse which the stranger still hel
IN his hand bore a silver crest simila
to the one he had noticed on he wri
,nc paper OF the Countess Necchi.
yes. | see he admitted withol
enthusiasm "All a mistake, was il
And you've come over to give IL
countess a pleasant little surprise. eh!
Il hardly think the countess will /
surprised" and the count lifted h
black eyebrows mcaningy.
Instantly the situation cleared Il
lie Chefub. So that WAS what she ha
meant by her mysterious protestst
"Oh. ho! Then she knew All nlor
that--that-- Oh. come, DO YOU thin
can swallow that? Why. say, 20
blamed bush dodgcr, do you expect n
TO believe she would deliberately tC
me-
"Ah but that's just the point
broke In the count. Did she:"
And when he came to think 1t ov
the Cherub could not recall that Il
('ouptaca knrchi had oyqr sniI or In