Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-08

"oH, YOU'RE BEING D~RENCHEDp SAID q
but I'm tired now and wet and Oh.
l wish l hadn't come at all; l wish |
hadn't"
There. therey' said the Cherub. pat.
ting her shoulder. Don't you worry.
I'll go and rou u some one. I'll get
a team to take US back"
mo, no. | don't want to stay here
alone. Please don't leave me here
alone. Mr.. Devine.' She grasped his
hand and chung to 1t tightly.
"All right. all right. | won't leave
you. Well go together and find some
one. See; II isn't raining nearly So
hard as 1t was. | think the shower
u be almost over Shall we starr
nowg"
The countess was quite ready. There
vas a livery stable just across from,
the station. she said. Fortunatel,
they found a night hostler doing H.
the office. 1t was with difficulty. how
ever. that he could be induced to har
ness a pair of horses. His chief de
sire seemed to be to gaze at the drip
ping clothes of Mr.. Devine.
The drive back to Hewington Acres
was silent and %uneventful. AS they
neared the house they saw that it was
brightly illuminated. Out through the
open front doors sfreamed a broad
pathway of light across which figures
We're moving. One Of these was Mr..
Hewington.
"Adele!" he exclaimed, with much
dramatic fervor as he saw the count.
ess and stretched out his arms to re-
ceive her. She went to him and
promptly began to sob on his shout
der.
Next appeared the soggily clothed
Cherub with the suit case. "Whewr"
he exclaimed. throwing down the bag
Then, turning to the gaping butler.
'Eppings, see If you can find me a
dry cigar and a match"
"Mr. Devlne, what does this mean.
sir?" Numbered Mr.. Hewington. u
demand an explanation"
"Well. what do you want me to ex-
plain-that the rain is wet?" returned
the Cherub.
"This is no time for levity, sir
Adele. please go upstairs" Mr.. Hew
ington strobe toward Mr.. Devine
threateningly.
81 want you to explain your astound-
ing conduct. sir" repeated Mr.. Hew-
ington.
Father, fatherw pleaded the count.
ess. ''Pll tell you all about it."
"Silence. Adele! Go to your room. !
will deal with this Mr.. Devine."
Nov. don't you be in a hurry. Mr.
Hewington. and Wen clear this little
mystery in no time" said the Cherub
Little mystery. sir!" The tall fig
ure of Mr.. Hewington stiffened with
anger. "What do you mean. sir? |
wake up in the middle of the night to
discover that my daughter has fed. |
Jus Eppings to learn that he left
you at II o'clock waiting for her in the
library. l find the window open. |
discover that you are both gone. And
now. at this hour in the morning, you
come back in a public carriage. You
are a wretch. Mr.. Devine, a scheming.
villainous''-
stop, father. stopl This is too alb
surd." The Countess Vecchi had step
ped between the two men. st was all
my fault. l was running away, and
Mr.. Devine tried to stop me, and when
I wouldn't be stopped he went with
me and carried the bag. Then it rain
ed, and he got wet. He is splendid.
splendid, and he is very wet"
'Sure, he is wet" assented Mrs
Timmins solemnly.
IN a dazed manner Mr.. Hewington
inspected once more the obviously
damp condition of Mr.. Devine's raj
ment.
Eyes, yes. Adele. l suppose it is all
right. but it is not yet clear in my
mind"
The Cherub was not inclined to con-
tinue the dialogue. "Oh. Wen straight
en- that all out In the morning. Mr..
Hewington."
A moment later the chimes of a
French clock announced the hour of g..
Three o'clock!' exclaimed the Cher
ub. Il don't believe you'll catch that
7:30 train. will you. countess?"
She had started up the stairs. but
she turned TO smile and shake her
head. 1t was a friendly smile.
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