Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-04-16

pose, to keep things running"
 Again Mir Driscoll smiled. He was quite used to Mir. Devine's breezy manner. He asked of MT. Devine what was up.
 "All kinds of things" responded the Cherub, dropping into red leather chair and extracting one of his black cigars from waistcoat pocket.
 Firstly" began the Cherub, you're the chief attorney for that blasted railroad I've just loaded up with, aren't youY
 MT. Driscoll nodded.
 Good! Now, as my private counsel I'd like to have you tell me if l can safely get rid of being president of 1t within the next twenty-four hours"
 Not tired of 1t so soon, are you"
 "Tired Why, say, Bob, there isn't work enough about a job of that kind 10 keep a man awake put in all one day trying to find things to do. By 10 o'clock I'd O. K.'d a basketful of gen. eral orders that 1 didn't know any. thing about. fired three fluffy haired typewriter girls and issued a dozen annual passes to my friends. Then my private secretary and sat around and looked at each other until lunch con time. l didn't show up again. No. no, Bob! It may be highly respectable and all that, but I've got to be where there's something doing. want to get back into the street."
 There's nothing to prevent you from resigning."
 Except putting in some one that'l worked. What do you say to old Rim mer?
 'Rimmer of Chicago?"
 Yep; the one we nipped on short holdings. Now. he hates me as the devil hates holy water. but he's hus. tier, and he knows the railroad game like book. He's down and out now. but he won't stay down, and when he gets up again I'd rather have him on my side than against me. Guess he'd rather be with me too. How about Rimmer, eh?'
 Mir. Driscoll sent quick but appre. ciative glance at the Cherub, He in- dorsed the Rlmmer 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 Mir. Dris. coll, but l think l could come near guessing. You've been getting mar ried."
 "Z-z-z-ing, but that was closet don't think" replied the Cherub. You're within gunshot, though. Bob. And expect might as well own up that I'd like to. but there's no hope. found the right girl, all right, and I'd just told her about it, when who should show up but hubby"
 Not hers?"
 Right! thought all along she was widow. Every one thinks so. He's 1 one of these cheap macaroni counts, regular wife beater. and their honey. moon didn't last more than few hours. She leaves him in Italy and comes home. Then it's reported that | he 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 he runs across | is me. Now, what do you suppose l did to him?"
 Mir. Driscoll's eyes concentrated SC. riously on the bland face of Cherub | Devine.
 '1 hope"- he began.
 "Oh, didn't hurt himr' interrupted | the Cherub. "I'm 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 whatr' 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, tolled him inside and shut the door on him."
 "So you locked him up. did you? Why didn't you let him make his de- mand and then have him arrested on a charge of blackmail"
 Couldn't. That would bring out the whole story. See2 She's been posing as widow. That's her fathers work. Think of what the papers would make of thatl No, no! We don't want to go 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 serious offense, too-felony. you know"
 "All right; I'm not squeamish. Look | up some good criminal lawyer will l you, and have him let me know how far 1 can goT'
 M-m-m-m-"- murmured MT. | Driscoll through pursed lips "Why | not soothe him with a few hundred | dollar bills and let him outT
 That's where my fool pride comes fin, Bob Didn't know 1 had any hut |