Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-04-29


dows he had watched the night before
The closed shutters revealed nothing.
Finding bench under Il tree, he sat
down and began to wonder how long
it would lie before he might call for
his breakfast without seeming unsea.
sonable lie was aroused by Il crunch
crunch of footsteps on the gravel
Some one was walking down one OF
the intersecting paths.
During the brief instant that he
stared he had glimpse of slender
big eyed young woman whose hair
hung in n thick. dark braid over one
shoulder Across the hollow of her
left arm was a sheaf Of freshly cut
flowers. IN her right hand a pair OF
shears. And then she saw him.
''Ohw
Down fell the roses. The shears
clattered on the stones.
By the time he could scramble to his
feet she had gathered up her flowers
and the shears. She stood quite still
eying him with apprehenslve expecta
ton.
"Eh?" said the Cherub.
I'll said nothing" replied the young
woman.
"But you squealed. didn't your
Possibly"
"Well, l was scared out Of a years
growth. Next time you feel like squeal
ing you might send me word, SO l can
brace myself. Live here. do your"
"Why-er-that is-not exactly"
Neither do !, thank the Lord!
tust own the place. But don't mind
me. Go ahead with your posy pick
ing"
"You-you don't object to-
Great Scott. no! Cut 'em all If you
Ike"
On'y after she was out Of sight did
Mr.. Devine realize that here was an
other person whose presence at Hew.
ington Acres was not fully accounted
for. She could not be one Of the
servants. He was sure Of that. But
when you find person about the
ly quite at home. and they reply when
asked If they live there. Not exact
ly." what is one to infer? She couldn't
be guest. Who was there for her
to visit: Nor boarder.
strikes NE ought to take a cen
sus." commented the Cherub.
Going back to the house. he rang a
bell until Eppings appeared. heavy
eyed and lugubrious.
Breakfast ready YETI"
breakfast. sir! It's rather early.
sir. but
early. It's the middle Of the fore
noon. Go stir things up In the kltch-
en-"
AS Eppings departed the hall clock
chimed Z. The Cherub grinned. He
had not breakfasted ut for years. In
less than an hour. though. breakfast
WAS IN accomplished fact. and Mr..
Devine. now sOothed by one Of his
black cigars. Set out for more ex-
tended tour Of the grounds. He dis
covered the path leading to the sound
and had spent some time on the porch
Of the boathOuse watching the steam
erS aud coasting vessels crawl past
when Timmins came down. evidently
In search Of him.
Maybe ! didn't mention last night
SIR" began Timmins suavely, ANY.
thing about the Uewingtonsy'
II guess you didn't. Timmins."
"The fact Is. sir. they haven't gone"
Haven't gone! Why. where are
theyi"
Back ut the house. sir. It's all on
account Of the old lady. sir, Mr.. Hew.
ington's sister. who has took so bad
she couldn't be moved. Perhaps r.
Its all right. There's Mr.. Hewing.
ton and bis sick sister. is there? That
all?"
And the Countess vecchl. SIR"
"The which," Mr.. Devine grabbed
the cigar from between his teeth and
turned quickly on Timmins.
1.-The Countess Vecchi, sir. US stayed
to look after the aunt The countess Is
the married daughter. SIR. The counts
been dead two years. sir. and"-here
Timmins coughed apOlogetically be-
hind his hand-"the Hewingtons want
precisely sorry to lose him."
mot bowling success, ehY
Hardly. sir. The countess left him
two hours after the wedding"
"She must be n hummer" observed
n y uv.A .x~1~~
''Countesses are hardly in my line.
Guess you can hook up pretty soou
and drive me back to the station.
don't want to disturb the old lady,"
Lord. sir. you won't see any OF
them! No sooner did they hear you
were coming than they moved into the
top floor Of the east wing. and there
they've shut themselves up like the
house was Guaranteed. Besides. sir
there isn't another express you could
get to the city until the 1898 tonight
"Oh. well. there's plenty Of time
then! Perhaps you'll he able to dig up
some more reports before night"
Mr. Devine was thinking Of the
young person he had seen In the gar
den. 1t didn't matter who she was, of
course. but 1t might be interesting to
know.
The day passed. however, without
further discoveries. although at any
moment the Cherub was prepared to
find himself confronted either by MIR.
HewingtOn or the countess or the
young woman Of the roses or some
wholly unknown person.
He had seated himself for another
solitary and stately meal when u bell
rang somewhere. and Eppings excused
himself to answer 1t. Then ensued out
In the reception hall whispered con-
versation, part Of which Mr.. Devine
could hardly avoid hearing, although
he was certain 1t was not intended for
his ears.
lis that-that dreadful man in
thereY' asked a voice.
Eppings reappeared to announce i'm.
pressively, THE Countess vecchi, sir"
"Oh, the devilT' Mr.. Devine grab.
bed his napkin end from between the