The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-04-29
Cher1u.b' :. !.
Deviine
BY SEWELL FORD
Copyright. 1909. by Mitchell KennerIey


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 fluttering 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
chump" screamed the Disguised Tim
Minis. IVY don't you tyke after
linz"
Thus eXhorted, the butler did break
into stiff trot, which was so patiently
Ineffective that Timmins might have
laughed had the occasion been less
serious. AS it was. he only gasped out
an exclamation of disapproval. threw
the calf's 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-tirst a man
swinging a silk hat in, his right hand
and painting as he ran; next, Tim
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 a 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 a
livelier gait?
The race between Timmins and his
elusive prisoner was progressing very
prettily. They We're keeping to the
driveway now, and the smooth macad-
am offered fine footing. At once there
came to the ears of all concerned the
sharp. imperious honk-honk of an au-
tomobile horn.
The next instant big red car whirl-
ed i'm through the gates and at sight
of the advancing procession in the
roadway was brought TO a sudden
stop. From the back seat Of the ton
neau stepped forth Cherub Devine. 1t
was the most dramatic and oppOrtune
entrance he had ever made In all his
career.
The painting fugitive halted, stared
apprehensively at the Cherub, then
cast a hurried look over bis shoulder
at Timmins. Quickly he made his
choice. Turning like a fash, he dodg-
and he had circled around Mrs. rim
Minis.
Perhaps he would have been dou-
bling and lodging yet had there not
occurred diversion The calf in its
excitement had begun running in a
circle and had wound Mr. Hewington
up with the rope so that he could
move neither hands nor feet. Mr..
Hewington was loudly calling for Ep-
pings.
Just then, however it was Eppings'
turn 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 for assistance distracted
his attention from the game. Years
of training showed there. Eppings
abandoned his post and started for his
master. A yell of rage from Timmins
reached his ears. Eppings saw the
a second he hesitated Then, unlim-
bering 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 a cloud Of dust,
Sopeoi anu CdptlNt CduHc desperately
to earth.
As such things go it was rather a
stirring finish-for it was all over.
AS fine tackle as I ever saw
made" declared the Cherub. "Ep-
pings, you're Il winner. But how did
1T all happen? How did he get out?"
The Countess Vecchi, who, with the
help of Mrs. Timmins, had separated
A1r. 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 a suspicion
of sarcasm in her tone 1T was who
released this gentleman from the ice
house. Timmins, will you please step
one side?"
But, miss, 'e's such a..
"Timmins! reproved the countess.
s."You want to let him go, do you,
countess?' queried the Cherub.
Il do
scoOt," and Cherub Devine
pointed chubby. thumb over his
shoulder.
HThanks," said the ex-prisoner, and,
with faint grimace in the very face
iufjthe batfied Timmins, he started off.
Not until he had disappeared around
the first curve of the driveway was a
word spoken. Then Cherub Devine.
who had been regarding the averted
face of the countess with a whimsical!
H. l. H.. IL. II.
~ suppose" he began, you wonder