Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-04-12

hbioiy "oitiiS iVt W " accident or design, it proved to be very effective pose, for the slender grace. fulness of her dark robed figure came out in strong relief against the dull green window hangings. and the mel low afternoon light showed the hint of color in the long oval of her cheek.
 "Yes, Nicholas has told me, Mir. De vine-told me all about everything. h fact, he made quite full confession"
 Decidedly this was not cordial opening Her tone was cool, almost cynical Something was wrong.
 "l hope Nick didn't overdo the thing countess Did hep
 I'm sure 1 don't know, MT. Devine That all depends upon how much you intended him to say ?"
 Well. he told you about how handy those shares came imp
 "Yes."
 "And the price he got for them and how l wanted you to buy back the house?"
 "All of those things Nicholas ex plained fully"
 And it's all right, isn't 1t? Any hitch over details?" The countess walked to a table and picked up long document envelope.
 ''I merely wish to understand clearly your proposals" she was saying, You sent Mir. Walloway here to offer me fhfo ahnply nd annnrfnnftu tn hfIu back Hewington Acres for the price you paid. Is that correctT
 That's O. K. countess"
 "Also you confided to Mir. Walloway that you were-that you entertained certain sentiments of regard for me You called it love, l believe"
 "EhT ejaculated the astonished Cherub. Say, Nick didn't give me away like that, did he? Honest, he wasn't chump enough to let on that said"-
 '"To be made the topic of such an in timate disclosure and by person whom l have known for such a short time under such peculiar conditions you can fancy perhaps that I'd rather not dwell on it."
 Great Scott, yes" groaned the Cherub, beginning to wipe bis fore head. But give me show here countess. I'm trying to think how came to do the sieve act. Oh, l must have done it, all right. but howl
 ''I'm afraid l can't share your inter est in that problem. Let us not go into 1t any deeper, if you. please. You told Mir. Walloway, and them
 "Ah, l remember. He wished me luck. Wasn't that nice of him when"-
 "When what" spurred on the countess
 "Why, when-when he was in the same boat"
 "So Mir. Walloway exchanged conf dences, did he? Delightful"
 "No, no! Nick didn't say word. found 1t out by accident Saw your picture in his locket, you know, and I'd heard about how he and you used to-
 Really! I'm glad that there was some reserve in that discussion. Was it held on a street corner or in hotel lobby orr
 "Train!" groaned the Cherub.
 "Ah" said the countess. The other passengers must have been entertain ed. Did any of them offer advicer
 The Cherub sank into chair.
 "That's right" he observed. "Keep it SD. l deserve it."
 "Remorse," commented the countess, ''is always touching, but 1t arrives so late fin the day. am curious on only one point. Having made your comics sion to Mr. Walloway and having learned of his-well, his attitude to. ward me-what prompted you to send him here?"
 "Why. thought Nick ought to have his chance"
 "You-you thought The Countess Vecchi appeared to grasp his meaning but slowly. Her brown eyes no longer resembled any kind of fireworks. They regarded him with wide wonder.
 You sec" continued the Cherub earnestly, "he's so much bearer your kind of chaplin your class and all that-and l didn't know how you two stood, you know. Why, it didn't look just right for me to butt in before well, before you and Nick had show to make 1t up if you wanted to. That's all. It was only right"
 The silence which had followed his explanation lasted for several mo- ments, and when the Countess Vecchi again spoke the>clear cut sharpness of her tone was somewhat softened T understand. 1 believe l have been told by some one that you had code of honor that was all your own. Well, have you heard what use MT. Wallo. way made of his opportunity"
 ''l had him call me up last night. couldn't ask him right out, you know, | but
 More delicacy! murmured the | countess.