Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-15

81 believe you." she whispered. "Oh.
I do believe In you. But l want you
to go. Go this time. to please me-
Honest? Are you sure you want
me to go?" He gripped his hands
tightly at his side as he looked at her
"Yes, yes! Go. and-and smash
them" The fighting spirit of all the
old Continental Hewingtons must
have blazed up and burned anew In
her brown eyes. Don't let them beat
you. Smash them hardr' She made
a gesture with her soft. white hands
to illustrate what she wished him to
do. The Cherub smiled.
But you will not run away while
I am gone. will your he demanded.
perhaps Motif you smash them
hard enough. Hurry, He is start
mgr
She whirled him about by the Shout
ders and pushed him toward the door.
Hold on. Nick. I'm comingr' shout
ed the Cherub.
The countess ran down the steps
and tossed a package to him.
81 almost forgot" she said breath
lessly. Il wanted to ask you to sell
those for LIE. They're some stocks
or bonds or something. and I want
hem sold. That's ALL"
The inner works of the vehicle be-
gan to whir violently. the big car
leaped forward. and a moment later
the Countess Vecchi could see only a
little cloud of dust that showed
through the trees lining the road to
the village.
1t remained for a train boy to dis
close just how the public viewed the
crisis in Mr.. Devine's affairs. Half
way to the city the boy came aboard
with the early afternoon editions
From the headlines it was evident
that the disturbance in Wall street
had become a popular topic. the sensa-
ton of the hour.
One enterprising Journal INDUCED In
a half page cartoon. which was sup.
posed to represent the situation. 1t
was entitled "Plucking a Cherub.' A
scandalous caricature of Mr.. Devine
it was. showing him most inadequate
ly clothed. but possessed of a pair of
wings from which a group of bad
boys were g~leefully pulling what few
feathers remained, while the victim
rubbed his fists into tear leaking eyes
and made no attempt at defense.
'Oh. my. myv' and Mr.. Devine rock
ed mirthfully over the cartoon.
ut would be funnier If 1t wasn't so
ID near the TRUTH growled Wal
loway. 'Of course | don't know just
how deep you've plunged on this p.
q. and N. deal. but | gathered that
you'd gone in rather Steep"
"Yes." admitted the Cherub more
soberly. ~ have. In fact, it's the big
gest thing | ever tackled"
Nick Walloway gazed at him incred
ulously. And right in the middle of
it you take a day off to feed the swans
at Hewington Acres!'
"Td take a year off If it was neces-
sary."
Young Mr.. Walloway paled a little.
"Devine." he began b2sitatingly, its
--lt,s- he aesaa- fcs, isn't if?9
The pink in the Cherub's chubby
cheeks flashed up behind his ears.
1.-THE countess!' he exclaimed
"Why. she's way out Of my class.
Nick! oh. she's about a hundred per
cent too good for me-aristocratic, re
fined. old family and all that. Why.
she wouldn't look at me. Nickl You
know she wouldn't"
II know hat you've been looking at
her and-and"- Something was in
terfering with the speech of young Mr.
Walloway. However. he mastered the
difficulty. Suddenly reaching out, he
grasped the Cherub's right hand and
gave 1t a crushing grip. IL wish
you luck. old man.
Perhaps Mr.. Devine was a little sur
prised by this unexpected display OF
emotion from the usually reserved
young man. If he was he brushed ii
aside.
Luck nothing, Nick! Much obliged
for your good wishes. my boy, but !
haven't the ghost of a show. Now. If
l was a chap like you there'd be some
hope for me. Say. Nick. l wonder you
never took a.
beg pardon, Devine. but let's stick
to the point. l should not presume to
intrude my advice on personal mat
tiers, but If l were you would drop
p, q. and N. until you car give your
whole time and thought to the bust
ness. Why don't you pull out?"
The Cherub ceased to stare dreamily.
Nick" he said abruptly, "I1l tell you
something. I've changed my plans.
Pm going to do something besides
speculate in that stock. Pm going to
buy that road. and I've got to get
control before next Friday noon"
"Cherub. you're crazy! It's impossi-
BILE! Why, the Bates-Rimmer crowd
scooped in two-ifths of the stock yes.
terday. so they say. You know what
hat means-they'll wreck it, wiring 1t
dry. The small outside holders have
been tumbling over each other to un-