The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-04-16
CHERUB DEViNE


say that Mr.. Devine has some one
locked up in one of our buildin gs?'
Mr.. Hewington could only take ref
uge behind his dignity.
That is quite sufficient, my dear
We will not discuss Mr.. Devine and
his peculiar doings any further, il you
please. The subject Is one upon which
I do not care to dwell just now. l
must 60 to my desk. Good night"
1t is hardly fair, though, to specu-
late as to the innermost thoughts Of
the Countess Vecchi at that trying
moment. We know that she was rath-
er a nice young woman, very good to
look at and more or less entertaining
as companion. Suppose she did mar
row her eyelids and bite to . ripper
redness her gracefully curved under
lip. We may even admit that she
crushed the meshes of the silver girdle
until there were red marks on her
white palm. She was no pallid COM
pendulum Of all the feminine virtues.
She was a young person of high spir-
it's and ready passions. And she could
not wholly forget those STOKES about
La Belle Savoie and the dinner to
chorus girls. Throwing a lace affair
over her head and shoulders, she slip
ped quietly out through the big en-
trance hall to the wide veranda and
down one Of the paths leading toward
the sound. It was after O'clock and
quite dark, as the old moon was now
rising late, but she knew exactly where
she was going.
She saw something which made her
lean forward and strain her eyes with
intent interest. From one Of the
smallest buildings, low stone struc-
ture. which she judged must be the
1cehouse, issued a CHEEKY beam of
light. Some one was standing in the
half opened doorway. Only for an in
slant did this spectacle remain visible
Then the door was shut with 4 bang.
and the yellow ray disappeared. A
moment later the countess thought
she could distinguish a man making
his way across the lawn toward the
servants wing of the house.
Now, all this seemed very singular
to the Countess Vecchi So, keeping
the figure of the man in sight, she be
gan to walk parallel with him IN order
to see where he was going. When she
| saw he was making directly for the
side door Of the south wing she grasp
| ed her skirts firmly and started tC
| run, and she overlook him.
"Why, Timmins. Is it your
| Obviously it was. On one hand he
balanced a tray; in the other he car
w. lob cl,,h
"Lor', miss, what start you gave
mer said he.
| Did L? I'm sure I didn't intend tt
frighten you, Timmins. But l saw
you coming, and there was something
I wanted to ask you. What is it yol
have there, Timmins?"
| "Why, miss, I've been a-givin' thu
( puppies their supper"
| Eyes, l know. But I thought you
usually carried their food in a pail
What have they had tonight" Ant
before Timmins could protest she ha(
lifted the linen cover which had beer
thrown over the tray. A variety O.
dishes stood revealed.
| "Why, Timmins, surely the coacl
| puppies do not eat French choDs!"
He was ready witted, was Timmins.
"LOr, no, miss, not as a genera
thing. But this is a special occasion
you know, a very particular occasion
MISS"
Indeed! And what very particular
special occasion might this be to cal
for French chopsT
"Why. don't you remember-fou
months ago tonight? Course it's bi
of foolishness, but Mrs. Timmin
would have it that way. Puppies "a
Birthdays says she, just the same -
But puppies don't eat baked pota
toes, even on birthday anniversaries
do they, Timmins?"
Baked potatoes! Do they? Why
miss, they just loves 'em, so they do"
! jam, Timmins?"
Its bit wonderful, miss, but then
puppies has the most educated appe
tites of any coach puppies ever see.'
No doubt the countess should hav
resented each barefaced deception
She did make a weak attempt at
frown, but it turned into a smile an
then a ripping laugh, in which Tim
minis joined genuinely.
And the Countess Vecchi tripped OF
into the darkness toward the from
door.
She had heard and seen enough t
convince her that at least part of wha
she had gathered from her fathers III
timatiOns was correct. Some one wa
being kept as a prisoner about tn
, place. That some one was shut up i
the icehouse. 1t was useless to as
questions Her father would refus
to answer, and the replies of 'Iimmin
SO early the next morning. befor
any one else on Hewington Acres ha
even reused and turned over for
sunrise nap, the Countess Veccl
stole quietly downstairs. let herse
cut of the front windows and wake
determinedly in the direction of til
icehouse.
Meanwhile Cherub Devine Lad hui
ried back to town and sought out ths
distinguished champion Of til right
and privileges Of such corpora tons a
can afford to pay liberal fees. NJ
Robert Jaynes Driscoll.
Your average client would lot hav
attempted to find Mr.. Driscol at tbs
hour in the evening or, havirs foun
him, would hardly have e1pe ted hi
hours. But Cherub Devine nevs