Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-09

lar bills at them. Why, Cherub, P, z.
and n. opened at 1895 this morning.
AS soon as found you hadn't shown
up I started for you. I had my car
meet me at the station, and it's outside
now. We can just make the 1880
back, and perhaps youth be in time to
stop them before it's all over. Come
/ on: let's start"
Sorry, Nick. but 1 couldn't think of
it. I'm taking holiday, you see.''
What! Do you mean to say that
you're not coming?" Mr.. Walloway
gazed doubtingly at the Cherub.
/ Not today, Nick
"Oh, I say, Cherub. don't be an
He checked himself with swift glance
at the countess, ' hose brown eyes in
stantly sought the cobwebby stuff In
her lap. Don't be foolish" he con-
tinued. 'I haven't told you all-the
worst, you know"
"Weil. you can tell me all about it
tomorrow, Nick"
Tomorrow Great Scott, man, you
don't understand They mean to I'm
ish the job today. Tomorrow might
as well be next year. Why, you've
barely a fighting chance left now, and
1 don't know that you have that. The
street is wild with it"
81 guess things are not as bad as all
that, Nick. I'll be down bright and
early in the morning"
Mr.. Walloway put both hands on
Mr.. Devine's shoulders.
"Cherub," he said, speaking With an
effort at calmness, you're too good
man to be beaten by a gang like
that. You must come back. You
have friends-lots of them. Well get
them together and go after that crowd.
Besides, it's the old Bates-Rimmer
crowd" urged Walioway. You know
them. They're like a pack of NANCY
wolves"
Eyes; you're right, Nick. They've
snapped at my heels many a time"
"And now they're at your throat,
Cherub. Come on, won't you?"
For an instant the Cherub hesitated.
Then he jumped to his feet. AS he
dld so he met the earnest eyes OF the
Countess Vecchi. Until then he seem
ed to have forgotten her presence.
"There-' exclaimed the Cherub. 'I
had almost forgotten. I promised to
drive you into the village this after
noon to buy more stuff for making
cobwebs, didn't I, countess?"
Mr.. Walloway threw up his hands.
"Devine,' he said hoarsely, ''I'n wait
outside In my car for just three min
utes and half. If you are not there
by the end Of that time I'll have to
go back without you"
"An right, Nick. Much obliged for
coming"
"But you'll send some word, even if
you don't go, won't your
"You might give my regards to old
Rimmer."
Mr.. Devine had followed his friend to
that the countess had been looking ex-
pectantly after him. The cobwebby
affair had been dropped hastily to the
floor and lay tangled at her feet.
you are making this sacrifice to
keep me from leaving the house that
was once my homer" she said. ''Then
must tell you that I shall not ac-
cept 1t. You must go at once"
''Oh, those fellows are always ready
for that sort of thing. I suppose they
will do more or less damage, but I
guess 1 can stand it."
"You must go back with Mr.. wallo-
way. Please, go!''
mo; can't"
Can't Why can you not goT'
"Because-well, because think more
of showing you that I'm not a born
gambler than 1 do for all the railroad
stock in the country. That's why"
This came straight from the heart OF
Cherub Devine. And the countess
could see and hear. She understood.
ooh, ohr' There was surprise in the
cry, perhaps joy. For an instant she
hid her face in her hands. When she
took them away the spots of color
were cleaning beneath her brown eyes,
Shyly and very demurely she came to
him with clasped hands and gazed up
at him as if to search for the truth In
his face.
81 believe you," she whispered. "oh,
do believe in you! But I 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.
eyes, yesl 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 hardT She made
a gesture with her soft, white hands
to illustrate what she wished him to
do. The Cherub smiled.
"But you viii not run away while
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 comingP' shout |
ed the Cherub.
The countess ran down the steps |
and tossed package to him.
II almost forgot" she said breath |
lessly. 81 wanted to ask you to sell |
those for me. They're some stocks /
or bonds or something, and I want |
them sold. That's ALL"
THE amna,. xvarira - kH,a ~-aAl1T~