Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-06-21

L i Timmins at his office in the
stables.
Been here some time. haven't you,
Timmins?" he suggested.
Game here as bridegroom fifteen
years ago, SIR"
"NIust know the old gentleman fair
~ well. then?"
"Lor', yes. sir! And he's very fine
old gentleman, sir, in his way"
Sure" assented the Cherub. He
had settled back in an Office chair and
was studying intently the vanished
pine ceiling. But what's his way?"
he asked abruptly.
Timmins looked perpleXed.
where are his short ribs?" went on
Mr. Devipe. whats his strong suit?"
"Oh!" Timmins had translated Mr..
Devine's figures of speech. well. sir.
he's all wrapped up in the Countess
vecchi, sir, him being widower for
so long. Nearly knocked him out
when the count turned out to be so
bad. He was regular wicked. sir;
played roulette most Of the time. Why.
they hadn't more'n left the church be.
fore he asks the countess for money
and chokes her when she wouldn't get
It for him."
"Who made that match, Timmins?"
mfr. Hewington himself, sir. He
was carried away with the idea Of his
daughter being countess
Banks heavy on society. does he:
Do the Hewingtons cut much Of a fig
ure now in the giddy whirl?'
"Lor'. no. sir. Since they lost their
money they've kind Of dropped out of
it all. 1t goes hard with the old gen
tlenan, too. SIR
Mr.. Devine smoked thoughtfully for
several moments before asking, ANY
real swell neighbors around here?
Lots of 'em, sir. It's a very select
neighborhood. sir, as you'll find. Why.
just above us are the Wilburs-Knick-
erbockers, sir. Above them are the
Miller-Tremways - youngest daughter
married into the Earl Of Dippington's
family and was received at court.
And next below us are the VALID
ways, folks that has their own coat
of arms and
mot Nick Walloway?'
Hes the head of the family now,
sir, Nicholas is
$50 Nick Is neighbor of mine. is
he?"
But they're very exclusive, the Wal.
loways are, sir. They entertain lots
of titled folks. They used to be very
friendly here. sir, but none of them's
been here now for nearly two years"
Then it's time they came," declared
Mr.. Devine. How about the other
folks. the Wilburs and the Tremways?'
Haven't been here for a long time
either, SIR"
very thoughtless Of them, isn't iii
But wen fix that. Hitch up two or
three Of those gingersnap horses and
take me over to the Walloway place."
To-day, sir?' Timmins stared his
astonishment.
mo: right away"
But it's-it's Sunday, sir. Begging
your pardon for being so bold. sir, but
the Walloways don't receive on Sun
days, sir, and they've got bishop
there"
Good! I'm right at home when
there's bishop around. And III see
about the receiving business. You
just attend to the hooking up. Tim
mins.''
So Timmins did, but 1t was with
much concern for his professional dig
nifty that he drove up to the imposing
carriage entrance Of the Walloway
residence. The reception opened quite
as he had feared. In fact. the Wallo-
way butler, who weighed twice as
much as Eppings and was laughter
in proportion. was coldly doubtful as
to whether or not Mr.. Nicholas Wal
loway could be seen. He surveyed the
Hewington cohs with whitening scorn
and glanced With disappearing eye At
Mr.. Dcvine's tobacco brown waist
coat.
II don't think Mr.. Walloway is re-
ceiving today" he observed.
''Oh. that'll be all right, fatty cheer
fully remarked Mr.. Devine. You
trot along in and tell Nick that Cherub
Devine is out here
The Walloway butler gasped. Tim
minis trembled in his seat. Two min
utes later Mr.. Nicholas Walloway,
much perplexed and not little embar-
raised. was escorting Mr.. Devine past
the awful presence of the stout butler
and into the house.
A clean cut young man of sedate,
somewhat stiff bearing and with sober
gray eyes was Mr. Nicholas Wallo.
way. No one but the Cherub. not even
Mr.. Walloway's most intimate friends,
eyer drea med OF calling him Nick,