Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-05-19


This was indefinite, but convincing.
"Poor old Nickv' said the Cherub as
he hung up the receiver. Hes had
his tryout. though. Tomorrow It'll be
up to me-"
Cherub Devine. having resolutely
slashed away all the entangling mesh
OF business cares. went smilingly out
to Hewington Acres and into the pres
ence Of the Countess vecchi.
swell, countess, we smashed 'em.
didn't we? And you had hand In
1t, after all. Nick told you. ehY'
Evidently she had been standing
there In the window recess In the
library waiting for him. Whether by
accident or design. 1t proved to be very
effective pose for the slender grace.
fitness 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
"Yes. Nicholas has told me, Mr.. De-
vine-told me all about everything. In
fact. he made quite full confession"
Decidedly this was not cordial
opening Her tone was cool. almost
cynical Something was wrong.
II hope Nick didn't overdo the thing.
countess. Did hep
I'm sure l don't know. Mr.. Devine
That all depends upon how much you
intended him to say"
"Well. he told you about how handy
those shares came INF"
ayes"
"And the price he got for them and
how wanted you to buy back the
houseY'
"All of those things Nicholas ex-
planned fully"
"And it's all right. isn't it7 Any
hitch over detailsY'
The countess walked to q table and
picked up long document envelope.
II merely wish to understand clearly
your proposals." she was saying. You
sent Mr.. Walloway here to offer me
this check and an opportunity to buy
back Hewington Acres for the price
you paid. Is that correctT
That's O. K. countess"
ALSO you confided to Mr.. Walloway
that you were-that you entertained
certain sentiments of regard for me.
You called 1t love. ! believe"
"Eh?" CALCULATED the astonished
Cherub Say, Nick didn't give me
away like that. did her Honest. he
wasn't chump enough to let on that |
said
ITO be made the topic of such an In
innate disclosure and by person
whom | have known for such a short
you can fancy perhaps that I'd rather
not dwell on it."
'Great Scott, yes" groaned the
Cherub. beginning to wipe his fore
head. But give me a show here.
countess. I'm trying to think how
came to do the sieve act Oh. | must
have done 1t. all right. but how
'I'm afraid can't share your inter-
est In that problem. Let us not go into
It any deeper. II you please. You told
Mr.. Walloway. and them
"Ah. remember. He wished me
luck. Wasn't that nice Of him when
when whatT spurred on the
countess.
"Why. when-when he was In the
same boat"
$50 Mr.. Walloway exchanged conf
dences, did he? DELIGHTFUL
mo, 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
1t held on a street corner or In a hotel
lobby orr
'Trainl" groaned the Cherub.
AIR said the countess. The other
passengers must have been entertain.
ed. Did any Of them offer adviceY
The Cherub sank into q chair.
"That's right" he observed. Keep
It up. deserve It"
"RemOrse." commented the countess,
''fs always touching. but it arrives 80
late in the day. ! am curious on only
one point Having made your confes-
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 see" continued the Cherub
earnestly. hes SO much nearer your
KIND OF a chaplin your class and all
that-and ! 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 II you wanted to. That's
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