Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-29
CHAPTER XIV.

= ed dinner.
He had just ordered his second demi-
tasse when he heard his name being
'paged" through the grill room. Hold
ing up a foreinger to admit his iden-
THY, he was handed a ~cablegram Of
four sheets, with toll charges marked
collect The ever ready McQuade
had lived up to his reputation. In one
day he had unearthed all that was to
be learned of the history of Count
Luigi Salvatore Y Vecchi.
On page | were recorded the facts
concerning the birth, %parentage and
2 took him IN to youth, when he be
gan to have escapades which had be
come matters of public record. Page
3 was largely devoted to accounts of
his rumored engagements and brief
statements concerning two duels in
which he had been concerned. 1t was
while hastily skimming the last sheet
that Mr.. Devine was moved to ex
claim, with explosive eagerness. "Ah.
har' Mr.. McQuade's message closed
in this manner
"Sent to private sanitarium In Logos.
Switzerland. Aug. 10, 49,. Died there
Nov. %, same year. Funeral private
Family hushed up affair"
NEARLY two years ago." commented
the Cherub. Then | believe he's
good and dead by this time. But
why shouldn't the H%ewingtons ha ve
known"
Further speculations were interrupt.
ed by the announcement that a person
who gave his name as j. Binks was
at the desk asking to communicate
with Mr.. Davine. He mentioned thai
he was connected with some agencv
or other.
MI. j. Binks. q bristly haired man
with an undershot jaw and narrow
set eyes, tiptoed alphabetically in
among the tables.
Excuse me-" he whispered hoarsely,
but we got your gent, all right. He
was walking out as cool as you like.
too, sir, when we nabbed him."
The deuce you sayl But what have
you done with him?"
Just what was bothering us, sir
Generally we has papers and takes 'em
to the nearest station house. But in
this case, as | says to the chief, Chief,
his Is the-ppeeEAarestS-
YES, 1t is a little odd" broke in the
Cherub. But where's your man nowg'
"outside, sir, 'cuffed to Mr.. Coogan,
my side partner. Now, if you woul9
step around to the s%ergeant's desk and
swear OUT
But l can't, Mr.. Binks. You and
Coogan have done well. Here. split
that between you" and Mr.. Devine IL
sinuated a yellow backed note into an
a~nticipatory palm. Now all you have
to do is unchain your man from Mr..
Coogan, lead him in here and leave
him with me-"
"And there amt no charger"
"None at all, Mr.. Binks. All I want
is his company for a few minutes"
Well, I'm jiggered, l am"
The bogus count seemed rather meek
and subdued. His clothes were wrin-
killed. and dusty. his shirt bosom rum
pied, and he was in need of a shave.
With some hesitation he slid into the
chair opposite Mr.. Devine.
whatever your little game was. it's
queered." said Mr.. Devine. "You fool
ed me all right, but of course you
couldn't fool Mr.. Hewington or the
countess. What was the idea. any
wayY"
~ was just Joking. I'm going to
make you smart for your share in this.
Mr.. Cherub Devine."
"Of course you are. That's only
natural. You'll bring suit for damages
and all that sort of thing. and III have
to have you arrested on a charge of
attempted blackmail, and between us
We'll keep the courts busy for a year.
l have that all figured out. But what
do you say to a good dinner first?'
An involuntary rolling of the eyes
toward the menu card betrayed the
fact that the suggestion was a pleas
ing one
"How would a nice thick sirloin.
with mushrooms and baked potatoes.
strike you? And a few little necks to
| SldIl Ous CAs 00O4s 11CASY naAtChh
Suddenly, however. Mr.. Devine ask
ed abruptly:
well. got me all sized up? Then
let's get down to facts. What's your
real bona fde name. anyway"
The man flushed a little.
"Suppose"-and a pair of piercing
dark eyes watched for the effect
acknowledgements l came direct
from Count Veechi as his personal
repre-
'"won't do" interrupted Mr.. Devine
unless you can show your pass from
the old boy You see. | know just
how long the counts been dead"
"If you had taken the trouble to ask
Mr.. Hewington he would have told
you how mistaken you were"
"Yes. but Pm better posted than Mr.
Hewington. There are the latest re-
$50 - - - IT, $500 -.