Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-13

/ you start regretting very deeply you
don't in the least mean it, but you're
on the right track. Now forgive me
for bringing you up so sharply and let
us finish our business. Ought to ac-
cept all this money for those shares?"
Wouldn't it seem rather strange
for you to demand less than is Of
fered?''
You're right Well, accept. then.
And do want to buy back our home
here. But feel I ought to deal direct
| " with Mr.. Devine himself in that
matter You win see that he comes,
win your"
Mr.. Walloway, assuming an air of
stately gloom, stalked away from
Hewington Acres. BY the time dinner
was over he had quite recovered his
usual poise and felt equal to the task
of calling up Mr.. Devine.
'WenY' queried the Cherub eagerly.
'@How did you come on with the
countess?"
"Excellentw said Mr. walloway,
thinking only of the business he had
been asked to transact. Its all set
tied. She accepts"
whats that, Nick? Accepts who?"
"Why, the check. She will buy back
the property too"
"Oh! Is that ALP An unmistakable
sigh of satisfaction came over the
wires.
| though. Says she must deal direct.
Wants to know If you can come to-
morrow"
"Why, sure I can. But say. Nick.
are you certain there's nothing else
no congratulations coming from meY
"Why-er-you might congratulate
the countess on making a good bargain
If you wish"
This was indefinite. but convincing.
Poor old Nickr 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 a hand In
it, after all. Nick told you, eh?"
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 a very
effective pose, for the slender grace
fitness of her dark robed figure came
out in strong relief against the duh
green window hangings, and the mel
low afternoon light showed the hint
of color in the long oval of her cheek.
Eyes, Nicholas has told me, Mr.. De
vine-told me all about everything. In
fact, he made quite full confession"
Decidedly this was not a cordial
opening. Her tone was cool, almost
cynical. Something was wrong.
"I hope Nick didn't overdo the thing.
countess. Did he?"
I'm sure don't know, Mr.. Devine.
That all depends upon how much you
intended him to say"
''weIl, he told you about how handy
those shares came tn?'
Eyes"
"And the price he got for them and
how wanted you to buy back the
house?"
IAN of those things Nicholas ex-
planned fully"
"And it's all right, isn't it? ANY
hitch over details?''
The countess walked to a table and
picked up a long document envelope.
81 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 it love, believe"
"Eh?" CALCULATED the astonished
Cherub. Say, Nick didn't give me
away like that, did he? Honest, he
wasn't chump enough to let on that l
said
ITO be made the topic of such an In
innate disclosure and by a person
whom 1 have known for such a short
time under such peculiar conditions.
you can fancy perhaps that I'd rather
not dwell on it,
Great Scott, yesT groaned the
Cherub, beginning to wipe his fore
head. But give me a show here,
countess. I'm trying to think how 1
came to do the sieve act. Oh. 1 must
have done it, all right, but how
Pm afraid / can't share your inter-
est in that problem. Let us not go into
it any deeper, If you please. You told
Mr.. walloway, and them
"Ah, 1 remember. He wished me
luck. Wasn't that nice Of him when
when what?" spurred on the
countess.
'Why, when-when he was In the
same boat"
$50 Mr.. waIloway exchanged conf
dences, did he? Delightful
mo, mol Nick didn't say a word
found it out by accident Saw your
picture in his locket, you know, and
I'd heard about how he and you used
to-
Realty I'm glad that there was
some reserve In that discussion Was
g.