The Ocala evening star., 1910-04-13
Cherub
Deviine
By SEWELL FORD
BY SEWELL FORD
cspyrishi. 1893. by Mitchell KennerIey

he. "and should say you had Got 'em.
would either have to chloroform you
Or buy you off,"
Count vecchi INDUCED in a nom
chalant shrug.
Il ask only what is justly due, One
cannot live without money"
There's more or less truth N that,
count, only And Mr.. Devine pursed
her cherubic mouth quizzically. over
here we don't make practice Of chok
ing our wives to get it,
"Bahv' The count waved aside this
reference to his brief domestic career.
"Over here l shall make my demands
through madame's legal representa-
tives"
you're improving. Going to call on
them today?'
LAS soon as I can get a message to
the countess and learn the ma mes OF
her attorneys"
"Oh. see! Now. wait. Let me
think that over a minute" The Cher,
ub rubbed his pink chin hougstfully
''You say you don't insist upon seeing
the countess personally; all you want
is the address Of her lawyers"
The count nodded.
'Then I'll tell you what we might
do," suggested Mr. Devine Lets go
up and ask Timmins to find out. We
can get to his Office without being
seen. What do you say"
The count was quite willing. He Of
fered Mr.. Devine a cigarette in his
most affable manner, and Wien the
Cherub has rescued his straw hat
bluestone walks for the stables.
On reaching the Office he left the
count outside and went in alone to
consult Timmins.
Ever see a picture of Count Vec-
chip he asked Timmins.
Yes, T1mmins had, but not for a
couple of years.
take a sQuint through the window
at the chap outside" said Mr.. Devine.
did the picture look anything like
himY
Ttmmins peered through the glass.
''Yes, very like him, sir" he went on.
"Then that's him." declared the
Cherub.
"Not the one that they said was"-
Eyes, but he says he isn't. Claims
he never died at all. Now, what do
you guess he's here for?
Judging by what I've heard, sir,
should say he might be after money"
''Timmins, you're a mind reader.
That's just what he is after"
why, the sneaking, unmanncrly vii
lainp' exploded Timmins. "He ought
to be put in Jail, sir"
"Well, something ought to lie done
with him. What's that little stone
coop without any windows dow n there
by the swan lake?"
That's the icehouse, sir"
Full up, is it?'
"Oh, no, sir; not now, sir. lis very
near empty. 1 think
'Room for a cot bed and a chair or
SO, is there?"
Timmins grinned expressively.
PLENTY of room, sir"
How about air, Timmins|'
Excellent ventilation, sir. Has to
be, you know"
Good! Now, you slip out tle back
way and go down there, will y~u? Go
inside and shut the door. Wien you
hear me knock you'll know I've come
with a caller. Get the idea. eh: :"
do I, sir! Oh, my eye! Oh, my
eyer And, with one hand over his
mouth, Timmins disappeared.
The icehouse at HewingtoD Acres
was most substantial building. In
the front were two doors-one at the
top, reached by a permanent ladder;
the other on a level with the ground
This latter was a double doc, with
an air space between. The outside
half was Of thick oak and sV ing on
heavy strap hinges. In the upper
panel was diamond shaped q sign OF
auger holes. Standing outs lie and
looking up at these perforati' IS was
Cherub Devine. He was not udying
the design. He was talking some
unseen person behind the thicl door
conversing easily and please lily in
spite of the handicap. True, he was
on the free side of the door That
makes a difference, Of course.
On the whole, Cherub Devip@ felt 6
grim satisfaction in knowing nat the
count was safe under lock and key in
stead of lodging around the rounds
where he might come across tt count
| ess at any moment. Even : there
was no danger Of a tender re-nion i
| was best to have the count slut up
| for he was bent on making .rouble
| At that very moment he was so de
| claring to the full extent Of IS lun!
| power. Through the auger toles h'
was shouting that Mr.. Dev-le, th'
| countess, Mr.. Hewington AL Tim
minis should all pay dearly or thi:
| high handed outrage.
You're a cursed Yankee pig howl
| ed the imprisoned count
Sorry you're so stirred up o"er it,
soothingly observed the Cheru
"Kidnaperw shrieked the CO IT.
Guilty" responded the Cherub
First offense, though. Now heav
ems sake calm down"
| 'It's beastly in here. My sloes ar
getting full Of something:"
Nothing but sawdust." a.swere,
the Cherub. "Pll have : immin
| spread rug or something owe, it,
''Tn make it hot for you wi 1 ge
outv'
Sure! And for the Hev ingtons
|