The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-04-01

But, sir, we haven't
"Oh, don't go on telling me what you
haven't got. Hash up anything. Make
some sandwiches if you can't do bet
ter. Only don't come TO me with your
troubles. I'm no chef. But I'm going
to have some friends here tonight and
shall expect you to feed them. That's
what you're here for, isn't it,"
''Ye-e-e-es, sir. At what hour, STRIP
''Eight-thirty, sharp
"And how-how many plates, sir?'
81 don't know. Ten or fifteen or
twenty. Better make it twenty, and
then you can discard
"Fll do my best, sir"
THAT'S the way to talk, Eppings."
Having made these offhand prepara-
lions, Mr.. Devine sat himself down on
the veranda. He heard step and
looked up to see before him the arts
tocratic figure of the Countess Vecchi's
father. Mr.. Hewington seemed some
what agitated
"You must pardon me, sir, for a
seeming impertinence," he began, but
i have just learned by accident that
you contemplate giving party here
tonight. Is it Il fact?"
Mr.. Devine nodded. "Just a few
friends, Il dozen or So
'Ah. Friends of yours?" Mr. Hew-
ington gave the words a significant
emphasis. Then would it not beer
-prudent-perhaps discreet is the bet
ter word-for my daughter to so else
where for the night-to the hotel in
the village perhaps?"
There was Il twinkle in the Cherubs
blue eyes as he responded, Afraid of
a rough house, are you?"
my daughter. sir, is not exactly ac-
customed to-er-the kind of persons
who might
''Oh, 1 see. Well, suit yourself about
1t-suit yourself. But it isn't at all
necessary. l shall try to keep them
quiet. There are to be only few
neighbors-the Walloways and
'The Walloways"'
"Yes, and the Wilburs and the Mil
ler-Tremways and old Bishop Horton
and stray baron or two"
Bishop Horton, Is Bishop Horton
coming? Coming here?'
why, yes. The bishops friend of
mine. Know him, do you:'
I'VE were college classmates, Mr..
Devine," said Mr.. Hewington.
THAT so! i never went to college
with the bishop. but I've crossed the
ocean with him twice, and once l held
his hat while he made speech"
Extraordinary" said Mr. Hewing-
ton.
Think so? 1t may seem little
queer to you, but the bishop doesn't
appear to look at it that way. Come
down and meet him and the rest of
the folks, won't you? We're to have
"a little supper about half past 8. And,
say, bring the countess-that is, unless
you're afraid of the crowd
This last was violation of para
graph in the Cherub's own code Of
ethics, paragraph which read, when
the other fellows down and out don't
rub it In" But the words had escaped
before he knew it. Fortunately Mr..
Hewington did not seem to notice the
allusion, for he retired, repeating in an
undertone: THE Walloways! Bishop
Horton! The Mller-Tremwaysw
And sure enough, early in the even
ing the big rooms of the great house
began to echo with the lively chatter
Of many guests. There was the portly
Mrs. Walloway, whose dinner dances
are always such brilliant affairs; there
were the naughty Wilburs, the hyphen-
ated Tremways and a half dozen 9th
ers without whose names and pic
lures the Sunday supplements would
be incomplete
They were somewhat disposed to
look curiously upon Mr.. Cherub De
vine at first, but when the bishop had
patted him affectionately on the Shout
der and the baron had effusively en-
braced him the atmosphere thawed
perceptibly.
The one person who was least at his
'ease was young Mr. Walloway. For
awhile he was sitter than ever, and he
had the air of one who expects some
But the Cherub was undisturbed.
Ghus far he had gained his point
Whether Nick Walloway had been in
fuenced by that suggestion of future
business or whether he had acted pure
ly from motives of good fellowship he
cared not. The thing had been done.
The program which the Cherub had
so hastily outlined that morning was
being carried out Moreover. his guests
appeared to be enjoying the novelty.
In the course of half an hour even
Nick Walloway seemed to have be-
come reassured that nothing untoward
was about TO happen. AS a matter of
fact, Mr.. Devine was acquitting him
self creditably.
Isn't he unique? SO charmingly
naiver' whispered Mrs. Miller-Trem-
way.
Perfectly delightful" assented Mrs.
Wilbur. HE says such odd things"
$50 glad you're to be neighbor Of
ours" the latter assured Mr.. Devine.
sand how do you like Hewington
Acres?"
ooh, it's a good deal like living in
Central park" observed the Cherub;
grass looks as if it had had shave,
a hair cut and a shampoo, you know!
al the place lacks are some benches