Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-06-10

ooh, | don't know what to think"
The Countess Nccchi was determined
to hold back her tears at the unex-
pected revelations, though, until she
had put a few more questions. They
were the ones she had been longing to
ask from the first.
"ThiS-this other No; mean this
lady of whom you speak-is she
young:"
Just twenty-three."
"My own age" thought the countess.
Then she added aloud. And she is
quite pretty. l suppose"
"Oh, she's pretty enough. But It's
chiefly her cute ways which make her
fascinating to men,"
"Oh.' The countess caught her
breath sharply. Then she is fascinat-
ing? Is she blond?'
Not a bit-lovely dark hair. big
dark eyes. Her eyes are her strong
point"
ooh, see" commented the countess.
then to herself: Its because look
something like her. And she's young
and fascinating. Humph!'
"Glad l could tell you about her."
observed the prisoner. but If you
don't mind think I'll climb down off
this cot. It's rather rickety, and ]
feel another sneezing fit coming on.
| Was there anything more?"
Il beg your pardon" she said ear
nestly. Listen. You must 60 away
| from here at once"
Nothing would please me better. but
l can't crawl through these holes"
II know, and haven't a key to the
| paddock. But l shall get one. If
| can't get the key l shall demand that
! you be set at liberty. I'll so to my
father, to Mr.. pevine, and"-
"Oh. wouldn't bother them about
| it. Jus. you say nothing at all, but
find the key. undo the lock and then
slip away. Perhaps you'd better wait
until afternoon"
But it's such shame. keeping you
shut up here like a criminal"
That's so. l told them it was an
outrage. And I've caught frightful
cold too. Think you can find the key.
don't you?"
I'm sure l can. I'll send Timmins
on an errand and look in his desk"
I'm greatly obliged. you know.
You're trump. It's mighty good Of
you"
1T isn't at all. l couldn't do less,
and II ! ever speak to Mr.. Devine
again it will be only to tell him what
l think of such cruel treatment. Good
by. I'm going now"
"Goodby and good luck" came faint
~ through the air holes IN the door.
Perhaps 1t was best that the count
ess could not see the grimace Of salts
faction which accompanied the words
as she departed to get the key to that
paddock On the icchouse door.
Thus it happened something after
this fashion: The time was late after
noon between and o'clock. when the
golden autumn day was about to end
in blaze Of sapphire light that was
soon to fade into an empty arch of tur-
quoise blue. The Countess Vecchi was
reading on the upper veranda. 1t had
become well understood in the serv.
ants wing that the brief but disturb
ing reign Of that Devine person was
over. Twice he had impudently offer
ed his hand ard fortune to the Count
ess Vecchi. and twice he had been
scornfully refused. The parlor maid
knew all the details.
Just now Timmins appeared up the
left carriage drive. He was on foot
and leading a half grown Jersey calf
lie had been sent to purchase the calf
from the Wslbur-Tremway's head dai
ryman.
Suddenly the icehouse door swung
gently outward on its hinges. while a
man. wearing wrinkled frock coat
md silk hat whose luster was
somewha dImmcd by a drapery Of
cobwebs stepped cautiously out. Next
he glanced III the direction of the
house.
Above the shrubbery he could see
only the roof ard the dormer windows
Of the upper story. but apparently he
was satisfied 'pii.n Ee turned and
looked toward the stables. No one was
In sight there. but the man in the silk
hat shook his fist at the sunset redden.
ed windows
Had he cast Il glance directly behind
him he would have seen Timmins and
the calf just coming into view over the
crest OF little rise in the rolling drive
way. But he cast no such glance Ev-
identity he knew Of only one exit from
Hewington Acres. the right gateway.
by which he had entered. and he at
once struck a businesslike gait in max
ing for it,
The discreet Timmins was both star
tied and puzzled. He did not wish to
shout and alarm the folks In the
house, for that would reveal the Sc
cret Of the prisoner. Neither did he
wish to release the calf. Yet he could
not stand there and watch the man
escape. That would never do. What
would Cherub Devine say? Timmins'
sharp little eyes narrowed menacingly.
With the free end Of the rope he gave
the Jersey calf smart whack ON the
ribs, rudely rousing it from its peace
full promenade. The calf jumped
ahead. So did Timmins. Yanking and
whacking, running and leaplng, the
pair Of them careered impetuously
across the yelvety lawn, crashing
through shrubbery, lodging between
trees and making a straight course for
the right hand driveway.
We have oil We can manage to pic
ture the CONSERVATION Of the escaping
prisoner when he saw himself headed
off by this homogeneous tandem. No
doubt lie instantly recognized Timmins
rs his jailer. for after a moments as
tonished hesitation he doubled on his
tracks.
In spite of his lack OF knowledge of
the geography Of the grounds, the fee
Ing prisoner was not to be caught cas-
lily. He dashed down one Of the gar
den paths. So the placid meditations
OF Mr.. HewingtOn, who was In the