Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-04-19
CHAPTER XIV.


 tasse when he heard his name being "paged" through the grill room. Hold ing up a forefnger to admit his iden- tity, 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 1 were recorded the facts concerning the birth, percentage and early childhood of the count. Page 2 took him on to youth, when he be- gan to have escapades which had be- come matters of public record. Page 8 was largely devoted to accounts of his rumored engagements and brief statements concerning two duels in which he had been concerned. It was while hastily skimming the last sheet that MT. Devine was moved to ex- claim, with explosive eagerness, "Ah, ha!' MT. McQuade's message closed in this manner:
 "Sent to private sanitarium in Logos, Switzerland, Aug. 15, 19-. Died there Nov. 23, same year. Funeral private, Family hushed up affair.""
 "Nearly two years ago." commented the Cherub. "Then believe he's good and dead hy this time. But why shouldn't the Hewingtons have knownY
 Further speculations were interrupt ed by the announcement that person who gave his name as J. Blnks was at the desk asking to communicate with Mir. Devine. He mentioned that he was connected with some agency or other.
 MT. J. Binks, bristly haired man with an undershot jaw and narrow set eyes. tlptoed apologetically 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 say! 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, says l, this is the peculiarest' "-
 Yes, it is little odd" broke in the Cherub. But where's your man now?,'
 Outside, sir, 'cuffed to Mir. Coogan, my side partner. Now, if you would ctap oround to tho caroaapt,c daSly and swear out
 But l can't, Mir. Binks. You and Coogan have done well. Here, split that between you," and Mir. Devine in sinuated yellow backed note into an anticipatory palm. Now all you have to do is unchain your man from MT. Coogan, lead him in here and leave him with me-"
 And there ain't no charge?"
 'None at all, MT. Binks. All want is his company for few minutes"
 "Well, Pm jiggered, ann"
 The bogus count seemed rather meek and subdued. His clothes were wrin- kled and dusty. his shirt bosom rum pied, and he was in need of a shave. With some hesitation he slid into the chair opposite Mir. Devine.
 "Whatever your little game was. it's queered," said Mir. Devine. You fool ed me all right. but of course you couldn't fool Mir. Hewington or the countess. What was the idea, any wayP
 T was just joking. Pm going to make you smart for your share in this, MT. Cherub Devine."
 "Of course you are. That's only natural. You'll bring suit for damages and all that sort of thing. and I'll have to have you arrested on charge of attempted blackmail, and between us we'll keep the courts busy for year. 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 sirloln. with mushrooms and baked potatoes, strike you? And few little necks to  start on, eh? Good! Here, waiterp
 Suddenly, however, Mir. Devine ask ed abruptly:
 "Well, got me all sized up? Then let's get down to facts. Whats your real bona fide name, anyway"
 The man flushed little.
 "Suppose"-and q pair of piercing dark eyes watched for the effect shrewdly-"s suppose came direct from Count yecchi as his personal repre-
 "Won't do," interrupted MT. Devine unless you can show your pass from the old boy You see, know jus' how long the counts been dead"
 If you had taken the trouble to ask Mir. Hewington he would have told you how mistaken you were"
 "Yes, but Pm better posted than MT Hewington. There are the latest re turns" and the Cherub tossed over the last sheet of McQuade's message
 Seeing that further pretense along this line was useless, he merely shrug ged his shoulders inditrerently.