Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-07-22
Cherub
x Deyine
sa1 h BY
SEWELL FORD
- - Copyright 1909. BY Mitchell Kennehey -
SEWELL FORD

why you are III there"
"A stout. pink faced person who ia
widely known. believe. as Cherub
Devine locked me In
"Ah" The countess did not mean
to allow this exclamation to be audi
BILE, but 1t was.
so he hasn't told you about it vet,
eh?" commented the unseen prisoner.
Stupid Of me. wasn't it, to allow him
to trick me so easily? You wait!
Your Mr.. Devine is going to regret
that he was SO clever"
"But why did he do it?'
You might have guessed anyway,
There's lady in the case"
IA lady" gasped the countess.
''Some one that-that Mr.. Devine"-
Exactly. found out only recently"
The arched lips Of the Countess vec-
chi were pressed tightly together; her
chin was held very firmly. Although
she could see nothing but the auger
holes in the thick door. she stared at
them.
'And you" she went on, after
pause-"you are interested in her
also?"
Naturally" came the rejoinder.
But why should Mr.. Devine wish
to-
'I'll explain all that. When he
found that happened to be the lady's
husband lie decoyed me here and
locked me up"
'.Oh, oh-her husband don't be-
lieve word of it. not a word! It.
it's mistake. all mistake. Why
should you think that Mr.. Devine cares
enough for her toto be so unjust to
you as this?"
"Only because he as good as told
me so himself. You see. my wife and
have been living apart. He thought
I was dead. When l appear he finds
me in the way. So he locks me up.
But IL there's any mistake l wish
you'd point it out to Mr.. Devine. Think
there is. eh?"
"Oh, don't know what to think"
The Countess Vecchi was determined
to hold back her tears at the unex-
pected revelations, though, until she
had put few more questions. They
were the ones she had been longing to
ask from the first
"'rhis-this other No; mean this
lady Of whom you Speaks she
young?"
Just twenty-three."
My own age" thought the countess.
Then she added aloud, And she is
quite pretty. SUPPOSED?
"Oh. she's pretty enough. But it's
chiefly her cute ways which make her
to men,"
"Oh" The countess caught her
breath sharply. "Then she is fascinat-
ing? Is she blond?'
Not bit-lovely dark hair. big
dark eyes. Her eyes are her strong
point"
"Oh. see" commented the countess,
then to herself: Its because look
like her. And she's young
and fascinating Hnmph"'
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 I
feel another sneezing fit coming on.
Was there anything more?"
Il beg your pardon" she said ear
nestly. Listen. You must so away
from here at once"
VT I'M MI hot hut
! can't crawl through these holes"
Il know. and haven't key to the
paddock. But shall get one. If I
can't get the key shall demand that
you be set at liberty. I'll go to my
IA Their, to Mr.. Devine. and
"Oh. wouldn't bother them about
It. Just yen say nothing at all. but
ind 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 criminal"
That's so. told them it was an
outrage. And I've caught a frightful
,old too Think you can find the key.
1on't you?"
Pm sure can. I'll send Timmins
IN an errand and look in his desk"
"Tm greatly obliged, you know.
You're trump. It's mighty good of
vou."
1T isn't at all. I couldn't do less,
md If ever speak to Mr.. Devine
again 1t will be only to tell him what
| think Of such cruel treatment. Good
~. Pm going now"
"Goodby and good luck" came faint
y through the air holes in the door.
Perhaps 1t was best that the count
.ss could not see the grimace of salts
action which accompanied the words
Is she departed to get the key to that
paddock on the icehouse door.
Thus it happened something after
his fashion: The time was late after
loon between 5 and 6 o'clock, when the
,olden autumn day was about to end
u blaze of sapphire light that was J
49,