Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-16

| broke In the count did SheS
| Aud when he came to think 1t over
the \Cherub could not recall that the
Countess Vecchi had ever said or inn
piled Sthat her husband wassdead.
'It strikes me that youz don't help
matters much by coming over here
and playing tag around her shrub
berry," suggested the Cherub- AZ might
add thatAits apt to be heap safer for
! you not to- do So"
'Mercip' NmurmuDed the count. quite
undistrbed. But, there's no danger.
I haven't the ,leastsintention OF seeing
the countess, muchlless ofsspeaking to
her. I had much rather talk to her
attorneys"
"Wanttto seeAher lawyers. eh2 Well.
she don't keeps them out here in the
bushes"
This time the count iudulgeddn quite
genuine smile.
"My dear Mr.. DeviIie," he protest
ed, you don't understand the situa-
ton. Perhaps if, you did you could
be of help to me. Allow mevto state,
then, that itSwassnot to revive q long
dead sentiment which brought me to
America, but a soDdid little matter OF
money. To be definite. there was a
riagesSettlemertt, paltTy affair in
the shape of a promised yearly in
come. At3frst it was paid In fun and
regularity the payments came at
irregular intervals and were only par
tial. OF late Fthey have ceased. 1 am
informed by Mr.. Hewington that he
finds it impossible. to continue them
As though I woulda believe that. So 1
come here TO see for myself If the
rich Mr.. Hewington has suddenly be-
come a beggar. And this is what 1
fndI" Count Vecchi shrugged his
shoulders, spread out his palms and
indicated thes broad expanse Of Hew-
ington Acres
''Such an estate does not suggest
interview the attorneys OF my wife,
the countess"
A twinkle of amusement appeared in
the blue eyes of Mr.. sDevine.
Imagine you can collect do your
he asked
81 can make the attempt It depends.
i suppose, on what value Mr.. Hewing-
ton sets upon his word and whether or
not he Is willing to have his pleasant
little fiction as to defunct son-in-law
exposed. What do you think?'
Mr.. Devine could appreciate audaci-
ty. He grinned-
81 think you're a slick article" said
he. land I should say you had got 'em-
Looks to me as If Mr.. Hewington'
would either have to cfioroform You
or buy you off,"
Count vecchi tndulged In a nom
chalant ehrug.
81 ask only what is Justly due. One
cannot live without money"
There's more or less truth ir that,
count. only And Mr.. Devine pursed
her cherubic mouth quizzicaIly. "Over
here we don't make practice OF chok-
ing our wives to get it.''
"BahP The count waved aside this
reference to his brief domestic career.
cover here shall make my demands
through madame's legal representa-
tives."
You're Improving. Going to call on
them today?"
''As sooli as I can get message to
the countess and learn the names OF
her attorneys"
"Oh. I see! Now, wait Let me
think that over a minute" The Cher
ub rubbed his pink chin thoughtfully
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 when the
Cherub has rescued his straw hat
they started off through the maze of
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, Timmins had, but not for a
couple of years.
"Take a squint through the window |
at the chap outside" said Mr.. Devine. !
Ibid the picture look anything like
him?"
Timmins peered through the glass.
Eyes, very like him, sir,'' he went on.
'eThen that's him." declared the
Cherub.
mot 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, l
should say he might be after money"
'"Timmins, you're a mind reader.
That's inst what he is after"
why. the sneaking, unmannerly VII
lainr' exploded Timmins. HE ought
to be put in Jail, SIR"
''Well, something ought to be done
with him. What's that little stone
coop without any windows down there
by the swan lake?
That's the icehouse, sir"
Full up, is it?"
".Oh, no, sir; not now, sir. It's very
near empty, think"