Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-07-15
CHAPTER xl.

VOW. one doesn't expect to flnd Z
N man IN frock coat and silk ha,
lodging behind bushes on q
: y place like Hewington Acres
Yet Cberub Devtne bad como to asso
ciate that particular part of Long 10
land with all sorts of surprises.
| IT appeared that this new arrival had
intended to see without being seen,
but ne had not been quite quick
enough. Without stopping to consider
just why be was doing 1t Mt. Devtne
promptly Joined In the game by step.
ping into the shrubbery also.
The Cherub parted the bushes eau.
ttously. He discovered the stranger
doing the same thing. Twice tho
Cher'lb stole steaIthily around bush.
sure OF having executed q successful
t1ank movement on the unknown. only
to find that he had disappeared like q
fash.
Taking OF his straw bat. tue Cherub
balanced 1t carefully on the top of q
rhOdodendron and began making a
cautious detour TO walk In stoop-
ing position for any distance Que
need to be In good condition, and a
thirty eight waist measure doesn't
help. The Cherub was already red OF
face and breathing heavily when he
suddenly rounded little thicket OF
stunted drs and found himself within
arms length OF a slender. sallow faced
person. who was holding a silk hat be-
bind him and iDtentIy gazing at the
crown of straw one which showed
above a bush some twenty Iards
away.
Even a side view from behind was
enough to reveal the foreigner, for the
jet black mustachs and the little I'M
derlip tuft that curled over the chin
were distinctly. of alien cut and trim.
well. what's the gamer
The stranger was an amazingly cool
sort he merely turned quickly. meas
nred Mr.. Devine with one lash of
keen brown eyes. lifted his brows ex.
pressiveiy and shrugged his shoulders.
Now. perhaps you'll tell me what 1t
Is all about" asked the Cherub.
The strangers response to this was
a politely impudent stare.
Il do not quite understand" he said.
with just the slightest foreign accent.
NO" drawled the Cherub hooking
". Then there's two OF US In the
dark. But perhaps we can clear mat
ters up. found you skulking In the
bushes. Now. why~
"Reg pardon. sir. but ! do not recog-
nize your right to question ME In that
manner"
"Whe-e-ew: What naughty little
man 1t is" laughed the Cherub. "Ah.
rome down OF the stepladderi min.
ute or two ago you we're lodging
around as guilty al II you'd robbed
FRUIT stand. Now. what are you up
toY''
II am attending to my own affaira
,ir,"
Then III help you." said the Cher
ID. for I'm good deal interested In
his place and what Is going on here"
Indeed" Again the stranger shrug.
:ed his shoulders "Rut don't know
7ou. SIR"
Didn't act as II you wanted to.
ither. Hut nere's where we get ac-
Inainted. just the same. My names
levine Cherub l)evtne."
'Eh: What?" gasped the stranger
taring lncredulously. "Why-er-a
pardons. Mr.. Devine; allow
le." and he hastily brought out q
ardcase
Luigi Salvatore y vecchi." read the
'herub. with some hesitancy 10 pro
ouncing the names. "vecchi. chi An,
seei Some relation Of the late
Dunt's?''
The stranger smiled induigentIy.
~ am known as Count vecchi"
Had the Cberub been at all emo
onai he would have gasped then. AZ
was. he nearly did. but seemed to
,cover in time.
"But-but you're not the Count VEG
n who-who married Miss Rewinr.
nj"
The cigarette was waved toward the
m of his silk hat.
II have that honor"
1t was the Cherub's turn to stare In
edulously. .I
''See here" he said protestingly.
'tther you're dead count or q i've
n. and ! Euess the last description
Is best Come. come: You've sprung
lat bluff Oh the wrong person. 4
appeD to know that the real Count I
ecchi has been dead for couple Of
ears"
II can only quote the words Of your
xn great humorist. that the reports 4
my death have been greatly exag-
'rated.' Here ! am. you see."
The Cherub uoted that the leather q
rdcase which the stranger still held
his hand bore silver crest similar {
A.