Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-22

us cHdlr.
" Mr.. Devine is in many ways
\ a-er-a remarkable man."
IF he were only something besides
a stock gambler. If he would only APP
ply his talents TO something differ
emit"
II hadn't thought of his talents as
being ~misdirected." he said slowly.
But he has evidently been listening
to some one who thinks as you do, for
he tells me that he has given up spec
ulating in stocks"
"He-he has given up! Why?
WhenY'
AT noon today. when he obtained
control of the r.. 2. and N. railroad
and became its president"
"a railroad president! Why, that is
quite-quite respectable. isn't it,"
Almost" gravely assented Mr.. Wal
loway.
Isn't he splendid?" exclaimed the
countess. clasping her hands. And
don't you think, Nicholas. now that he
has-well. reformed-that he will be
asked about among nice people?"
MY dear countess" began Nicholas.
once more assuming the judicial pose.
you must not forget that be is still
Cherub Devine. As a successful ma
nipulator of stock he is entitled to re
zpaatiuHs g sEailr9ed rEr9Fiaent fa -
be a financial pa bred
with; as to his socicws ftness, MI is a
matter to which l have not given the
attention which you appear
Am l being lectured, Nicholas Wal
loway?" asked the countess demurely.
81 trust We have known each other
long enough. Adele, for me to offer a
friendly suggestion. But If you resent
SUCH
"Oh, mol Go on, Nicholas. What
else about Mr.. Devine?'
Young Mr.. Walloway flushed under
the subtle mockery of her eyes.
Nothing more, countess" and he
bowed stiffly, ''only l did not know
that you considered Mr.. Devine a-a"-
The countess laughed lightly. "Oh,
I've told hin he wasn't"
"You7-ou said that to the Cherub?"
The countess nodded.
And he-what did he"-
HE said he had never claimed to be
a gentleman"
"Ah" Young Mr.. Walloway seemed
to have gained a new viewpoint. His
exclamation was one of relief. Now
he could understand the attitude of
the countess toward Cherub Devine.
It was merely an impersonal interest
which she had taken in a somewhat
picturesque public character whom
she had CHANGED to see at close range.
81 beg pardon for my suggestion"
he went on. II see you know the
Cherub better than l thought. Inter
esting chap, isn't he? He has bis
good points, too-oh, really, has a code
of honor all his own that he sticks to
as faithfully as If it were-well, the
accepted code. And he is generosity
itself to those whom he fancies."
us he, indeedY"
There was an encouraging note in
her tone.
"Oh, extremely! Now, in the matter
of buying those shares, they were
never actually quoted at that figure,
you know, but he needed them very
OdQlyt anu uG AACo lAC PAANC 0(NOAo
ingly, whereas he might have pur-
chased them for a fifth as much and
still paid you the highest marke'
rate"
Then he practically makes me a
gift of this?' And the countess fut-
tered the pink check d~isdainfully.
'Oh. no. Had / been selling the
shares for you, knowing how badly he
needed them, l could have forced him
to pay even more. No, it was a bust
ness transaction. but generosity was
displayed zone the less. And his offer
to hand over Hewington Acres at your
own terms-that is another example.
OF course he doesn't want the place
on his hands, but he could readily dis
pose Of 1t at a profit. Evidently he
wishes you to retain possession. how
ever"
$50 it would appear" unused the
countess Il wonder why?"
Nicholas pursed his lips quizzically.
II suppose it has not occurred to you