Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-07-22

Marathon style: third, Mrs. Timmins.
very red Of face and her ample chest
billowing up and down like stormy
sea, but getting over the ground quite
rapidly; fourth, Eppings. his solemn
eyes almost popping out Of his head,
and ut the rear her father. vainly try
ing to urge the reluctant calf into a
livelier gait?
The race between Timmins and his
elusive prisoner was progressing very
prettily. They were keeping to the
driveway now, and the smooth macad-
am offered fine footing. At once there
came to the ears Of all concerned the
sharp. imperious honk-honk of an au-
tomobile horn.
ed in through the gates and at sight
of the advancing procession in the
roadway was brought to sudden
stop. From the back seat of the ton.
neau stepped forth Cherub Devine. It
was the most dramatic and opportune
entrance he had ever made in all his
career.
The panting fugitive halted. stared
apprehensively at the Cherub, then
cast hurried look over his shoulder
at Timmins. Quickly he made his
choice. Turning like fash. he dodg-
ed Timmins neatly. Another moment
and he had circ.ed around Mrs. Tim.
| MINIS
Perhaps he would have been dou-
bling and lodging yet had there not
| occurred diversion. The calf in its
excitement had begun running in a
circle and had wound Mr.. Hewington
up with the rope so that he could
move neither hands nor feet. Mr..
Hewington was loudly calling for Ep-
pings.
Just then. however. it was Eppings'
turn to try stopping the prisoner He
was already jumping from one side Of
the road to the other in order to con-
fuse the enemy when Mr.. Hewing-
TONS cries for assistance distracted
his attention from the game. Years
of training showed there. Eppings
abandoned his post and started for his
master. A yell of rage from Timmins
reached his ears. Eppings saw the
fugitive about to speed past him. For
second he hesitated. Then. uniim.
bering his long legs and throwing dis.
erection to the winds, he hurled him.
self headlong across the road, wrap
ped his long arms midway about the
frock coat, and, amid cloud of dust
captor and captive came desperately
to earth.
AS such things go it was rather a
stirring finish-for 1t was all over.
"As fine a tackle as ever saw
made" declared the Cherub. "Ep.
pings. you're a winner. But how did
it all happen? How did he get out?"
The Countess vecchi, who. with the
help Of Mrs. Timmins, had separated
Mr.. Hewington from the calf, came
up just in time to hear this question
asked.
Il think l can best answer Mr.. De-
vine." said she. with just a suspicion
of sarcasm in her tone. 1T was I who
released this gentleman from the Ice
house. Timmins, will you please step
one sidey'
But, miss, 'e's such a.
"Timmins! reproved the countess
"You want to let him go, do you.
countess?" queried the Cherub.
II do"
Then scoot." and Cherub Devine
pointed chubby thumb over his
shoulder.
Thanks" said the ex-prisoner, and,
with faint grimace in the very face
"f the baffled Timmins, he started OF.
Not until he had disappeared around
the first curve of the driveway was
word spoken. Then Cherub Devine.
who had been regarding the averted
face Of the countess with whimsical!
look in his blue eyes. broke the spell.
II suppose" he began. you wonder
why we had him shut up in''-
II understand perfectly" said the
countess Gle told me all about 1t
himself"
"Oh. then you had talk with him.
eh?"
Il did" The countess was looking
steadily at him. and she paused as If
to invite criticism Of her action.
The Cherub shrugged his shoulders.
He was beginning to realize that some
thing more than the mere escape Of
this Count Vecchi had occurred.
Could there have been a reconcilia.
ton? The Cherub could not credit
that.
Il expect he didn't tell you. though.
just why got so interested in him,
did he?" and Mr.. Devine favored the
countess with one of those instanta-
neous winks Of his by which he was
wont to express mirthful audacity.
''He made everything quite clear,
Mr.. Devine." said the countess. with
significant emphasis. "And. while l
can hardly approve Of your motives.
I can wish you every success in your
A s2|7
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