Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-06-03
Cfihp1ER ri.

4 tN one UptSl eA poet IN ana /!
z man IN trnCk coat nud silk hal
Y GuG.lu. behind bushes Oh a
l. place like IeWin-tou Acres.
Yet Cherub Dcvine had come TO asso-
ciate that particular part OF Long Is
land With all sorts % surprises.
Itappearcd that this new arrival had
intended - see without being seen.
tut he had not been quite quick
enough Without stopping TO consider
Just Why he was doing IL Mr. Devine
promptly Joined in the game by step
ping into the shrubbery also.
The Chcrub parted the bushes eau
ttouSly. He discovered the stranger
doing the same thing. Twice the
Cherub stole stealthily around bush.
sure Of having executed a successful
flank movement on the unknown. only
TO find that he had disappeared like
FAST
Taking Off his stray hat, the Cherub
balanced 1t carefully on the top Of
rhodcdendron and began making
cautious detour. 10 walk In q stOop-
Ing position for any distance one
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 a little thicket Of
stunted frs and found himself within
arms length OF slender. sallow faced
person. " no was holding silk hat be-
hind him and intently gazing at the
crown of straw one which showed
above bush some twenty yards
away.
Even side view from behind was
Jet black mustache and the little I'm.
derlip tuft that curled over the chin
were distinctly of alien cut and trim.
We'll, what's the game!"
The stranger was au amazingly cool
sort. He merely turned quickly. meas
ured Mr.. Devine with one fash Of
keen brown eyes. lifted his brows ex-
pressively and shrugged his shoulders.
snow. perhaps you'll tell me what 1t
is all about" asked the Cherub.
The strangers response to this was
a politely impudent stare.
II do not quite understand" he said.
with just the slightest foreign accent.
"No!" drawled the Cherub mocking-
~. 'Thcn there's two OF US in the
dark. But perhaps We can clear mat
tiers up | found you skulking in the
bushes Now. whyT
beg pardon. sir. but do not recog-
nize your right to question me in that
manner
"Whe-eew! What q naughty little
man it is"' laughed the Cherub. "Ah.
come down or the stepladderi A min.
ute or two ago you were lodging
around as guilty as II you'd robbed a
fruit stand. Now. what are you up
tor
Il am attending to my own affairs.
SIR"
Then I'll help you," said the Cher.
ub. for I'm a good deal interested in
this place and what is going on here"
"lndeed!' Again the stranger shrug'
ged his shoulders. But I don't know
you. SIR"
Didn't act as IL you wanted to-
either. But here's where we get &C
qnainted. just the same. My names
Devine-Cberub Devine."
"Eh? What!" gasped the stranger
staring incredulousiy. "Why-er-s
thousand pardons. Mr.. Devine: allow
me-" and he hastily brought out q
cardcase.
Luigi Salvatore y vecchi." read tht
Cherub. with some hesitancy in pro
nounciDg the Names. '.vecehi. eh7 An
see. Some relation OF the latt
count'sy'
The stranger smiled indulgently.
Il am known as Count vecchi."
Had the Cherub been at all emo
tional he would have gasped then. A,
1t was. he nearly did. but seemed 4
recover in time. Il
~ But-but you're not the Count vec
Chi who-who married Miss Hewing
tonT' i<.>ss
The cigarette was waved toward tn
rim Of his silk hat.
Il have that honor"
1t was the Cherub's turn to stnre in
crodulously.
"See here" he said protestingly
''either you're a dead count or a liv,
liar. and l guess the last description