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

/ QuOlSe Dlue. p ue SJOuuteSS teCCul Wdf
reading on The upper veranda. 1t hat
become well understood in the serv
ants wing that the brief but disturb
Ing reign OF that Devine person was
over. Twice he had impudently offer
ed his hand and fortune to the Count
ess vecchi, and twice he had beer
scornfully refused. The parlor maid
knew all the details.
Just now Timmins appeared up the
left carriage drive. He was ON foot
and leading half grown Jersey calf
He had been sent to purchase the cali
from the Wibur.Tremway's head dai
| ryman.
Suddenly the icehouse door swung
gently outward on its hinges. while a
man. wearing wrinkled frock coat
and silk hat whose luster was
somewhat dImmed by a drapery OF
cobwebs, stenped cautiously out. Next
he glanced In the direction of the
house.
Above the shrubDery he could see
only the roof and the dormer windows
of the upper story. but apparently he
was satisfied Then he turned and
looked toward the stables. No one was
in sight there, but the man in the silk
hat shook his fist>at the sunset redden-
ed windows.
Had he cast glance directly behind
him he would have seen Timmins and
the calf just coming into view ovet the
crest Of little rise in the rolling drive
way. But he cast no such glance. Ev-
identity he knew Of only one exit from
Hewfngton Acres. the right gateway,
by which he had entered. and he at
once struck businesslike gait in max.
ing for it.
The discreet Timmins was both star
tied and puzzled He did not wish to
shout and alarm the folks in the
house, for that would reveal the Sc
cret Of the prisoner. Neither did he
wish to release the calf. Yet he could
not stand there and watch the man
escape. That would never do. What
would Cherub Devine say? Timmins'
sharp little eyes narrowed menacingly.
With the free end Of the rope he gave
the Jersey calf a smart whack on the
ribs, rudely rousing it from its peace
full promenade. The calf jumped
ahead. So did Timmins. Yanking and
wiacking. running and leaping. the
pair Of them careered impetuously
across the velvety lawn. crashing
through shrubbery. lodging between
trees and making straight course for
the right hand driveway. .
We have all we can manage to pic
ture the CONSERVATION Of the escaping
prisoner when he saw himself headed
off by this homogeneous tandem. No
doubt he instantly recognized Timmins
as his jailer, for after moments as
tonished hesitation he doubled on his
tracks.
In spite Of his lack Of knowledge Of
the geography Of the grounds. the fee
ing prisoner was not to be caught cas-
lily. He dashed down one Of the gar
den paths. So the placid meditations
of Mr.. Hewington. who was in the
garden, were interrupted by the noise
Of rapidly approaching footsteps. The
next moment he had a glimpse Of an
individual in frock coat who was
sprinting toward him at top speed.
Involuntarily Mr.. Hewington raised
his arms and stepped directly into the
middle Of the path. That was quite
sufficient. The runner dug his heels
into the gravel. checked his flight long
enough for one dazed look and prompt
ly dashed into clump of golden glow,
to the view Of Timmins
second later headed toward the house.
Evidently the man was bewildered or
else he would not have failed to OBJ
serve the by no means inconspicuous
figure of Mrs. Timmins looming large
in the kitchen door.
"Stop i'm, Maggie! Stop 'im:"
Timmins. abandoning all Sc
crecy now.
Mrs. Timmins was not one to wait
for explanations at such time. Tim
Minis wanted somebody stopped. and
stopped he should be. With surpris-
ing agility she got her huge bulk in
motion and moved imposingly and at
right angles upon the refugee. AS
she did this Timmins. dragging the
calf and followed by Mr. Hewington.
closed in on the other side. But the
bessie was tired of the game or else he
was winded. He no longer bounded
upon his wabbly legs. now
ahead. now just behind Timmins. He
stuck his forefeet straight out and
sawed balkily at the lead rope.
This left gap of some ten yards IN
the line OF ofYense. and through it the
hunted man bolted bravely, the tails
pf his frock coat tluttering tannting |
salute as he spurted toward freedom
The sedate Eppings was just in time
TO view thu escape with open mouth
aud staring eyes.
"Tyke after i'm. you blooming
screamed the disguised Tim
Minis. ivy .lon't you tyke after
imp
Thus exhorted, the butler did break
into stiff trot. which was so patiently
Ineffective that Timmins might have
aughed had the occasion been less
serious. As 1t was, he only gasped out
III exclamation Of disapproval. threw
he calfs lead rope to Mr.. Hewington.
With the suggestion. Here. you odd
i'm. governor" and darted after his
prisoner.
Do you wonder. then. at the amaze
nent Of the Countess Vecchi when
nto the calm Of the sunset hour burst
his animated procession-frst. a man
swinging silk hat in his right hand
Ind painting as he ran; next. Tim
nins, his elbows close to his sides