Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-07-05

tShtiy at HiS sue us lie looked at ner.
Yes. yes! Go. and-and smash
them" The fighting spirit. Of all the
old Continental Hewingtons must
have blazed up and burned anew IN
her brown eyes. Don't let them beat
you. Smash them hard!' She made
n gesture with her soft. white hands
to illustrate what she wished him to
do. The Cherub smiled.
But you will not run away while
am gone. will you?" he demanded.
Perhaps Motif you smash them
hard enough. Hurry. He is start
ing"'
She whired him about by the sboul.
ders and pushed him toward the door
Hold on. Nick. I'm coming" shout
ed the Cherub.
The countess ran down the steps
and tossed a package to him.
Il almost forgot" she said breath
lessly. II wanted to ask you to sell
those for me. They're some stocks
or bonds or something, and want
them sold. That's ALL"
The inner works of the vehicle be-
gan to whir violently. the big car
leaped forward. and a moment later
the Countess Vecchi could see only
little cloud of dust that showed
through the trees lining the road to
he village.
1t remained for train boy to dis
close just how the public viewed the
crisis in Mr. Devine's affairs. Half
way to the city the boy came aboard
with the early afternoon editions.
From the headlines it was evident
that the disturbance in Wall street
had become a popular topic, the sensa-
ton Of the hour.
One enterprising journal INDUCED In
a half page cartoon. which WAS sup
posed to represent the situation. 1t
was entitled "Pluckins a Cherub."
scandalous caricature of Mr.. Devine
1t was. showing him most inadequate
ly clothed. but possessed of a pair of
wings from which group Of bad
boys were gleefully pulling what few
feathers remained. While the victim
rubbed his fists into tear leaking eyes
and made no attempt at defense
"Oh. my, lnyv' and Mr.. Devine rock
ed mirthfully over the cartoon.
ut would be funnier if it wasn't so
id near the truth" growled Wal
loway. ''Of course don't know just
how deep you've plunged on this p,
2. and N. deal. but gathered that
you'd gone in rather Steep"
YES" admitted the Cherub more
soberly. 81 have In fact. it's the big.
gest thing | ever tackled"
Nick Walloway gazed at him incred.
ulously. And right in the middle Of
it you take day Off to feed the swans
at Hewington Acres!'
I'D take year off if it was neces-
sary."
Young Mr.. Walloway paled little
"Devine." he began hesitatingly. Its
its the countess. isn't it,"
The pink in the Cherub's chubby
cheeks flashed up behind his ears
THE countess! he exclaimed.
"Why. she's way out Of my class,
Nick. Oh. she's about a hundred per
cent too good for me-aristocratic, re-
fined. old family and all that. Why.
she wouldn't look at me. Nick! You
know she wouldn't
II know that you've been looking Mt
her and-and"- Something was liz.
terfering with the speech of young Mr..
Walloway. However, he mastered the
grasped the Cherub's right hand and
gave it crushing grip. IL wish
you luck. Old man.
Perhaps Mr.. Devine was little sur
prised by This unexpected display OF
emotion from the usually reserved |
young man. If he was he brushed it |
aside
Luck nothing, Nick! Much obliged |
for your good wishes. my boy. but
haven't the ghost of a show. Now. If |
l was chap like you there'd be some |
hope for me. Say. Nick. l wonder you
never took a.
BEG pardon. Devine. but let's stick
intrude my advice on personal mat
tiers. but if l were you would drop
F., z. and n. until you can give your
whole time and thought to the bust
ness. Why don't you pull out?''
The Cherub ceased to stare dreamily.
"Nick." he said abruptly. I'm tell you
I've changed my plans.
I'm going to do something besides
speculate in that stock. I'm going to
buy that road. and I've got TO get
control before next Friday noon"
"Cherub. you're cray. It's imposSi-
bic. Why. the Ratcs-Eimmcr crowd
in two-tifths of the stock yes
tcrday. so they say You know what
that mcans-thpy'll wreck it. wiring 1t
dry The small outside holders have
been tumbling over each other to I'M
load. See here"-and he pointed to
on his knee-"tifty lots Of
fered during the first half hour today
and the quotations dropping by quar-
ter points. Why. you cant stop 'em.
man. They've got you on the run"
"Yes, yes. 1t looks like 1t, | know.
But wait until I've had chance at
them. Let me think this thing over
Mr. Nicholas WallOway withdrew
into his corner of the smoking COM
partment to stare absentmindcdly out
Of the window. The Cherub was soon
apparently engaged in profound con-
temptation Of the end of his cigar.
You would not have guessed. to look
1T him. that he was considering any
thing more serious than the flavor OF
he tobacco. Not until they were on
he ferry did he break the silence.