Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-04-08


 tant."
 As result Hewington Acres hum- med with anticipation. What could it mean? What had happened? What was going to happen?
 Eppings was certain that Mir. Devine was bringing home some titled guest, possibly a duke or lord. and he pre- pared dinner accordingly. The count ess was puzzled. Even Mr.. Hewing- ton emerged from his study and want ed to know whygevery one seemed so disturbed.
 Its because of Mir. Devine sir" said Eppings Hes coming up on a special train. sir, and must see about the table at once, sir"
 Surely the particular frame of mind which Mir Devine had conjured up for himself was quite worthy of better audience than he gave 1t, although he was neither serene nor filed with con fident joy. But he was very much alive. He bubbled, sparkled. scintil- lated. His mental faculties. never dull. were at their keenest. His spirits seemed to be dashed by vertable storm of animation. one moment soar ing to giddy heights, the next sinking to dark depths.
 Young Mir Walloway. who was his sole companion, was somewhat dis gusted with this illogical behavior. Much against his will be had been dragged from his office to accompany the Cherub just when there was much work to be done.
 "Oh, the railroad be blowed. Nick! Cots of time to attend to that. Forget it."
 Yet now that they were well started toward HewingtOn Acres the Cherub evinced desire to talk, although the precise topic at which he was aiming was not clear. It was unrelated to railroads, for the opening was of an intimate and personal nature.
 Nick, you rascal" he suddenly ex- claimed, why aren't you married?"
 "Why aren't you, Cherub?" he re- torted
 "Mew Mir. Devine affected to be profoundly surprised at such a ques- tion. Now, come, Nick, what sort of fine woman would have Cherub De- vine?"
 You're too modest, Cherub. You underrate yourself. suppose you never tried?"
 Never had a chance, my boy. Why, see here. Nick, there's never been a time in all my life that I've had even a speaking acquaintance with a real good woman, such as you know by the dozen-that is, leaving out the last few days, of course. Now, with you it's been different. You've had chance to pick and choose"
 "Ah, have IT
 Cherub Devine caught the subdued note of pain in the quick rejoinder
 You don't mean. Nick, that you got turndown?"
 Brusque as were the words, they carried message of sympathetic feel ing which rang true. and that was the quality which made so many friends for Cherub Devine. Young Mir. Wallo- way was certainly not the one to make offhand condolences. but he nodded his head in assent.
 Unexpectedly finding himself an in- truder on private grounds, MT. Devine curbed his buoyancy and gazed with embarrassed emotion at the proprietor thereof.
 "Oh, we'll" he observed, maybe you're just as well off Guess 1t was some time ago, when you were young and vealy. ehY
 "l was young ass. if that's what you mean" cynically responded Mich. olas. "l was too sure of her and played the fool. You see. we were youngsters together. playmates It was one of those affairs that every body understood was settled from the time we were a dozen years old. l took it as a matter of course that was the only person she could ever care for. In time she resented it, and Iefore knew 1t I had lost her" Went off with some one else, did she?"
 Again young Mir Walloway inclined his head. He got up, took a seat on the other side of the car and unfolded | hS" Slr'pNls It was less than an hours ride at l best, but before it was half over Cherub De"ine was consulting watch i and time table and had again shifted | his seat to the forward chair, where he | could watch for the name boards on 1 the stations. Perceiving this unusual agitation of | a mind normally free from such dis | turbances, you might suspect that Mir | Devine was about to make some great | venture. It was a fact His plans. | however, were somewhat vague About 1 the only definite part of his program ! was his decision to turn himself out l of house and home immediately upon !! reaching Hcwington Acres. This de l tail was already prepared The Count ess Necchi should buy back the place 1 at her own terms. She now had the l means, and he was well assured of her i desire 10 do so.