Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-05-27
CHAPTER Y.

III ar LIZ ~.
4 NICHOLAS squirmed little In
Nj his CHAIR
MIR. Devine Ia In many ways
\ a-er-u remarkable man."
III he were only something besides
q stock gambler. II he would only up.
ply his talents TO something differ.
emit"
II hadn't thought of his talents a.
being misdirected." he said slowly.
but he has evidently been listening
to some one who thinks as you do, for
he tells ME that he has given up spec.
ulating In stocks"
"He-he has given up! Whyl
WhenY'
AT noon today. when he obtained
control Of the r.. z. aud N. railroad
and became Its president"
"A railroad president! Why. that II
Quite-Quite respectable. isn't it,"
almost" gravely asseuted Mr.. Wal.
loway.
Isn't he splendid?" exclaimed the
countess. clasping her hands. "And
don't you think. Nicholas. now that he
has-well. reformcd-that he will be
asked about among nice peopley"
MY dear countess" began Nicholas,
once more assuming the judicial pose.
you must not forget that he Is still
Cherub Devine. AS a successful ma.
nipulator Of stock be Is entitled to re-
spect: as railroad president he will
be a financial power to be reckoned
with: as to his social fitness. that Is q
matter 10 which ! have not given the
attention which you appear
Am ! being lectured. Nicholas Wal.
iowayi" asked the countess demurely.
II trust We have known each other
long enough. Adele. for me to offer q
friendly suggestion. But II you resent
such
.OL. no! Go on. Nicholas. What
else about Mr.. Devine2"
Young Mr.. Walloway flushed under
the subtle mockery Of her eyes
Nothing more. countess and be
bowed stiflly. ''only did not know
that you considered Mr.. Devine a-a"-
The countess laughed lightly. "Oh
I've told him he wasn't"
"You-you said that to the Cherub p
The countess nodded.
"And he-what did he''-
HE said he had never claimed to be
a gentleman"
AIR Young Mr.. Walloway seemed
to have gained new viewpoint His
exclamation was one Of relief. Now
be could understand the attitude OF
the countess toward Cherub DevIne
1t was merely an impersonal interest
which she had taken In a somewhat
picturesque public character whom
she had CHANGED to zee at close range
II beg pardon for my suggestion
he went on. II see you know the
Cherub better than l thought. Inter.
esting chap. isn't he? He has his
good points, too-oh. really, has a code
Of honor all his own that be sticks to
A. faithfully ~ II it werewolf, the
accepted code. And he IL generosity
itself to those whom he fancies."
us he. indeedf
There was an encouraging note In
her tone.
"Oh. extremely Now. in the matte,
Of buying those shares, they were
never actually quoted at that figure
you know. but he needed them very
badly. and he fixed the price accord.
ingly. whereas be might have pur.
chased them for q nth as much and
still paid you the highest market
rate"
'Then he practically makes me q
gift Of thisr And the countess nut.
tered the pink check disdainfully.
"Oh. no! Had I been selling the
shares for you. knowing how badly he
needed them, / could have forced him
to pay even more. No. 1t was bust
ness Transaction, but generosity was
displayed none the less. And his offer
to hand over Hewington Acres at your
own terms-that II another example.
OF course he doesn't want the place
on his hands. but he could readily dis
pose Of 1t at a pront. Evidently he
wishes you to retain possession. how.
ever" sksE
80 It would appear" unused the
countess. II wonder whyr
Nicholas pursed bis lips quizxically.
Il suppose 1t has not occurred to you
that he might be-well, interested In