Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-16

countess, Mr.. Hewington and Tim
minis should all pay dearly for this
high handed outrage.
You're cursed Yankee pigp howl
ed the imprisoned count.
Sorry you're so stirred up over It. }"
soothingly observed the Cherub.
"Kidnaperr' shrieked the count.
Guilty responded the Cherub.
-'First offense, though. Now for heav-
ems sake calm down"
Its beastly in here! Ny shoes are
getting full of something's
Nothing but sawdust," answered
the Cherub. "I'H have Timmins
spread rug or something over it."
IN make it hot for you when get
outr'
"sureI And for the Hewingtons,
too, expectT
You'll both have to pay for this as
soon as I'm free"
There! You seer exclaimed the
Cherub cheerfully. You'd stir up a
bad muss, of course. We could put
you in jail for attempted blackmail,
but that would bring out that the
countess wasn't a widow, and all that
old gossip would be dug up again and
printed in all the papers, and I'd be
held up as a kidnaper. No, my dear
count, it wouldn't do at ALL"
The Cherub had wished him a pleas
ant evening and a good nights rest
and was just turning to go to the sta
bles to see Timmins when he found
himself facing Mr.. Hewington. AS
constituent was stamped on every line
of THE old gentleman's aristocratic
countenance.
'why-why, Mr.. Devine! You seem
TO be holding conversation with some
person in there" And he indicated
the closed door of the icehouse.
"Guess 1 was" admitted the Cherub
'cHow singular! And-er-might l.
er-ask"-
Suppose you don't" put in the Cher
ub. 'Tt would simplify matters a lot
If you didn't"
81 have been accustomed, Mr.. De
vine, to be told of all that went on
about this estate, even to the smallest
detail. 1 should like to know, sir, to
whom you were talking just now"
'All right" said the Cherub, with a
gesture of resignation. There's the
gentleman's CT g"
AS Mr.. He1gington replaced his
glasses and read the full name Of
Count Vecchi an expression of COM
piete CONSERVATION, not to say panic,
spread over his features.
"ImpossibleI" he whispered hoarsely.
"Just what 1 thought when he
sprung it on me-" commented the Cher
ub. IT told him he was a dead one
he says he isn't"
''Then the count isn't dead, ehY'
Cherub. Devine watched with mild
amusement the confusion Of mind into
which Mr.. Hewington was immediate
ly plunged.
my dear Mr.. Devine," said he at
last, taking the Cherub by the arm
and leading him away from the ice
house, "I-er-ah-that isl hardly
know how toto
Eyes; I understand. Why not let 1t
come straight out. thought
"Well, must begin by making the
regretful admission that we discovered
soon after my daughters marriage
indeed, on the very day of the cere-
mony-that he was person Of disso-
lutte habits"
Eyes. 1 heard all that the first day 1
struck here. And thenY'
"Then, sir, there was an immediate
separation. For time 1 continued to
supply him with funds, however, but
after we left Italy I gradually ceased
to do so. About two years ago the
II AtaA
was necessary to confine him in a san
itarium. He disappeared from his old
haunts. This gave rise to the rumor
that he was dead. It was so reported
here. Naturally the countess assumed
appropriate mourning garb. A few
weeks later we learned the falseness
of the rumor. The count was still in
the sanitarium and much benefited by
his stay there. But this fact was not
made public"
'T see," said the Cherub. HE says
he's come to collect that income you
promised him."
1.-THE impudent scoundrelP' exclaim-
ed Mr.. Hewington, lifting his clinched
fists.
That's the talki wouldn't give up |
to him If I were you. But he says If |
be isn't paid he'll bring suit and adj |
vertise the fact that he's still alive.e
THE villainr' gasped Mr.. Hewing- |
ton.
81, had him sized up that way from
the start. That's why / chucked him /,
In on the ice.''
"On the-the ice, Mr.. DevineT'
"Why, sure! 1 thought he'd cool OF
quicker in there than anywhere else"
"Ah had forgotten! That is the ice
house, of course. And he threatens to |
make public his identity? This is ter
rihla.. Mr. Deyine. 1 have told every