The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-05-13

might. nave known you WOulu
find out. But what of it?"
why, not much" answered the
Cherqb slowly, 'only--only this: Some
ones been holding up the old gentle,
man for remittances ever since the
count died, using the counts name,
or course I'm not sure who that some
body was. but the arrow points to you
How about it, eh?''
| The man across the table began to
think. His air of indifference van
ished. He fumbled nervously with
| the table silver. Inside Of two min
utes he had broken down completely
and was making a full confession, to
which Cherub Devine listened with
| placid satisfaction and indulgent mods
Of encouragement.
| "'The interview ended amicably BY
| the time it was over the eX-prisoner
had recovered his compOsure and de-
velOped an appetite for Sirloin steak
| also he had accepted Mr.. Devine's Of
fer to become his guest for the night
| And early next morning there ar
| rived at Hewington Acres once more
a cheerfully audacious Cherub Devine.
who seemed quite unaffected by the
forbidding austerity with which Ep-
| pings chose to regard him as he in
quired for the countess.
| After some moments, during which
he paced up and down the reception
hail Mr.. Devilre was shown into the
| library with as much formality as if
| this was his first visit. Nor was the
| attitude of Mr.. Hewington as he re-
ceived the Cherub at all reassuring.
| "1ye been looking up that count of
| yours remarked the Cberub Hes
been defunct for nearly two years. l
| it's all o.. N"
| impossible. Mr. Devine. Why-why
Il have been in communication with
! him. = - - .frT
a'1Ehat was your mistake You've
been in communication with a smooth
young chap who couldn't resist the
! chance to- play a new bunko game for
! all it was, worth. How were the let
| tiers signed which came from the count
after he was sent to that SanitariumT'
BY. his secretary, l believe. Per
Il. G. That was it,
"Sure. And the +. c. stood for
| Francois Cunetto. I've had q heart. to
| heart talk with Francois and got his
whole history. As you might guess
/ by his name. he's half French and
| half Italian, which is not bad COM
! binatiOn. There was good blood on
both sides. but no money on either
! so that's why he didn't finish the med
| zeal course that he came over here to
fake. When his funds ran out he goes
back to Italy, drifts up into Switzer
! land and gets a job as assistant house
| doctor in this sanitarium where they
were trying TO cure Count Vecchi Of
| seeing pink whiskered tadpOles and
other variegated fauna"
3"Really. now, Mr.. Devine!" protested
Mr.. Hewington.
"Why shy SO at the facts?' asked
| the Cherub. Count or no count, that
was his complaint. Why, his nerves
were in such shape he couldn't even
| sign his name to a letter. And that's
| where young DR.. Cunetto was let in.
When the counts remittance from you
was overdue he dictates letter to
| Francois. He gets him to cash your
check, too, and Francois learns the
whole story about the runaway count
ess, and her rich father. Then the
/ count dies. A delayed check comes
| in, and the doctor is tempted to see
that the money isn't wasted; also he
observes that the passing of the count
| is kept quiet. 1t occurs to him that you
hadn't been notified of the sad event.
That being the case, he sees no reason
| why the remittances shouldn't con-
! tinue, so he keeps you posted on the
dates when they're due. See how it
| works Out!'
.'Why, the scoundrel" exclaimed
Mr.. Hewington. I've been swindled {.
l shall write to him at once and
mo need to write. He's over here
j He's coming to call on you this after
nOon.'
"The impudent rascal! Why, IL
shall have him apprehendedr'
II hope not" said the Cherub mild
ly. THAT would complicate things
We didn't treat him very well the
last time he was here"
"The last tilAe." echoed Mr. Hew-
| ington. 90.
| "Yes. He was the chap we had
shut up in the icehousc. YOU know
He was scouting around to see what
style you lived in before he played his
cards. ~.
"Fhe unprineipled wretch!'
HE isn't as honest as he might be,
but: then circumstances have been
against him."
L shall refuse to hear a word from
him, STRIP declared Mr.. Hewington.
~ Now, that's too bad. He's coming
TO refund the amount he tricked you
out of. You see, I've taken him Oh
my private staff and advanced him
SIX months pay, so he could start
square. Isn't that better than getting
into legal snarl with him, eh?"
but | fail to understand, Mr. De-
vine. What is your motive in doing
thisY
1T has something to do with the
countess. he confessed
"The countess! Pray. Mr., Devine,
kindly leave my daughter out of this
discussion"
mot mucl.' declared the. Cherub.
'Say, YOU might just as well get used
4 A. ~ A1-f 4.