Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-29

Ait 1Oos oAC WIFI OA, 0AIGA a
pause-"you are interested In her
also?"
Naturally" came the rejoinder.
But why should MI. Devine wish
to-
cpl explain all that. When he
found that l happened to be the lady's
husband he decoyed me here and
locked me up"
"Oh, oh-her husband! | don't be-
lieve a word of it. not a word! It
it's a mistake, all a mistake. Why
should you think that Mr.. Devine cares
enough for her toto be so unjust to
you as this?"
'Only because he as good as told
me so himself. You see, my wife and
l have been living apart. He thought
l was dead. When | appear he finds
me in the way. So he locks me up.
But If there's any mistake l wish
you'd point 1t out to Mr.. Devine. Think
there is, eh?"
"Oh, / don't know what to think"
The Countess Vecchi was determined
to hold back her tears at the unex-
pected revelations. though, until she
had put a few more questions. They
were the ones she had beer longing to
ask from the first.
'"This-this other No: l mean this
lady of whom you Speaks she
young?"
Just twenty-three."
MY own age" thought the countess.
Then she added aloud, And she is
quite pretty. l supposeY"
'Oh. she's pretty enough. But it's
chiefly her cute ways which make her
fascinating to men,"
..Oh." The countess caught her
hreath Sae i faseinat-
ing? Is she a blond?'
mot a bit-lovely dark hair. big
dark eyes. Her eyes are her strong
point"
"Oh, l see." commented the countess,
then to herself: Its because l look
something like her. Ard she's young
and fascinating. Humph!'
"Glad l could tell you about her.
observed the prisoner. but if you
don't mind | think I'll climb down of
this cot. It's rather rickety. and ]
feel another sneezing fit coming on.
Was there anything more"
Il beg your pardon" she said ear
nestly. Listen. You must go away
from here at once"
Nothing would please me better, but
l can't crawl through these holes"
II know, and l haven't a key to the
paddock. But l shall get one. If ]
can't get the key l shall demand that
you be set at liberty. I'll go to my
father, to Mr.. Devine. and"-
"Oh. l wouldn't bother them about
it. Just you say nothing at all, but
find the key, undo the lock and then
slip away. Perhaps you'd better wait
until afternoon"
But it's such a shame. keeping you
shut up here like a criminal"
That's so. I told them 1t was an
outrage. And I've caught a f~rightful
cold too. Think you can find the key,
don't your"
Pm sure | can. I'll send Timmins
on an errand and look in his desk"
I'm greatly obliged. you know,
You're a trump. It's mighty good OF
you"
ut isn't at all. I couldn't do less,
and if l ever speak to Mr.. Devine
again it will be only to tell him what
l think of such cruel treatment. Good
by. I'm going now"
"Goodby and good luck" came faint
ly through the air holes in the door.
Perhaps it was best that the count
ess could not see the grimace of salts
faction which accompanied the words
as she departed to get the key to that
paddock on the icehouse door.
Thus it happened something after
this fashion: The time vas late after
noon between 5 and 6 o'clock. when the
golden autumn day was about to end
in a blaze of sapphire light that was
soon to fade into IN empty arch of tur'
quoise blue. The Countess Vecehi was
reading on the upper veranda. 1t had
become we'll understood In the sery'
ants wing that the brief but disturb
ing reign of that Devine person was
over. Twice he had impudently offer
ed his hand and fortune to the Count
ess Vecchi. and twice he had beer
scornfuIly refused. The parlor maid
knew all the details.
Just now Timmins appeared up the
left carriage drive. He was on foot
and leading a half grown Jersey calf
He had been sent to purchase the cali
from the Wilbur-Tremway's head dai
ryman.
Suddenly the icehouse door swung