Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-04-09

ehH Don't forget that. about 9 o'clock. Just give me a line on how she takes it and so on. You'll have some re- port or other to make. I'll bet. Needn't make too much of my share in the business. Just talk like I'd handed 1t over to you, as have. You're equal to that job. aren't you?"
 Now, just what sort of mental proc ess went on in the brain of Nicholas Walloway 1t would be vain to try to trace. He was complex product whose character had been molded not only by circumstances of birth and breeding. but by the strong stamp of heredity.
 He was a young man chiefly distin- guished by a reserved stiffness of manner. a quality which often inspires a confidence that obvious genius fails to command. If. in hesitating to ac- cept the advantage offered him by the impulsive Mir. Devine. he was trou- bled by problems of an ethical nature. he allowed them to be easily swept away. For many mouths he had want ed to see the Countess Vecchi. Earnest ly he had wished for a chance to talk to her alone. and now this very oppor- tunity was thrust upon him.
 Well. Cherub, If you think you had better leave this to me. why. l"-
 Good. And don't forget about call nfcrh Inf what luck you have"
 No hint of this altered program. of course. had reached Hewington Acres, so 1t happened that when Timmins finally did bring up the lathered cobs with fine flourish the whole house. hold was assembled to witness the Cherub's much heralded return.
 The Countess Vecchi had at the last moment abandoned her angelic pose and yielded to curiosity. Mir. Hewing- ton was even more eager to learn what it was all about. Mir. Devine never knew just what he missed by backing out.
 In his stead there stepped from the carriage Mir. Nicholas Walloway. out wardly cool and self possessed, but se- cretly very much at loss to know just how he should proceed. For moment he regarded the expectant group with some astonishment. Then Mir. Hew- ington voiced the common thought in one question:
 why. Nicholas. where is Mir. De vine?"
 MT. Devine Is on his way back to town"
 But he sent word"- began the countess. only to be stopped by Mir. Walloway's nasty explanation.
 He has asked me to transact some business with you. countess. Might Ter And he glanced significantly at the door.
 The Countess vecchi promptly led him into the library.
 Well, Nicholas?" she asked
 Mir Walloway had seated himself at the library table and was sorting some documents. It had been years since she had called him Nicholas. We'll this was an suspicious beginning He smiled indulgently. strengthened his shoulders and placed his finger tips together in judicial manner. It was rather an effective pose. indicating the patiently receptive mood of a superior mind
 "My dear Adele"-
 "Mr. Wallowayw The Countess vec. chi could be most explosive young person, and her brown eyes could sim ulate indignation very convincingly.
 "But-but you called me Nicholas he protested.
 ''I didn't call you my dear Nicholas did I? l want to know why MT. De vine sent you instead of coming him self"
 Mir. Walloway proceeded to state not at all in the way he had meant tC put it his errand He told the count ess the amount for which the stock' had been sold and of her opportunit. to buy back Hewington Acres. Th Countess vecchi heard him with wid ening eyes.
 And l really have all that?"
 "The check is drawn for the ful amount, believe, less the brokerag commission. Here 1t is." A littl awed, she accepted the slip of pinl paper and stared at it incredulously.
 You are sure there's no mistake?"
 Mr. Walloway was quite sure. H explained that the shares had brough Sl,000 each and that there were hundred of them.
 "I don't in the least understand, said the countess, referring once mor to the check, but l hope that who ever paid that much for them coul afford-why, here is Mir. Devine namer'
 "Yes, he bought the shares, and | could well afford to at that price,"
 Gould he? Oh, and those horri men you were talking about! Did smash them"
 Mir. Walloway indulged in fail smile.
 "He did smash them"
 But did he smash them hard-t hard as l told him to?"
 "He made very thorough job of --ouite thorough"