The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-04-23


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 he reception
hall, Mr.. Devine 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.
I've been looking up that count of
yours" remarked the Cherub. Hes
been defunct for nearly two years.
had a man investigate the records. and
| it's all o. K"
Impossible. Mr.. Devine! why-why
Il have been in communication with
him"
That was your mistake You've
| been in communication with smooth
young chap who couldn't resist the
| chance to play q new bunko game for
| all 1t was worth. How were the let
| ters signed which came from the count
after he was sent to that sanitarium?"
by his secretary, l believe. Per
| F. c. That was it"
Sure! And the F. c. stood for
Francois Cunetto. I've had a 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
| ical course that he came over here to
take. When his funds ran out he goes
back to Italy. drifts up into Switzer-
land and gets 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"
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 q letter. And that's
where young DR.. Cunetto was let in.
i 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 1t
works out?'
"Why. the scoundrelr' exclaimed
Mr.. Hewington. 1--we been swindled
shall write to him at once and
mo need to write. He's over here.
He's coming to call on you this after
noon"
1.-The impudept rascal! Why. IL
shall have him apprehendedr'
Il hope not" said the Cherub mild
ly. THAT would complicate things.
We didn't treat him very we'll the
last time he was here
THE last time" echoed Mr.. Hew.
ington.
Yes. He was the chap we had
shut up in the icehouSe, you know.
He was scouting around to see what
style you lived in before he played his
cards."
THE unprincipled wretch
HE isn't as honest as he might be-
but then circumstances have been
against him."
Il shall refuse to hear a word from
him, sir" 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 on
my private staff and advanced him
six months pay. so he could start
square. Isn't that better than getting
into a legal snarl with him, eh?"
But l fail to understand. Mr.. De-
vine. What Is your motive in doing
this:'
1T has something to do with the
countess" he confessed.
THE countess! Pray, Mr.. Devine
kindly leave my daughter out Of this
discussion"
Not much-' declared the Cherub
Say, you might just as well get used
to it now as later. / think a whole
lot Of your daughter. Mr.. Hewington.'
Indeed, sir! Your impudence is as
founding / trust that you are not sc
presumptuous as to suppose that your
-er-your regard is in any measure
returned?'
THAT just describes the case, Mr.
Hewington. At least did have some
such idea until this fool Francois mud
died things up for me. Do you know
what he told the countessY'
II am not interested. sir"
Maybe not, but 1 want you TO listen
just the same. and l want you to LEI
him tell his revised story to the count
ess. Why. see here, she thinks
locked that chap up because ] was In
terested in his wife. Says he didn't
mean to tell any such yarn, but he
was posing as the count, and she
couldn't see him. and it just naturally
slipped out Nice position to put me
in. wasn't it,"
But Mr.. Hewington shook his head