Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-05-19

CHAPTER xL
TOW. one doesn't expect to nnd a
man In frock coat and silk hat |
lodging behind bushes on /
= place like Hewington Acres |
xee Cherub Devine bad come to asso-
ciate that particular part Of Long 10 |
land with all sorts of surprises.
1t appeared that this new arrival had |
intended to see without being seen,
but be had not been quite Quick
enough Without stopping to consider
just why be was doing 1t Mr.. Devtne
promptly Joined In the game BY step
ping into the shrubbery also
The Cherub parted the bushes eau
uously. He discovered the stranger
doing the same thing. Twice the
Cherub stole stealthily around q bush,
sure OF having executed a successful
dank movement on the unknown. only
to find that he had disappeared like q
fash
Taking OF his straw hat, the Cherub
balanced 1t carefully on the top of
rhododendron and began making
cautious detour. TO walk in stoop
ing position for any distance one
need to be In good condition, and
thirty eight waist measure doesn't
help. The Cherub was already red OF
face and breathing heavily when he
suddenly rounded little thicket OF
stunted frs and found himself within
arms length of slender. sallow faced
person. who was holding silk hat be
hind him mr. -.
crown of straw one which showed
above a bush some twenty yards
away
Even side view from behind was
enough to reveal the foreigner. for the
jet black mustache and the little IN
derlip tuft that curled over the chin
were distinctly of alien cut and trim.
well. what's the game?
The stranger was an amazingly cool
sort He merely turned quickly meas
ured Mr.. Devine with one fash OF
keen brown eyes, lifted his prows eX
pressively and shrugged his shoulders
Nov. perhaps you'li tell me what ii
is all about asked the Cherub.
| The strangers response TO this was
politely impudent stare
Il do not quite understand" be said.
with just the slightest foreign accent
MOP drawled the Cherub mocking
ly. Then there's two OF us in the
dark. But perhaps we can clear mat.
tiers up. | found you skulking in the
bushes Now. why?"
BEG pardon. sir. but do not recog
nize your right to question me III that
manner"
"Whe-e-ew: What naughty little
man it is!' laughed the Cherub 'Ah
come down of the stepladder. A min
ute or two ugo you were lodging
around as guilty as II you'd robbed a
fruit stand. Now. what are you up
to?"
Il am attending to my own AFFAIRS
SIR"
Then III help you said the Cher
ub. for Pm a good deal interested In
this place and what Is going on here"
Indeed" Again the stranger shrug
ged his shoulders. But ! don't know
you. sir"
Didn't act as II you wanted to-
either. But here's where we get ac-
quainted. just the same. My name's
Devine-Cherub Devine."
"EhY What?" gasped the stranger
staring increduIousiy. "Why-er-a
thousand pardons. Mr.. Devine: allow
me-" and he hastily brought out a
cardcase.
Luigi Salvatore Veccht." read the
Cherub. With some hesitancy In pro-
nouncing the names, "Vecchi. chr An.
l see: Some relation of the late
count'sy"
The stranger smiled indulgently
II am known as Count vecchi"
Had the Cherub been at all emo.
tional he would have gasped then. AS
It was. he nearly did. but seemed to
recover In time
"But-but you're not the Count vec
chi who-who married Miss Hewing
ton?"
The cigarette was waved toward the
rim Of his silk hat
II have that honor"
1t was the Cherub's turn to stare In
,redulously.
'See here" be said protestingiy
'either you're a dead count or live
liar. and ] guess the last description
fits best. Come, come! You've sprung
that bluff on the wrong person.
happen to know that the real Count
vecchi has been dead for couple OF
years."
Il can only quote the words OF you'
own great humorist. that the reports
Of my death have been greatly exag
gerated Here am. you see"
The Cherub noted that the leather
IN rdcaso which tho SRA nper still hpiC