The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-04-04
Cherub
Deviine
By SEWELL FORD
CspyriGhf. 1893. by Mitchell Kenneriey
CHAPTER VIII.

corner of the library. The Cherub
was smoking one Of his fat. black
cigars by special request of the count
ess, and he was regarding with ap-
proving eyes her slim white fingers as
they employed an ivory needle in the
fashioning Of some utterly useless af-
fair that looked like a lot of holes
edged with spider webs.
She was wearing some kind of
house gown, with lace falling allur-
ingly away from her white neck and
rounded arms. Somehow or other the
Cherub felt that he was enjoying a
rare privilege. He was inclined to
accept the gift humbly and in silence.
fearful lest it be taken suddenly away
from him.
And then came Eppings to announce
the presence of Mr.. Nicholas Wallo-
way, adding that his errand was ur-
gent and important.
perhaps l had better take my work
into another rOom," suggested the
countess, starting to rise.
mo, no! Don't disturb the cobwebs.
Nick's business isn't half so important
as he thinks it is. Bring him right in,
Eppings."
But l had rather not
Whatever her protest might have
been, it was cut short by the prompt
entrance Of young Mr.. Walloway. He
stopped abruptly, and it seemed as If
his gray eyes stared hungrily at the
pretty picture she made, standing
there In the morning sunshine. The
color went from his cheeks, and his
lips were tensely drawn.
"Well, Nick, you see I'm still rusti-
eating Great, isn't it?' smiled the
Cherub.
With an obvious effort young Mr..
Walloway shook off his embarrass-
ment. Acknowledging the Countess
vecchi with a stif1y formal bow, he
turned to the Cherub.
you must forgive me, Devine, for
hunting you up like this, but l thought
I ought to do it. It's matter Of bust
ness. Couldn't We And he looked
suggestively at the door.
Il haven't any Office here, Nick, and
mustn't mind, countess. Any business
do today will not take long"
But began Mr.. Walloway.
ooh, let's have 1t, Nick. Bottom
dropped out of something's" The Cher
ub was smiling amiably.
II rather think you would have
thought so if you had been on the
floor just before closing yesterday,
The Bates Rimmer crowd is after P,
z. and n. I believe they mean to COB
bic it up"
"Ah, that gang, eh?' This time the
Cherub showed his white teeth when
he smiled.
''They began it as soon as they found
you were not on deck, and they've
been at it ever since. Your brokers
had ten clerks out looking for you"
"Got nervous, did they?"
NERVOUS! Why, man, didn't you
see where P, z. and N. closed yester
day."
Haven't read a paper since I've
been here, Nick, and don't intend to
When you go back tell my brokers tc
keep COOL"
But the Bates-Rimmer crowd
| mean mischief, Cherub. There's q loi
| Of them in big pool, and they're ham
| mering your railroad holdings right
and left. Some one has been leaking
information, and they're hitting you
| where it will hurt. When l saw how
things were going 1 began wiring you
| Didn't you get the messages"
Il knew those must be from you
Nick; no one else knew where l was
But why didn't you answer"
"Well, l didn't read them, for one
thing; I was too busy. We were hav
ing a bully time, the countess and
feeding the swans"
| Feeding the swans!" Mr.. Nicholas
| Walloway made a gesture indicating
despair.
Did you ever watch swans squabble
for sweet crackers, Nick?"
| Crackers! You might just as wei
! have thrown punches Of thousand dol
lar bills at them. Why, Cherub, P, z
and n. opened at 1895 this morning
AS soon as found you hadn't shown
up I started for you. 1 had my cal
meet me at the station, and it's outside
| now. We can just make the IL: 81
back, and perhaps you'll be in time t.
stop them before it's all over. Come
on; let's start"
Sorry, Nick, but Couldn't think o.
1t. I'm taking holiday, you see.'
| "What! Do you mean to say tina
| you're not coming" Mr.. Wallowa!
gazed doubtingly at the Cherub.
Not today, Nick
"Oh, I say, Cherub, don't be an
he checked himself with swift glanc,
at the countess, whose brown eyes in
stantly sought the cobwebby stuff II
her lap. Don't be foolish" he con
tinued 'T haven't told you all-th
worst, you know"
well, you can tell me all about
tomorrow, Nick"
>, Tomorrow! Great Scott, man, yo
don't understand. They mean TO fin
ish the job today. Tomorrow Nigh
as well be next year. Why. you'v
barely a fighting chance left now, an
don't know that you have that. TIL
street is wild with it,
Il guess things are not as bad as a
that, Nick. I'll be down bright an
early In the morning.
Mr.. Walloway put both hands O
Mr.. Deyine's shoulders.
"Cherub," he said. speaking with a
effort at calmness, you're too goo
a man to be beaten by gang Hk
that. You must come back. Yo
have friends-lots of them. Well &c