Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-06-03

QUITE USED TO MI. Deyine's breezy
manner. He asked of Mr.. Devine
what was up.
"All kinds of things" responded the
Cherub, dropping into a red leather
chair and extracting enc of his black
cigars from ii waistcoat pocket.
Firstly" began the Cherub. you're
the chief attorney for that blasted
railroad I've just l. AIDED up with,
aren't you:"
Mr.. DriscOll nodded.
"GoGd. Now. as my private counsel
I'd like TO have you tell me II ! can
safely get rid of being president of 1t
within the next twenty-four hours"
Not tired of 1t so soon, are you"
'Tired! Why. say. Bob, there isn't
work enough about Job Of that kind
to keep a man awake. I put In all one
day trying to find things to do. by 10
o'clock I'd O.K.'d baskctful of gen.
eral orders that didn't know any
thing about. fired three fluffy haired
typewriter girls and issued Il dozen
annual passes to my friends. Then
my private secretary and ] sat around
and looked at each other until lunch
con time. l didn't show up again. No.
no. Bob! 1t may be highly respectable
and all that. but I've got TO be where
there's something doing. want to
get back into the street"
There's nothing to prevent you
from resigning."
Except putting In some one that'll
work things the way want em
worked. What do you say to old Rim
merY'
trimmer Of Chicago"
yep: the one we nipped on short
holdings. Now. he hates me as the
devil hates holy water. but he's a hus-
tier. and he knows the railroad game
but he won't stay down. and when he
gets up again Id rather have him on
my side than against me. Guess he'd
rather be with me too. How about
Rimmer ehY'
Mr.. DriscOll sent quick but appre-
NAabNG 6iaASC Ut tAC ShCi w. III
dorsed the Rimmer nomination.
Then that's settled" observed the
Cherub. You send for him In the
morning and put 1t up to him. fig
ure that he'll be mighty glad to crawl
on the band wagon. Now for item
No. 2. Bet million you couldn't
guess what I've been doing"
stake too high" laughed Mr.. Dris-
coll. but l think l could come near
guessing. You've been getting mar
RED"
"Z-z-z-ing. but that was close-I don't
think" replied the Cherub. You're
within gunshot. though. Bob. And l
expect ! might as well own up that
I'd like to. but there's no hope. /
found the right girl. oil right, and I'd
just told her about 1t, when who
should show up but a hubby"
mot hersr"
Fright! l thought all along she was
q widow. Every one thinks so. He's
one Of these cheap macaroni counts.
regular wife beaten, and their honey
moon didn't last more than a few
hours. She leaves him In Italy and
comes home. Then it's reported that
he has died In a sanitarium-family
don't deny 1t, girl puts on black, and
all hands hope 1t will soon be so. But
he refuses to die and comes over here
to hold them up for cash. As 1t hap
pens. the first person he runs across
Is me. Now. what do you suppose
did to him?"
Mr.. Driscoll's eyes concentrated Be-
riously on the bland face Of Cherub
Devine.
Il hope he began.
"Oh. didn't hurt himy' interrupted
the Cherub. "Pm no hothead-never
struck a man In my life-wouldn't
know how. But perhaps did worse.
l decoyed him to an icehouse and
locked him In there"
you whatw Even the composure
Of Bob DriscOll was stirred by this
unique confession.
Something had to be done right
away. So I Just jollied him along to
the icehouse. tolled him inside and shut
the door ON him"
$50 you locked him up. did you?
Why didn't you let him make his de-
mand and then have him arrested on
a charge Of blackmail?"
Couldn't. That would bring out the
whole story. See? She's been posing
as a widow. That's her fathers work
Think Of what the papers would make
Of that! No. no! We don't want to 60
into court. and the count mustn't"
I'm afraid. Cherub. that he's right
when he calls you a kidnaper. That
would be the technical charge. It's
rather a serious offense. too-felony.
you know"
"All right: I'm not sQueamish. Look
up some good criminal lawyer, will
you. and have him let me know how
far I can GOT"
"M-m-m-m-"- murmured Mr..
Driscoll through pursed lips. "Why
not soothe him with a few hundred
dollar bills and let him outY
THAT'S where my fool pride comes
in. Bob. Didn't know I had any, but
l guess have. See here: can't buy
on the husband Of the girl l-well. 1t
don't seem right. That would stick In
my crop"
But you can't imprison a man in
definitely on your own hook. Cherub.
Why. man. you would run the risk of
q long term Of Imprisonment"
Il suspected that Well. can stand
It II he can. And he gets his dose
first"
Mr.. DriscOll looked long and earnest.
ly at the Cherub. At last he suggest
ed. "You must be very fond Of the
young woman. Devine"
That's putting 1t mildly. Bob. and
she's worth 1t too. Why. say. she's
the finest. sweetest. cutest- But
there! I've got no right to talk like
that. It's all OF. There's that infer
nal count"
"Why hasn't she divorced himY'
"Against her nrincinlos I liko her