The Ocala evening star., 1910-04-12
VOW. one doesn't expect TO ind
man In frock coat and SIX hat
" lodging behind bushes on
place like Hewington &creS

c1ate that particular part OF Log Is
land with all sorts of surprises.
1t appeared that this new arriy q had
intended to see without being seen.
but he had not been quite euick
enough. Without stopping to ccaSider
just why be was doing it Mr.. levine
ping into the shrubbery also.
The Cherub parted the bushe' eau
tiously. He discovered the stauger
doing the same thing. Twio the
Cherub stole stealthily around lush.
sure of having executed sue aSsful
flank movement on the unknow only
to find that he had disappeared ike a
fash.
Taking off his straw hat, the Cherub
balanced it carefully on the to, Of a
rhododendron and began maii-g a
cautious detour. To walk in stoop-
ing position for any distance one
need to be in good condition, 3ud a
thirty-eight waist measure uaesn't
help. The Cherub was already ed of
face and breathing heavily wien he
suddenly rounded a little thic.-et OF
stunted frs and found himself within
arms length of a slender, sallo" faced
person, who was holding a silk nat be-
hind him and intently gazing 1T the
crown Of a straw one which slowed
above a bush some twenty yards
away.
Even a side view from behiuI was
enough to reveal the foreigner, or the
Jet black mustache and the little un
derlip tuft that curled over tie chin
were distinctly Of alien cut and trim.
"Well, what's the gamer
The stranger was an Amazingly COO
sort. He merely turned quickly. meas
ured Mr.. Devine with one fash OF
keen brown eyes, lifted his brCWs ex
pressively and shrugged his shI ulders
Now. perhaps you'll tell me what il
is all about" asked the Cherub.
The strangers response to this wa:
a politely impudent stare.
II do not quite understand" he said
with just the slightest foreign accent
"NoY' drawled the Cherub mOcking
ly. Then there's two of us in the
dark. But perhaps we can clear mat
ters up. l found you skulking in the
bushes. Now, whyT
BEG pardon. sir, but do not recog
nize your right to question me in that
manner"
"Whe-e-ew! What a naughty little
| man it isl" laughed the Cherub. "Ah
! come down OF the stepladder! A min
| ute or two ago you were lodging
around as guilty as If you'd robbed {
fruit stand. Now, what are you W
to?'
Il am attending to my own affairs
| sir"
Then I'll help you," said the Cher
ub, for I'm a good deal interested il
this place and what is going on here"
"Indeed" Again the stranger shrug
| ged his shoulders. But l don't know
you, sir"
Didn't act as If you wanted to
| either. But here's where we get &C
| quainted, just the same. My name
Devine-Cherub Devine."
| "Eh? What?" gasped the strange
staring incredulously. ''Why-er-;
thousand pardons. Mr.. Devine: ALLOW
me-" and he hastily brought out
cardcase.
Luigi Salvatore y Vecchi," read tn
/ Cherub. with some hesitancy IN pro
nouncing the names. "Vecchi. Ell? All
see! Some relation of tie lat
! count's?"
The stranger smiled indulgently.
II am known as Count Vecchi."
| Had the Cherub been at 81 emo
tionaI he would have gasped TIN. A
it was, he nearly did, but see ned t
recover in time.
| "But-but you're not 1.he Count Vet
Chi who-who married Miss Lewins
| ton?'
The cigarette was waved toward th
rim Of his silk hat
II have that honor"
| 1t was the Cherub's turn to stare IL
credulously.
"See here" he said prote tingl!
| ''either you're dead count Or Il Hv
Liar, and I guess the last descriptio
fits best. Come, come! You've sprun
that bluff on the wrong per IN.
happen to know that the rea Coun
Vecchi has been dead for a couple @
years"
Il can only quote the words of you
own great humorist. that the report
Of my death have been great exae
gerated' Here am, you see.
The Cherub noted that the icathe
cardcase which the stranger sfiu bel
in his hand bore 4 silver crest simila
to the one he had noticed on tie wri
ing paper Of the Countess Vec nj.
Yes, l see," he admitted withou
enthusiasm. "All a mistake, was ii
And you've come over to csye th
countess a pleasant little surprlSe. eh :
81 hardly think the countess viii b
surprised" and the count lifted b
black eyebrows meaningly.
Instantly the situation cleared fc
the Cherub. So that was what she ha
meant by her mysterious protests:
"Oh, ho! Then she knew all alon
that-that- Oh. come! DO you thin
I can swallow that? Why. say. 90
blamed bush dodger. do you expect Il
to believe she would delibera teIy te
me-
"Ah. but that's just the point
broke in the count Did She"
And when be came to think il ov,
the Cherub could not recall mat Il
Countess Vecchi had ever said or ir
piled that her husband was dead.
1t strikes NE that you don't he
matters much by coming over hel
and playing tag around her shru