Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-05-20

they employed an ivory needle In the
fashioning of some utterly useless af-
! fair that looked like Il lot Of holes
/ edged with spider webs.
/ She was wearing some kind Of n
! house gown. with lace falling allur-
/ ;ngly away from her white neck and
/ rounded arms. Somehow or other the
| Chcrub felt that he was enjoying Il
rare privilege. lie 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 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 1t Is Bring him right III.
Eppings."
but | had rather not
Whatever her protest might have
been, 1t was cut short by the prompt
entrance of young Mr.. Walloway. He
stopped abruptly. and 1t 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 rustf
eating. Great, isn't it," smiled the
| Cherub.
With an obvious effort young Mr..
! Walloway shook of his embarrass-
ment. Acknowledging the Countess
vecchi with a stiffiy formal bow. he
turned to the Cherub.
"You must forgive me, Devine. for
hunting you up like this. but thought
I ought to do it. It's a matter of bust
ness. Couldn't We And he looked
suggestively at the door.
81 haven't any office here, Nick. and
this room is as good as any other. You
mustn't mind. countess. Any business
do today will not take long,"
But began Mr.. Walloway.
"Oh, let's have 1t. Nick. Bottom
dropped out Of something" The Cher.
ub was smiling amiably.
~ rather think you would have
thought so If you had been on the
floor just before closing yesterday.
The Bates-Eimmer crowd Is after T..
Y. and n. believe they mean to COB
bic 1t up
"Ah. that gang. eh?" This time the
Cherub showed his white teeth when
he smiled.
"They began il as soon us they found
you were not on deck. and they've
been at 1t ever since. Your brokers
had ten clerks out looking for you"
Got nervous. did they?'
NERVOUS. Why. man. didn't you
see where r.. z. and n. closed yester.
day."
Haven't read paper since I've
been here. Nick. and don't intend to
When you go back tell my brokers tC
keep cool"
'But the thinner crowd
mean mischief. Cherub. There's a lot
of them In big pool. and they're ham.
mering your railroad holdings right
and left Some one has been leaking
information. AID they're hitting you
where it will hurt When | saw how
things were going began wiring you
Didn't you get the messagesY
Il knew those must be from you
Nick: no one else knew where ! was.
But why didn't you answer"
| ssVVaIl li,ln'f rond than fnr onn
thing; was too busy. We were hav.
ing bully time. the countess and I.
feeding the swans"
Feeding the swansv' Mr. Nicholas
Walloway made gesture indicating
despair.
did you ever watch swans squabble
for sweet crackers. Nick:"
era, kers. You might just rs well
have thrown lunches Of thousand dol
lar bills ut them. Why. Cherub. r., z
and y opened at 3J9s this morning
AS soon rs found you hadn't shown
up ! started for you. I had my cal
meet me at the station. and it's outside
now We can just make the II &c
back. and perhaps you'll be in time tt
stop them before It's all over. Come
on: let's start"
"Scrry MEX. but couldn't think OF
It, I'm taking n holiday. you see"
"What. 10 you mean to say thai
you're not coming?" Mr.. Walloway
gazed doubtIng!y ut the Cherub.
Not toda.. Nick
"Oh. I say. Cherub. don't be an
He checked himself with swift glance
ut the countess. whose brown eyes In
stantly sought the cobwebby stun II
her lap. Don't be foolish" he con
tinued. II haven't told you all-th.
worst. you know"
"Well. you can tell ME al about Il
tomorrow. Nick"
Tomorrow: Great Sect. man. yor
don't understand: They mean To tin
ish the job to-day. Tomorrow NIGH
; as we'll he next year. Why. you'v.
! barely II fighting chance left now. ant
: don't know that you have that. Tn.
street Is wild with It,"
Il guess things are not as bad as nj
that. Nick. I'll be down bright and
I early In the morning"
Mr.. Walloway put both hands OF
Mr.. Devine's shoulders.
"Cherub." he said. speaking with m
effort at calmness. you're too good
man to he beaten by a gang like
that. You must come back. You
have friends-lots Of them. Well &c,
them together and 60 after that crowd
Besides, it's the old Bates RimmeI
crowd" urged Walloway. "You know
them. They're like a pack Of NANCY
wolves"
Yes: you're right. Nick. They've
snapped at my heels many a time"
"And now they're at your throat
Cherub. Come on, won't your
For an instant the Cherub hesitated
Then he Jumped to his feet. As be
If q 7 I II