Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-02

/ ease 4.
awhile he was sitter than ever, and he
had the air OF one who expects some
thing very embarrassing to happen.
But the Cherub was undisturbed
Thus far he had gained his point
Whether Nick walloway had been In
fuenced by that suggestion of future
business or whether he had acted pure
" from motives OF good fellowship he
cared not. The thing had been done.
The program which the Cherub had
so hastily outlined that morning was
being carried out Moreover, his guests
appeared to be enjoying the novelty
In the course of half an hour even
Nick Walloway seemed to have be-
come treasured that nothing untoward
was about to happen. AS matter or
fact, Mr.. Devine was acQuitting him
self creditably.
Isn't he unique? So charmingiy
naivey' whispered Mrs. Miller-Trem-
way.
Perfectly delightful assented Mrs.
Wilbur. HE says such odd things"
$50 glad you're to be a neighbor Of
ours" the latter assured Mr.. Devine.
And how do you like Hewington
Acres? 2"
"Oh, it's a good deal like living in
Central park observed the Cherub;
grass looks as If it had had shave,
hair cut and a shampoo, you knowi
All the place lacks are some benches
and nurses and baby carriages. may
have to bring those up here until get
| used to it."
'1s it true, Mr.. Devine," demanded
Mrs. Walloway, that you started on
your financial career with only a few
thousand dollars?'
Few thousandr' echoed the Cherub.
/ "Why, I've seen the time when it
would have made me dizzy just to
think of having a whole thousandP'
do tell us about it. Mr. Devine."
urged Mrs. Wilbur, adjusting her lor-
gnette.
go ahead. Cherub. 1 want to hear
that yarn. too," seconded Nick VALID
way. THAT was before you came
east, wasn't it?"
Yes: that was in Chicago" said the
Cherub. "I began as office boy and
drew down the princely salary OF So
a week. I was saving to go into bust
ness for myself. There was a pie
from our office, and had my eye on
that. I thought 1t would be a fine
thing to sell pie and coffee and be my
own boss. So 1 got the fellows price
for the outfit. He wanted $75, and it
seemed to me as though he'd asked
for enough to pay off the national debt.
But i saved the seventy-five and few
dollars more for sinking fund.
Then resigned. rather expected
the firm to go under when they got
that blow. They didn't. though.
when 1 went around to the pie and
coffee man with my seventy-five he
laughed and told me to brush by. His
sales had jumped ten pies a day, and
he had put his price up to an even
hundred. For about five minutes
things looked to me as the wash does
when they get too much bluing in the
tub. Then I braced up and squan-
dered so cents an the first real feed I'd
had for year.
after that it was sunrise again.
drifted into place where they were
selling dollar options on July wheat,
and the first thing knew 1 was plung-
ing like q porpoise. Inside of two
L
ct, and knew how a Rothschild feels.
I went back to the stand, shook my
roll at the pie butcher and did lot of
other fool things, all meant to show
the folks that was It.
"Next day I hunted up a regular
broker and began to speculate, nice
and proper, on margins. l hadn't
been at that more than a week before
I hit the market right, and I've been
hitting it ever since, except when it's
hit me. oh, yes, it hits back now and
then, just>to show me-
He ended his story abruptly.
whats that, Eppings? Did you
say supper? Good. Come on, folks;
let's see what the cook has found in
the icebox."
Probably the Wilburs and the Mil
ler-Tremways had never been sum-
moned to dine in just that fashion be-
fore. Perhaps the novelty pleased
them, for they were in high good hui
NOR They told each other that Mr.
Devine was delightfully."- original. Il
In spite of Eppings' fears it was a
very good supper. but Mr.. Devine took
no note Of it. He was thinking about
the countess.
It was toward the close Of the af
fair that the bishop took Mr.. Devine
one side and asked, do you know
what has become of the HewingtonsY'
"Sure!" said the Cherub. They're
all upstairs in retreat
"In retreatl What do you mean,
DevineY
Its because OF me, you know.
They don't approve of me. Mr.. Hew-
ington's writing a book about my
wicked ways-gets his material from
the newspapers. It'll be thick book,
1 guess"
''Now, If that isn't Just like De Cour-
ceyr' exclaimed the bishop. splendid
fellow, though, In his way"
$50 I've heard"
eff you don't mind, Devine, I'll run
up and see him for a few minutes be-
fore I go.'
"Oh. helm yourself. THEY'RE some