The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-04-01

mouth lost some of it's cherubic curves.
You'll do your part, Nick. Oh. it
will be easier than you think! They'll
never suspect you're in it. And don't
try to report until IL tonight Then
you know where to come-private din
ing room, tenth floor. I'll have 'em all
there at H."
When Cherub Devine appeared on
the floor a half hour before closing
time the rumors of his defeat were
passing from mouth to mouth. The
Bates-Rimmer retainers were indulg-
ing in a war dance of victory.
Silently the Cherub passed to his ac-
cuStOmed corner and began tearing
pieces Of paper into small bits with
the same calm. unhurried air Of alb
straction as usual. Many chances were
bestowed on him, most of them Gu
rious. a few sympathetic, some tri-
umphantly vindictive. Everywhere he
was regarded as n beaten man. Now
and then a gray uniformed floor boy
handed him messages. which he read
leisurely and as leisurely reduced to
fragments. Just as the session closed
Pop Rimmer passed near him and
turned to favor him with an apelike
leer The Cherub blinked unrespond-
ingly. He seemed too dazed by mis-
fortune even to disguise his chagrin.
A somewhat different Cherub De-
vine it was. however, who met his
half dozen lieutenants that night be-
hind the seclusion Of safely locked
doors on the tenth floor OF a gaudy
big hotel. He had become an alert
! masterful. confident person. who thrill
ed those about him by a revelation OF
unguessed resources and unsupported
reserves Of force.
| The climax Of the struggle was
reached during Thursday. Along
about the noon hour the members OF
the Bates-Rimmer combination were
forced TO admit that the Cherub was
still in the fight They made the ad.
mission with profane JUNCTION. They
did not understand why it was So
They only knew that in some mysteri
Gus manner their triumphant career
had been checked.
Thus ii went. All that afternoon
the contest waged. Now the price OF
F., u. and y. stocks sumped desper-
ately. now it skyrocketed amazingly
Other stocks were affected The
whole list quaked and quivered as the
struggling giants of finance wrestled
heedessly about the arena.
Placidly smoking a fat. black cigar
and fitting comfortably back In one
chairs. Cherub Devine received bull
letins from the front. That was the
position in which Nick Walloway
found him when, after the day was
over. he rushed In. haggard of face
and with an anxious look in his eyes
I'VE lack fifty shares" he announc'
ed briefly.
Then that's fifty we must get TO.
morrow morning" responded the
Cheruo.
1T can't be DONE" declared Wallo-
| way. dropping hopelessly into a chair.
THE country has been raked with a
fine toothed comb. We can't get hold
of another share. I'm sorry, Cherub,
but I've done my best for you. The
T., z. and MS annual meeting is held
at noon tomorrow, and the Bates RIM
mer crowd has practically got us beat
en- now. If we only had fifty shares
more we could wipe them off the face
OF the earth"
You're as bad as the countess"
chuckled the Cherub amicably. Then
as this reflection recalled something
to his mind he thrust his hand into an
inner pocket Of his coat and drew out
long envelope, at which he stared
blankly.
A twinge of guilt pricked his con-
science. There-he had completely for
had intrusted him. Doubtless it was
to exchange this stock for cash that
she had been so anxious to come to
the city. Perhaps she had been ex-
pecting remittance by every mail.
Shamefacedly he opened the envelope
TO make an idle examination Of the
contents. At the first glimpse his ex-
preston changed. Hastily he ran
through the documents, then showed
them back into the envelope.
moment later he asked quietly,
How many shares did you say we
lacked. Nick?"
Fifty" gloomily responded Mr.. Wal
loway. his head between his hands.
And about how much would they
be worth to me just now?
Worth! Why, anything-three hun
dred, five hundred, thousand dol
lars a share If you could get them
which you can't"
MOI" responded the Cherub. Wei.
what do you say to those!' and he
tossed the long envelope to Walloway.
That young man took his head from
between his hands and glanced re-
proachfully at the Cherub. 1t was nc
time for joking. But he took the pack
eft and began a spiritless investigation.
Suddenly he jumped to his feet.
"Devine" he exclaimed hoarsely.
'These are p. z. and N. preferred"
Sure" The Cherub was watching