Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-22

why. sure l can. But say. NICK.
are you certain there's nothing else
no congratulations coming from me?'
"Why-er-you might congratulate
the countess on making a good bargain
If you wish"
This was indefinite, but convincing.
"Poor old Nickr' said the Cherub as
he hung up the receiver. Hes had
his tryout, though. Tomorrow it'll be
up to me-"
Cherub Devine. having resolutely
slashed away all the entangling mesh
of business cares. went smilingly out
TO Hewington Acres and into the pres
ence of the Countess vecchi.
Wen. countess. we smashed 'em,
didn't we? And you had a hand in
1t, after all. Nick told you. eh?"
Evidently she had been standing
there in the window recess in the
library waiting for him. Whether by
accident or design. it proved to be a very
effective pose, for the slender grace
fulness of her dark robed figure came
out in strong relief against the dull
green window h~angings, and the mel
of color in the long oval of her cheek.
Yes, Nicholas has told me, Mr.. De-
vine-told me all about everything. In
fact. he made quite a full confession"
Decidedly this was not a cordial
opening. Her tone was cool. almost
cynical. Something was wrong.
81 hope Nick didn't overdo the thing,
countess. Did he?"
I'm sure | don't know, Mr.. Devine.
That all depends upon how much you
intended him to say"
"Well, he told you about how handy
those shares came in 7"
"Yes."
"And the price he got for them and
how l wanted you to buy back the
house?"
"An of those things Nicholas ex-
planned fully"
And it's all right. isn't it? Any
hitch over details?"
The countess walked to q table and
picked up a long document envelope.
81 merely wish to understand clearly
your proposals." she was saying. lyon
sent Mr.. Walloway here to offer me
this check and an opportunity to buy
back Hewington Acres for the price
you paid. Is that correct?"
That's o. K, countess"
"Also you confided to Mr.. Wallowav
that you were-that you entertained
certain sentiments of regard for me.
You called it love, believe"
"Eh?" calculated the astonished
Cherub. Say. Nick didn't give me
away like that, did he? Honest. be
wasn't chump enough to let on that /
said''-
ITO be made the topic of such an in
innate disclosure and by a person
whom | have known for such a short
time under such peculiar conditions.
you can fancy perhaps that I'd rather
not dwell on it."
Great Scott, yes! groaned the
Cherub, beginning to wipe his fore
head. But give me a show here.
countess. I'm trying to think how l
zane to do the sieve act. oh. | must
have done it, all right. but how
Pm afraid ! can't share your inter-
est In that problem. Let US not go into
it any deeper. if you please. You told
Mr. Walloway. and them
"Ah. | remember. He wished me
luck. Wasn't hat nice of him when
when what?" spurred on the
countess.
"Why. when-when he was in the
same boat"
$50 Mr.. Walloway exchanged conf
dences. did he? Delightful!'
mo. no! Nick didn't say a word. l
found it out by accident. Saw your
picture in his locket, you know. and
I'd heard about how he and you used
to-
Really! I'm glad that there was
some reserve in that discussion. Was
it held on a street corner or in a hotel
lobby orr
"Trainl" groaned the Cherub.
"Ah." said the countess. THE other
passengers must have been entertain
ed. Did any of them offer adviceT
The Cherub sank into a chair.
That's right" he observed. keep
it up. | deserve it,"
"Remorse," commented the countess,
'is always touching. but it arrives so
late in the day. | am curious on only
one point. Having made your confes
sion to Mr.. Walloway and having
learned of his-well. his attitude to.
ward me-what prompted you to send
him here?"
"Why. l thought Nick ought to have
his chance"
'You-you thought The Countess
Vecchi appeared TO grasp his meaning
but slowly. Her brown eyes no longer
resembled any kind of fireworks. They
regarded him with wide wonder.
You see." continued the Cherub
earnestly. hes SO much nearer your