The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-04-13
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII.
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them sitting in q SUNNY

corner Of the library. The Cherub
was smoking one OF his fat, black
lcigars by special request of the count.
less, and be was regarding with ap
Iproving eyes her slim white fingers as
they employed an ivory needle in the
fashioning Of some utterly useless af
fair that looked like a lot of holes
edged with spider webs.
She was wearing some kind of q
house gown, with lace falling allur.
Iingly away from her white neck and
rounded arms. Somehow or other the
Cherub felt that he was enjoying a
rare privilege. He was inclined 70
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 cobwsbs.
Nick's business isn't half so important
as he thinks 1t is. Bring him right In,
Eppings."
But had rather not
Whatever her protest might have
been, it was cut short by the prompt
entrance of young Mr.. Walloway. He
stopped abruptly. and it seemed as II
his gray eyes stared hungrily at the
pretty picture she made, standing
there in the morning sunshine. This
color went from his cheeks, and HE
lips we're tensely drawn.
We'll, Nick, you see I'm still rusti
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 stifi1y formal bow, he
turned to the Cherub.
You must forgive me, Devine, for
hunting you up like this, but thought
/ ought to do it. It's a matter Of bust
ness. Couldn't we'- And he looked
suggestively at the door,
Il 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 it, Nick. Bottom
dropped out of something?" The Cher
ub was smiling amiably.
81 rather think you would have
thought so If you had been on the
floor just before closing yesterday.
rrbo nosoo Dirouoor oro,rd To eco, ID
y. and n. I believe they mean to COB.
BILE it up"
"Ah, that gang, eh?' This time the
Cherub showed his white teeth when
he smiled.
'"They began it as soon as they found
you were not on deck, and they've
been at it ever since. Your brokers
had ten clerks out looking for you"
"Got nervous, did they?"
Nervous! Why, man. didn't you
see where p, u. and N. closed yester-
day."
Haven't read a paper since I've
been here, Nick, and don't intend to.
When you so back tell my brokers to
keep cool"
But the Bates-Rimmer crowd
mean mischief, Cherub. There's u lot
of them in big pool, and they're ham
mering your railroad holdings right
and left. Some one has been leaking
Information, and they're hitting you
where it will hurt. When | saw how
things were going / began wiring you.
Didn't you get the messages?
81 knew those must be from you,
Nick; no one else knew where / was"
"But why didn't you answerT
'Well, l didn't read them, for one
thing; / was too busy. We were hav-
ing a bully time, the countess and /.
feeding the swans"
Feeding the swansw Mr.. Nicholas
Walloway made a gesture indicating
despair.
did you ever watch swans squabble
for sweet crackers, Nick?"
Crackers! You might just as well
have thrown punches Of thousand dol
lar bills at them. Why, Cherub, F., u.
and N. opened at 1895 this morning.
LAS soon as | found you hadn't shown
up / started for you. had my car
meet me at the station, and it's outside
now. We can just make the 11:3O
back, and perhaps you'll be in time to
stop them before it's all over. Come
on; let's start"
Sorry, Nick. but l couldn't think of
1T. I'm taking a holiday, you see."
''What! Do you mean to say that
you're not coming?" Mr.. Walloway
gazed doubtingly at the Cherub.
mot today, Nick"
"oh. say, Cherub, don't be an
He checked himself with a swift glance
at the countess, whose brown eyes in
stantly sought the cobwebby stun in
her lap. "Don't be foolish" he con.
tinued. II haven't told you all-the
worst, you know"
"Well, you can tell me all about II
tomorrow, Nick"
Tomorrow Great Scott, man, you
don't understand They mean to fin
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