Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-07-12

If you wish"
This was indefinite. but convincing.
-"Poor old Nick!" said the Cherub a.
he hung up the receiver. Hes hat
lis tryout. though. Tomorrow it'll b,
up to me-"
Cherub Devine. having resolutel!
slashed away all the cntangling mesl
Of business cares. went smilingly ou
to Hewington Acres and into the pres
ence of the Countess Vecchi.
"Well. countess. we smashed 'em
didn't we? And you had hand In
1t. after all Nick told you. eh?"
Evidently she had been standing
there III the window recess in the
library waiting for him Whether by
accident or design,i 1t proved to be very
effective pose. for the slender grace
fulness Of her dark ROBBED figure came
out in strong relief against the dull
green window hangings. and the mel
low afternoon light showed the hint
Of color in the long oval of her cheek.
Eyes, Nicholas has told me. Mr.. De-
vtne-told me all about everything. III
fact. he made quite full confession"
Decidedly this was not cordial
opening Her tone was cool, almost
cynical. Something was wrong.
II 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 inT'
Eyes"
"And the price he got for them and
how | wanted you to buy back the
house?"
"AlI of those things Nicholas ex-
planned fully"
And it's all right. isn't it2 Any
hitch over detaflsy'
The countess walked to a table and
picked up long document envelope.
II merely wish to understand clearly
your proposals" she was saying. You
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 confded to Mr.. Walloway
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 be? Honest. be
wasn't chump enough to let on that
said
ITO be made the topic of such an in.
innate disclosure and by person
whom have known for such short
time under such peculiar conditions.
you can fancy perhaps that I'd rather
not dwell on it,
"Great Scott. yesw groaned the
Cherub. beginning to wipe his fore
countess. I'm trying to think how
came to do the sieve act. Oh. must
have done 1t. all right. but how
I'm 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 that 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 word.
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
lobby orr
"Train!" groaned the Cherub.
"Ah!' said the countess. 1.-The other
passengers must have been entertain.
ed. Did any Of them offer adviceY
The Cherub sank into chair.
That's right" he observed. keep
1t up. deserve it."
"Remorse." commented the countess.
lis always touching but it arrives SO
late in the day. am curious on only
one point. Having made your confes-
sion to Mr.. Waloway and having
learned Of his-well. his attitude to.
ward me-what prompted you to send
him here?"
why. | thought Nick ought to have
his chance"
"You-yuu thought The Countess
Vecchi appeared 10 grasp his meaning
but slowly Her brown eyes no longer
resembled any kind of fireworks '"h!
him with wide wonder
you See" continued the theru,
earnestly. .'he's So much near"i !"uI
kind of IL chap in your class and all
thlt--and | didn't know how sou Two
stood. you know Why ii didn't look
lust right for me to butt in before
we'll. before you and Nick had a show
% make 1t up II you wanted to. That's
Ill 1t was only right"
The silence which had followed his
explanation lasted for several mo-
nents. and when the Countess Vecchi
lgain spoke the clear cut sharpness of
Ter tone was somewhat Softened.
Il understand. l believe have been
old by some one that you had code
# honor that was all your own. Well.
lave you heard what use Mr.. Wallo-
way made of his opportunityY"
IL had him call me up last night. l
couldn't ask him right out. you know.
,ut"-
More delicacy!' murmured the
''Oh. that's nothing for me! But l
made him say annu~h so [ could rlleSS