The Ocala evening star., 1910-03-25
Cherub
DeViine
By SEWELL FORD
Copyright. 1909. by Mitchell kennerley
By SEWELL FORD
Copyright. 1909. by Mitchell kennerley

Mr.. Devine realize that here was an
other person whose presence at Hew-
lngton Acres was not fully accounted
for She could not be one Of the
servants He was sure Of that. Rut
when you find a person about the
grounds of a private house, apparent
ly quite at home, and they reply when
asked if they live there, Not exact
ly," what is one to infer? She couldn't
be a guest. Who was there for her
to visit? Nor a boarder.
Strikes me l ought to take a CEN
sus," commented the Cherub.
Going back to the house. he rang a
bell until Eppings appeared, heavy
eyed and lugubrious.
breakfast ready yet?'
breakfast, sir? It's rather early,
sir, but
Early. It's the middle Of the fore
noon. Go stir things up in the kitch-
en-"
AS Eppings departed the hall clock
chimed Z. The Cherub grinned. He
had not breakfasted at for years. In
less than an hour, though, breakfast
was an accomplished fact, and Mr..
Devine, now soothed by one of his
black cigars, set out for a more eX-
tended tour Of the grounds. He dis
covered the path leading to the sound
and had spent some time on the porch
of the boathouse watching the steam
erS and cOasting vessels crawl past
when Timmins came down, evidently
In search Of him.
Maybe l didn't mention last night,
SIR" began Timmins suavely, any
thing about the Hewingtons?'
Il guess you didn't, Timmins."
''The fact is, sir, they haven't gone"
Haven't gone! Why, where are
they:'
Back at the house, sir. It's all on
account Of the old lady, sir, Mr.. Hew-
ington's sister, who has took so bad
she couldn't be moved Perhaps p
It's all right. There's Mr.. Hewing-
ton and his sick sister, is there? That
all?"
"And the Countess Vecchi, sir
"The which:' Mr.. Devine grabbed
the cigar from between his teeth and
turned quickly on Timmins.
"The Countess Vecchi, sir, as stayed
to look after the aunt. The countess is
the married daughter. sir. The counts
been dead two years, sir, and'-here
Timmins coughed alphabetically be-
hind his hand-''the HewingtOns want
precisely sorry to lose him.
Not bowling success, eh?''
Hardly, sir. The countess left him
two hours after the wedding.''
''She must be a hummer" observe ed
the Cherub, and then refectively
"Countesses are hardly in my line.
Guess you can hook up pretty soon
and drive me back to the station. l
don't want to disturb the old lady"
Lord, sir, you won't see any of
them! No sooner did they hear you
were coming than they moved into the
top door Of the east wing, and there
they've shut themselves up like the
house was quarantined. Besides, sir,
get to the city until the 1888 tonight
"Oh, well, there's plenty Of time
then! Perhaps you'll be able to dig up
some more reports before night"
Mr.. Devine was thinking of the
young person he had seen in the gar
den. 1t didn't matter who she was of
course, but it might be interesting to
know.
The day passed, however, without
further discoveries, although at any
moment the Cherub was prepared to
find himself confronted either by Mr.
HewingtOn or the countess or the
young woman of the roses or some
wholly unknown person.
He had seated himself for another
solitary and stately meal when a bell
rang somewhere, and Epptngs excused
himself to answer it. Then enSued out
in the reception hall a whispered con.
yersation, part Of which Mr.. Devine
could hardly avoid hearing, although
he was certain it was not intended fol
his ears.
rs that-that dreadful man in
there?" asked a voice
Eppings reappeared to announce i'm
pressively, The Countess Vecchi, sir
'Oh, the devil.' Mr.. Devine grab
second and third buttons of his waist
coat and dropped it across his lef1
knee. He had vague notion that al
countesses We're large, stout women
who wore crowns of some sort, ermine
trimmed robes and multitude o1
rings.
Through the doorway stepped the
big eyed, slender young person whom
he had seen before breakfast in tn,
garden. She wore neither crown mol
ermine robes. The braid CT dark hail
had been transformed into a simpl.
but effective setting for the long oya
of her face.
Hello. You?" he exclaimed Say
honest. you aren't the countess, ar,
YOU:
She bowed an admission Of the fact
evidently much disconnected by thi
greeting.
Well. I'll be hanged" continued
Mr.. Devine. Say, have a seat, Won
you:'
She walked reSolutely to the oppo
site end OF the table from Mr. Devin,
and Dervously clasped and unclaspet
| her fingers as she spoke
My father wishes me to say tha
| the serious condition Of my aunt make
| it impossible for Us to leave the hous
at present. Just as soon as she i'm
| proves We will go away"