Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-20

pected revelations, though, until Sne
had put a few more questions. They
were the ones she had been longing to
ask from the first.
@HThis-this other No; mean this
lady OF whom you speaks she
young?"
"Just twenty three"
my own age" thought the countess.
Then she added aloud, And she is
quite pretty, supposeT'
'Oh, she's pretty enough. But it's
chiefly her cute ways which make her
fascinating to men,"
''Ohr" The countess caught her
breath sharply. Then she Is fascinat-
ing? Is she blonde"
mot a bit-lovely dark hair. big
dark eyes. Her eyes are her strong
point
'Oh, seew commented the countess.
then to herself: Its because I look
something like her. And she's young
and fascinating. Humphr'
"Glad could tell you about her,"
observed the prisoner, ''but If you
don't mind think I'll climb down OF
this cot. It's rather rickety, and I
feel another sneezing fit coming on.
Was there anything moreT
IT beg your pardon" she said ear
nestly. Listen. You must go away
from here at once
Nothing would please me better, but
/ can't crawl through these holes"
'I know, and haven't q key to the
paddock. But shall get one. If I
can't get the key shall demand that
you be set at liberty. I'll go to my
father, to Mr.. Devine, and
"Oh, I wouldn't bother them about
it. Just you say nothing at all, but
find the key, undo the lock and then
slip away. Perhaps you'd better wait
until afternoon"
''But it's such a shame. keeping you
shut up here like a criminal"
That's so. I told them it was an
outrage And I've caught a frightful
cold too. Think you can find the key,
don't you"
I'm sure I can. I'll send Timmins
on an errand and look in his desk"
I'm greatly obliged, you know.
You're a trump. It's mighty good Of
you"
''It isn't at all. I couldn't do less,
and If 1 ever speak to Mr.. Devine
again it will be only to tell him what
I think of such cruel treatment. Good
by. I'm going now"
"Goodby and good luck" came faint
II through the air holes in the door
Perhaps it was best that the count
ess could not see the grimace of salts
faction which accompanied the words
as she departed to get the key to that
paddock on the icehouse door.
Thus it happened something after
this fashion: The time was late after
noon between 5 and o'clock, when the
golden autumn day was about to end
in a blaze of sapphire light that was
soon to fade into an empty arch OF tur-
quoise blue. The Countess Vecchi was
reading on the upper veranda. 1t had
become well understood in the serv-
ants wing that the brief but disturb
ing reign of that Devine person was
over Twice he had impudently offer
ed his hand and fortuSe to the Count
ess Vecchi, and twice he had been
scornfulIy refused. The parlor maid
knew all the details.
Just now Timmins appeared up the
left carriage drive. He was on foot
and leading a half grown Jersey calf.
He had been sent to purchase the calf
from the wilbur-Tremway's head dali
ryman.
Suddenly the icehouse door swung
gently outward on its hinges. while
man. wearing a wrinkled frock coat
and a silk hat whose luster was
somewhat dimmed by drapery Of
cobwebs, stepped cautiously out Next
he glanced in the direction Of the
house.
Above the shrubbery he could see
only the roof and the dormer windows
of the upper story. but apparently he
was satisfied. Then he turned and
looked toward the stables. No one was
in sight there, but the man in the silk
hat shook his fist at the sunset REDEEM
ed windows.
Had he cast a glance directly behind
him he would have seen Timmins and
the calf just coming into view over the
crest of little rise in the rolling drive
way. But he cast no such glance. Ev-
identity he knew Of only one exit from
Hewington Acres, the right gateway,
by which he had entered, and he at
once struck businesslike gait in max
ing for it.
The discreet Timmins was both star
tied and puzzled. He did not wish to
shout and alarm the folks in the
house, for that would reveal the Sc
cret Of the prisoner. Neither did he
wish to release the calf Yet he could
not stand there and watch the man
escape. That would never do. What
would Cherub Devine say? Timmins'
sharp little eyes narrowed menacingly.
With the free end Of the rope he gave
the Jersey calf smart whack on the
ribs, rudely rousing it from its peace
full promenade. The calf jumped
ahead So did Timmins. Yanking and
whacking, running and leaping, the
pair Of them careered impetuously
across the velvety lawn, crashing
through shrubbery. lodging between
trees and making a straight course for
the right hand driveway.
We have all we can manage to pic
ture the CONSERVATION OF the escaping
H.