The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-04-01

Declueuly tlllS WIS not cOrdlaI
opening Her tone WIS 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'
Yes"
"And the price he got for them and
how | wanted you to buy back the
bouseW
"An of those things Nicholas ex.
planned fully"
And it's all right. isn't it? Any
hitch over details"
The countess walked to table and
picked up IA 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"
"IhatS y. H., countess.
"Also YOU confided TO Mr.. Walloway
that you were-that you entertained
certain sentiments OF regard for me
You called it love. believe"
"Ehy CALCULATED the astonished
Cherub. Say, Nick didn't give me
away like that. did he? Honest, he
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 a short
time under such peculiar conditions.
you can fancy perhaps that I'd rather
not dwell on it,"
Great Scott, yes!' groaned the
Chcrub. beginning to wipe his fore
head But give me show here.
countess. I'm trying to think how
came to do the sieve act. Oh. | must
have done it. all right. but how
I'm afraid can't share your inter
est in that problem. Let us not 20 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 be? Delightfully."-
mo. no. Nick didn't say a word |
found il 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 Il street corner or iii Il hotel
lobby or
Train" Grolned the Cherub.
All" said the countess. The other
passengers must have been entertain
ed. Did any of them offer adviceT
The Cherub Sauk into chair.
That's right" he observed. Keep
it up deserve it,"
"RemorSc." commented the countess,
lis always touching. but it arrives SO
late i'll the day. / am curious Oh only
one point Having made your confess
sion TO Mr. WaIoway and having
learned of hiS-weil. his attitude TO-
ward me what prompted you TO send
him hpre?"
why. | 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
reSembIed any kind Of fireworks they
regarded him with wide wonder.
You see continued the Cherub
earnestly. hes SO much nearer your
kind of Il chaplin your class and all
that-and | didn't KNOW how you two
stood, you know, Why. it didn't look
just right for me to butt in before
well. before you and Nick had show
to make it up if you wanted to. That's
all 1t was only right"
The silence Which had followed his
explanation lasted for several mo-
mentS. and when the Countess Vecchi
again spoke the clear cut sharpness Of
her tone was somewhat Softened.
Il understand. believe | have been
told by some one that you had a code
of honor that was a!l your own. Well.
have you heard what use Mr.. Wallo-
way made of his opportunity?'
II had him call me up last night.
couldn't ask him right out. you know.
but
More delicacy!" murmured the
countess
"Oh. that's nothing for me! But |
made him say enough SO could guess
how he came out You told him he
wouldn't do. didn't you?'
The shoulders of the Countess Vecchi
lifted Il trfe at this.
Il tried to- be entirely frank with
Mr.. Walloway. rs am now trying to
be frank with you. Mr.. Devine wish
TO ask you if my acceptance of this
check is a purely business transact
ton.
why. SURE
"You would have paid rs much to
any one else?"
Been glad to-
"And about your offer of Hewingtoh
Acres?"
straight business"
Then accept both proposals" She
paused. then spoke softly. Good aft
ernoon. Mr. Devine"
AS no hoJ found bpr On chp ctOOd