Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-04-07
"Cherub
 DeVine" By SEWELL FORD Copyrighted 1909 by Mitchell Kennerley
By SEWELL FORD
Copyrighted 1909 by Mitchell Kennerley

It remained for train boy to dis close just how the public viewed the crisis in Mir. Devines affairs. Half way to the city the boy came aboard with the early afternoon editions, From the headlines It was evident that the disturbance in Wall street had Become popular topic, the sensa- tion of the hour.
 One enterprising journal indulged in a half page cartoon, which was sup posed to represent the situation. It was entitled "Plucking Cherub." A scandalous caricature of Mir. Devine it was, showing him most inadequate ly clothed. but possessed of a pair of wings from which group of bad boys were gleefully pulling what few feathers remained, while the victim rubbed his fists into tear leaking eyes and made no attempt at defense.
 "Oh, my. my!' and Mir. Devine rock ed mirthfully over the cartoon.
 Tt would be funnier if 1t wasn't so d-d near the truth" growled Wal loway. "Of course don't know just how deep you've plunged on this F.. z. and N. deal, but l gathered that you'd gone in rather steep"
 "Yes." admitted the Cherub more soberly, "I have In fact, it's the big gest thing l ever tackled"
 Nick Walloway gazed at him incred- ulously. And right in the middle of it you take a Gay off to feed the swans at Hewington Acres!"
 "Pd take year off if it was neces- sary."
 Young MT. Walloway paled little.
 "Devine," he began hesitatingly, tits its the countess, isn't it?'
 The pink in the Cherub's chubby cheeks flashed up behind his ears.
 "The countessr he exclaimed "Why, she's way out of my class. Nick. Oh. she's about hundred per cent too good for me-aristocratic, re- fined. old family and all that. Why, she wouldn't look at me, Nick! You know she wouldn't"
 Il know that you've been looking at her and-and"- Something was in- terfering with the speech of young Mir. Walloway. However, he mastered the difficulty. Suddenly reaching out. he grasped the Cherub's right hand and gave 1t crushing grip. "l-l wish you luck. old man."
 Perhaps Mir. Devine was little sur prsed by this unexpected display of emotion from the usually reserved young man. If he was he brushed 1t aside.
 Luck nothing, Nick! Much obliged for your good wishes, my boy, but 1 haven't the ghost of show. Now. if l was a chap like you thered be some hope for me. Say. Nick, wonder you never took a.
 Beg pardon, Devine. but let's stick to the point. should not presume to intrude my advice on personal mat ters, but if were ytu would drop F., z. and N. until you can give your whole time and thought to the busi- ness. Why don't you pull out?"
 Tie Cherub ceased to stare dreamily. 'Nick," he said abruptly, "I'll tell you Nt ShdhScu ny DluuS. I'm going to do something besides speculate in that stock. I'm going to buy that road, and I've got to get control before next Friday noon."
 "Cherub, You're crazy. It's impossl- ble. Why, the Bates-Rimmer crowd scooped in two-Gfths of the stock yes. terday, so they say. You know what that means-theyll wreck it, wiring 1t dry. The small outside holders have been tumbling over each other to un- load. See here"-and he pointed to a newspaper on his knee-"fifty lots of fered during the first half hour today and the quotations dropping by Quar. ter points. Why, you cant stop 'em, man. They've got you on the run"
 "Yes, yes, It looks like it, l know. But wait until I've had chance at them. Let me think this thing over."
 Mir. Nicholas Walloway withdrew into his corner of the smoking com, partment to stare absentmlndedly out of the window. The Cherub was soon apparently engaged in profound con. temptation of the end of his cigar. You would not have guessed, to look at him, that he was considering any thing more serious than the flavor of the tobacco. Not until they were on the ferry did he break the silence. Then, briefly and crlsply, he outlined his plan of action. Nick Walloway heard him through with a glow of ad- miration in his eyes.
 If you can do that, Cherub. you'll win" he declared; but if the scheme slips up"--
 Then I'm down and out. But it's | got to go through" and Mir. Devine's l mouth lost some of it's cherubic curves. | You'll do your part. Nick. Oh, it | will be easier than you think They'll | never suspect you're in it. And don't | try to report until II tonight Then you know where to come-private din. ing room, tenth floor, I'll have 'em all there at H."
  When Cherub Devine appeared on the floor a half hour before closing time the rumors of his defeat were passing from mouth to mouth. The