The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-03-20
The Adventures of 9 Wall Street Man
In a Country Estate of Mysteries

should have wondered how long II vas
before she had the snufflss In her
pretty nose. But. thank goodness. she
was not Economically inclined. What
bores they are. those loppy young
women. who gush about impossible
things. and seem always to be posing
for the benefit of some one or other.
DO you know what becomes Of them7
No. they do not marry the broad
shouldsred heroes. Generally they
don't marry at all. but grow into fam.
lily affections In tho form OF headachy
maiden aunts. or reform and get to
be really useful school teachers. ac-
cording TO the fortunes Of their rsla-
tives.
It II the well.balanced, practical
young women Of sound sense and high
spirit who sometimes hy OF on q tan
gent and DO the really romantic
things. For instance. take the Coun-
tess vecchi. Here she was at this
unusual hour and entirely alone.
standing before tho padlocksd door Of
the Ice house. bent on finding out
who was shut up there. and why.
Your loppy young woman might
dream OF adventures far moro thrill
ing. but she would take II out IN
dreaming. Would she have the
courage to investigate q real mys-
terry. such as this?
The Countess vecchi was beginning
to wish that she hadn't come. after
oil. Who could say what sort Of
prisoner she might be on the point
Of rousing? A man who was
"Cherub" Devine's rival for some
woman's affections. 30 her father had
az good a. said. But she could not
believe that now. Perhaps for the
moment after she had heard II the
thing seemed possible. but since then
she had thought tho matter out. md
her faith in the "Cherub" had re-
newed n-olf. No. no! He was too
genuine to be guilty OF such double
dealing. Had he not gone straight
from her. In that ono wild moment
OF yielding madness. to his encounter
with this unknown person?
There might he a dozen other rea-
sons which had led tho "Cherub" to
lock somebody up--only she could
think OF mono at tho time. hut he
must have had n good cause. Per-
haps the man was criminal. or .
dangerous lunatic? The Countess
shrank away from the padlocksd
door and glanced anxiously about.
1t might have been wiser TO have
waited until later. and then insisted
upon Timmins coming with her.
But no. she felt that she wanted no
witnesses to this interview. Sup
pose her fathers version should b
correct? Tho Countess lifted q de-
termlned chin and stepped briskly up
to the heavy door. Smartly she
wrapped on tho oaken panel-and i'm
mediately pressed her tingling
knuckles to her lips, Breathlessly she
waited for a response from within.
Had It como In tho shape OF angry
roars. accompanied by a rafting Of
chains. she would hardly have been
surprised. The least she expected was
a growl. But nothing Of the sort did
she hear. No sound at all came from
behind tho thick door.
Next tho Countess doubled up one
fist and tried to make q noise by
hammering the wood. This was -
failure. too. Then she looked around
for small stone. found It. wrapped
her handkerchief about ono end. and
proceeded to evoke q series Of loud
thumps. This proved effective. for
an instant later she heard Q creaking.
as OF wire springs. and a sleep-laden
voice murmured some indistinct reply.
Hello! hello!" called the Countess.
rapping again. this time with q stone.
Eth? What? What's the mattsrr
came in thick. wheezy tones.
please get up! Come closer to the
door. will your"
More and livelier creakinss fol-
lowed. and then . querulous response.
10 away. don't want my break
fast now. I-I--then came q pro-
longed yawn. II can't eat breakfast.
anyway. I've got . beastly cold In
my head. Go away. tell you"
II haven't brought you breakfast
said the Countess, q little impatiently.
II Just want to know why you are
In our icehouse. That's all. What
are you doing in there. anyway"
"What-why-- Well. like that!
What am l doing In your icehouse.
Ell? DO you suppose I-I-a-a-at-
choo- 600! A-a-a- choo-o-o-
There. blast Il! do you imagine I
would lock myself In such a hole from
choice? Say. who the deuce are you
out there. anyways"
Never mind who l am" rstorted
the Countess. I'm very sorry you've
caught cold. Indeed | am. But please
tell me who you are?"
"Oh. no! So that's II. en-? Well.
you walt a minute. will you. until l.
u but another sneezing ut inter-