The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-03-16

hing "Cherub's" coat sleeve. "It's
-silt-edged suburban property. and
. know about the Hewingtons: swell
cially. Now there's twenty acres Of
room cottage
rust about week hers-and then die
He wandered into the drawing
wall. sat down on . couch. tried .
chair and threw some ashes on 4
rug. Just by way Of self-assertion.
But Il was no use. He found himself
tiptoeing over the bare spots Of the
polished floor az stealthily a. II he
were a burglar. Then he chuckled,
planted his feet firmly ana walked
into the library. As he did 20 he
heard Q muffied exclamation and
caught 4 glimpse Of q skirt whisking
through q door. A distant clicking
Of heels convinced him that ne had
just frightened some ono from the
room. An easy chair pulled up before
an open bookcase caught his eye.
Hello! I wonder who that VAST"
Naturally, there was no reply. Mr..
Devine went to the door through
which he had seen the skirt whisked
and found q push button on the
jamb. He put his thumb on It and
waited.
"Did you ring. sir?" asked q Sc
pulchral voice behind him.
Mr.. Devine jumped and turned to
SEQ tho solemn-faced butler.
who else would ring II didn't?"
demanded tho "Cherub."
mo one. sir
sure about that. are your
"Quite sure. sir"
well, I'm not. Some one just
skipped out OF this room as / came
in. Who was it?"
LIKELY one of the maids, sir"
do the maids have the run Of the
bookcase. eh? She was sitting here.
Tho chairs warm"
might have been tho 'ousekeeper,
sir: Mrs. Timmins, sir"
She's n reader. Is shef Weil' tell
her not to be so skittish next time. 1t
gives me the fidgets."
Eyes. sir. I'll tell her. sir"
Evidently he was in o hurry to
carry out his instructions, for before
Mr.. Devine could say anything more
the man had retreated as silently
and abruptly az he had come.
"Wonder II they're all that kind2"
commented tho '"Cherub." "Guess I'll
have TO hang sleigh bells on 'em II I
want to dodge n case of nerves.
Dropping into the easy chair. he be-
gan reading the titles on the backs
OF the volumes before him. So all
these books were his. were they?
Well. that was odd. Some day he
might want TO do a little reading.
He had always meant to. but
Something white on the floor be-
tween the chair and the wall caught
~ L. uvA vi n n
n handkerchief. It was q dainty af-
fair, mostly lace, and there was an
initial in the corner. an embroidered
v with some sort Of little pointed
crown above II.
"H-m-m!" said the "Cherub, ~
can't stand for Timmins."
Having made this subtle deduction.
he pocketed the handkerchief and
started to look for the factotum who
was caretaker and superintendent
and whose wife was the housekeeper.
Tho search was not a long one and
ended at the stable office.
"Timmins." said Mr.. Devine. what
sized force are We oarrying?"
caught himself abruptly. "Oh. you
mean how many in help? Only fivs
now. sir, outside of me and Mrs Tim
Minis"
give. eh--and two are seven? Let's
see the pay roll. will you?"
Timmins produced an account book
in which were entered names, dates
and amounts Mr.. Devine glanced
hastily through the list.
"None OF 'em seem to have v In
their Names" suggested the "Cherub."
"A v, sir?" Timmins's blank look
was wholly convincing.
Maybe you never heard OF any one
whose name began with . v. Tim
mins?"
"Oh, yes, sir. There was the Ven.
Volkenberg, who was one OF the gar
deners."
"That all?"
There might be others. sir II I
could lay my tongue to-
Don't strain your memory. Timmins
IT doesn't matter"
Yet when he had returned 20 the
veranda to resume his contemplation
Of the vividly green lawn, over which
the tree shadows were now lengthen-
Ing. he could not rid himself OF the
notion that somewhere about this big
house. of which he was trying to con-
vince himself that no was the owner.
was q person who had not thus far
been accounted for. Moreover, the
person was a woman. Mr.. Devins
moved unsasily in his chair. As he
occasionally expressed II. and az his
practice more eloquently attested,
women were mot In his line" But
who was she? And why was she
there? At this stage Of his reflection
Mr.. Devine chuckled.
"Ill DO seeing ghosts Next" he told
himself.
Once more did Mr.. Devins indulge
In chuckle at his own expense when
he found himself seated alone in tho
big dining room. q single plate laid
at the big round table. and the candle
light barely suggesting tho dim cor
nsrs and tho cavernous FIRE place. II
was with a sense of relief that he
saw the butler emerge from the
gloom.
Lets see, what's your nams?" no
asked OF this parsonage.
"Eppings, sir. Soup, sir?" Both re-
ply and question were sepulchral In
tone.
Eyes. I'll have some soup. Grand
mother dead, Is she?"
l.oss