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

won't bite him. or you ,,ther. just
YOU sit down hero and have some
dinner, and send up for tho old gen.
tlcman."
mo. I couldn't think OF doing such
a thing. Papa would never allow t."
Looks as IL ! didn't stand very
well with your father" commented
MIR. Devine. rs there anything spe-
clai?"
"Iic thinks that you are rather
that is. that you--you'----- A sudden
rush OF color came into the olive
shaded cheeks OF tho Countess, and
her brown eyes began to study tho
rug pattern. MIR. Devine suddenly
decided that sometimes countesses
were nice to look at.
Yes" he said. encourasinsiy.
We'll. rather Wild and wicked and
reckless. YOU know. lie was afraid
that you night becomo-er-intoxi-
A chsrubic expression spread over
tho pink-and-whits face Of Mr.. De.
vine.
"rhinks I'm a sort Of . cross be-
tween q cowboy and n pirate, Oh?
Seems 10 know all about mo. too!'
'Hs has read about you In the
newspapers" ventured the Countess
with \ shy. half-curious glance.
which for an instant mot the calm.
level gazo Of Mr.. Dsvine's blue eyes.
oh" Tho "Cherub'' spoke a. one
who has seen q light. Something
about how ! spent half q million in
Paris one week-or was II q million 7"
'Iialf million. the paper said. but
you won II all back at Monte Carlo
tho next week. didn't your We read
about the big poker game. too; tho
one that started In Liverpool and end
ed OF Sandy Hook"
THAT was n corker."
And tho champagne supper you
gave to forty chorus girls"
"Yes. I believe there were forty.
You have certainly kept we'll posted"
Tho Countess Vecchi hesitated q
moment before making n response.
Sho cast an inquiring glance at Mr..
Devine.
IL suppose that should explain"
ested In sociology"
Sort Of an anarchist. eh?" suggest.
ell tho "Chsrub."
ooh. no. no! Not socialism. but So
GEOLOGY. the study Of social conditions
and all that. He reads books about
I. and gathers statistics. He In writ
ing n pamphlet on tho subject"
Mr.. Devine nodded uncomprehend-
ingly.
"He has been particularly interest
ed in-in your career. In fact, he
has made quito q study OF II. He gets
everything that In printed about you
from n ncwspaper-cl clipping bureau.
and ne has tho pieces pasted In . big
scrapbook."
'In q book. chr"
There are such . lot Of them. It's
tho only, way"
"Must make lively reading"
"Oh. II does. Papa says that you
are typical product Of the present
commercial age"
well. that's nice of him: I've been
called worse Names
"Of course here tho Countess
nerved herself to look sternly at the
smiling Mr.. Devine--"he disApproves
very strongly OF you. He says Il isn't
simply that you spend % much money
foolishly. but that you SGT such bad
example to other young men who can
not afford. perhaps. to follow t."
Yes, that's good point" assentsd
Mr.. Devine. Judicislly.
'Then you are not ashamed You
do not deny7" The brown eyes Of tho
Countess opened very wide.
We'll. I'm not exactly proud Of some
either. and ] never deny anything: It
would keep me too busy"
"Of course. ! know that the news
papers often exaggerate." admitted
the Countess. Perhaps they have
about you
Think so? Why?"
The Countess Vecchi paused long
enough 20 look across tho table at the
clear skinned. chubby face Of Mr.. DE-
vine.
well. you don't look at all As had
expected"
Horns and hoofs not in evidence"
chuckled the "Cherub."
You know what l mean" pro-
tested tho Countess. Ono can usual
~ recognize tho marks Of--0f dissi-
patton"
"Oh. you can't always tell by
looks" which remark Mr.. Devino &C
by a whimsical puckerins
escape the Countess.
mo. you cannot she said. de-
and papa II quite certain
that you are an improper person"
TOO wicked for you 10 eat dinner
with. am ~"
Papa thinks so"
And no has read the newspapers.
Ell? All right. But It's dull bust
ness. eating alone"
Il couldn't mako up for the absencs
Of forty chorus girls" Sho delivered
this parting shot over her shoulder.
I'm not 80 sure about that" re-
Piled the "cherub" you tell your
father. won't you, that the dreadful
man In not yet intoxicated"
Tho Countess paused At the door
II shall tell him something OF tho
kind, certainly"
And then youll barricade your
selves In your rooms. Well. good
night and pleasant dreams"
The "Cherub" waved n solemn fare
we'll with his napkin M tho Countess
toward tho stairs.
But Mr.. Devine had not seen the
last OF the Countess for that night.
In moment She came back.
II hope ! did not say too much
sho began, glancing timidly at him,
You are not offended. are your"
Mr.. Devins smiled reassuringly.
DO ] look very savage"
Il was afraid, you know. that on
thinking II over. about the clippings
and 80 on. you might be angry. II
you should meet my father you
wouldn't any anything about IL would