The evening world. Newspaper, March 16, 1914, Page 15

HE RUB DE (Coprtight, 1908, by Mitebeli Remerter,) CHAPTER I. Bulkins suggested the purchase of Hewington Acres to \ ‘herub” Devine he thought he was saying something exquisitely v humorous. In truth, it was rather a good joke of the kind, for if Mr. Devine was anything at all, he was citified. And, of course, Bulkins knew the habits and ways of “Cherub” Devine, Every one know thom. Any one—the man in the street, the clork behind counter, the very newsboys at the curb—could tell you all about “Cherub,” give you his entire history, from the time he started his career @@ office boy for a Chicago stock broker, until he evolved into the many- falllioned speculator whose audacious methods were at that moment atir- ring things up in Wall street. Pach and every one could have told you @zactly the kind of man he was—and missed the mark widely. “Oh, I say, Cherub,” Bulkins had said, “I’ve got Just the thing you ought to have—c country place. “Yea?” Mr, Devine acknowledged the joke by flicking half an inch ef cigar ash on the window ledge. “You bet!” Bulkins was smoothing “Cherub’s” coat sleeve. “It's Mewington Acres—up on the Sound—gilt-edged suburban property, and , geing dirt cheap on foreclosure. You know about the Hewingtons; eweil Xv family, but gone all to smash financially. Now there's twenty acres of ‘ Dark along the water, nice little forty-room cottage" — “Cnty forty?” “With stables, house, garden- it about jk here—and then die a ack and the like. I ‘uly fur- Batt shaded hence: evento He wandered into the drawing the servants, tf you want them. Just room, looked at the pictures on the parece for a man like you!” And wall, sat down on a couch, tried a snorted a fresh appreciation chair and threw some asl on & ef Ris own humor, winki: ihly rug, just by way of self. rion. But it was no use. He found himself to be passing. tiptoeing over the bare spots of the » Devine seemed to have missed polished floor as atealthily as if he we @ burglar. Then he chuckled, ‘much? he asked, his gaze planted his feet firmly and walked fixed on the ston: opposite. into th rary. As he did so he vers would take sixty thou- heard a muffied exclamation and abd, but it’s worth double. That's caught a giimpese of a skirt whisking Qs sure as I'm standing here. I tell through @ door. A distant at Cherub, that property”"—— of heels convinced him that he hi 4 the “Cherub.” just frightened some one from the Apparently “Cherub” had no imme- room. An easy chair pulled up before since an open bookcase caught his eye. 8 to elapse with- “Hello! I wonder who that was?” transaction, ex- _ Naturally, there was no reply. Mr. to toss the deed over to a clerk Devine went to the door through tell him to have it recorded, He which he had eeon the skirt whisked seemed to forget all about it until one and found @ push button on the Friday afternoun, when he found him- jamb. He put his thumb on it and edt with a josing” Saturday, a waited. a G@unday and an ensuing Monday holl- “Did you ring, sir? on his hands, Then he called up pulchral voice behind him. Mr. Devine jumped and turned to Having summoned Bulkins to the see the solemn-faced butler. ear ether end of the wire Mr, Devine pro- ‘Who else would ring if T didn't? e@eeded to ask enlightenment, nded the “Cherub. \ ©That you, Bulkins? Well, this is ‘oO one, sir. Devine. Say, what's the name of that ‘Sure about that, are yout” 4 Eh? Howlying- ‘Quite sure, sir.” lew-ing-ton! Good! “Well, I'm not. Some one just Yes, where? No, skipped out of this room I came hew should I know? Ah, that’s It, is in. Who was it?” a it? Guess I can remember. But how “Likely one of the maids, sir. de uu get there? Sure, Thirty- “Do the maids havo the run of the fourth street ferry. Thanks. So long.” bookcase, eh? Sho was sitting here, And ten minutes later Mr. Devine The chairs warm.” id a se- y had started on his voyage of discov- “Might have been the ‘ousekeeper, into the fashionable wilds of Long sir; Mra. Timmins, sir.” : bent on inspecting the first ‘She's a reader, is she? Well, tell piéce of real estate which he hadever her not to be so skittish next time. It owned, the first tangible fruits of his gives me the fidgets.” newly acquired millions. “Yos, sir, I'll tell her, sir.” . oe Gaaieri t Evidently he was in a hurry to CHAPTER Il. carry out his instructions, for before WING to the foresight of Mt Man had retreated vas. silently Bulkins, who had sent @ anq abruptly as he had come. warning telegram in ad- Yonder if nee ay AS pie vance, Mr. Devine was met commented tho “Cherub.” "'Gue: ‘ have to hang sleigh bells on 'e at the atation by one Tim- want to dodge a case of nerves \y mins, who singled him out with un- propping into the easy chal erring promptness, introduced himself gan reading the titles on the bai as caretaker and general, superin- bg Biagd sino beta Aim. a ot 1086 8 were , Wel 6) tendent of Hewington Ac ss, and Weil that was odd, Some day he waved him obsequiously to rd ® might want to do a little reading. yellow-wheeled park trap dr: by He had always meant to, but: set ie a di, iomething w! - eer ce som? Pini : oe i, ey tween the chair and the wall caught fegret-eyed, undersize * hin eye. He stooped and picked up was Timmins; one of that class of a handkerchief. It was a lainty af- Englishmen who seem born to serve. fair, mostly lace, ans ere Was an “ . he corner, an embroidered He had handed the “Cherub” into !nitial in tl V with some sort of a little pointed tho trap and taken the rains from & crown above it. greom when he fe! imse! pped on “H-m-m!" suid the “Cherub, “V the shoulder. can't stand for Timmin: anew team?” Mr. Devine was Having made this subtie deduction, g he pocketed the handkerchief an “Yours, slr.” ey arted to look for the factotum who “That so! Wait a minute. was caretaker and 8 P rintendent Mr. Devine got out and walked and whose wife was the housekeeper, around the rig twice, eying the out- ‘The search was not a long one and as a boy does an un- ended at the stable offic mas bundle, Then be “Timmins,” said Mr. in. elzed force are we carrying?’ ht, Timmins. Let ‘er “Beg perion, fg ba porns caught himsel ruptly, “Oh, you oe groom smiled. Timmins did mean how many in help? Only five not. He murmured “Yes, sir," waved now, sir, outside of me and Mrs. Tim- the whip toward his hat and sent the mi . horses swinging around an oval “live, eh—and two are seven? Let's camna bed at a clip which made the see, the pay roll wilt POU aes “ 2 fast with both bands. mmins produced an accoun Neeuntit the high stepping cobs in which were entered names, dates had whirled bim over half a mile of god erent, Ret peviie Blanced japered macadam did be ven- hastily through the list. feet loosen ‘his grip and lean back |“ ft ‘em seem to hay 8 SAS ainst the cushions, ested a ate Ne ff one will ever know just how SVR EL Junmalia's: Bani. 168) mmch “Cherub” Devine enjoyed that j ae or the sensation he experienced Maybe you never heard of anyone when they turned in through the big mites, pane began with a V, Tim- stone gate posts and Timmins re- “Oh ” + , yes, sir, There was the Ven- Riiread cheerfully ables, sir, as tised to visit here; and 7 gt Bat Dye ed aince to tell Volkenberg, who was one of the gar- ir. Devil ti ‘3° nae he felt about it, with indifferent Sensis aie Ls moment he did not try. He “There might be others, sir if I could lay my tongue to”"-—— bony Dosing 6s al), area tn Ot ere “Don't strain your memory, Timmins. med @uddenly to open and there Jt doesn’t matter. 'g into view the low-roofed, Yet when he had returned to the y - windowed, much - awninged veranda to resume his contemplution tage,” with {ts porte-cochere, of the vividly green lawn, over which ‘ts’ annex, glass-roofed conser- the tree shadows were now lengthen- ries and deep verandas. As ifre- ing, he could not rid himself of the by @ pring, there appeared in notion that somewhere about this big doorwa: 5 house, of which he was trying to con- ‘ Rook bis travelling bag and vince himself that he was the owner ™ atiffly as ‘Was @ person who had not thus far \ “how you through the house first, been accounted for. Moreover, the * gugsested Timmins, person was &@ woman. Mr, Devine t ag well.” moved uneasily in his chair, As he Insite of half an hour the "Cherub" Occasionally expressed it, and as his as emoking lonesomely on the front Practice more eloquently attested, pS yee trying to summon a@ sense woes ves. al uf ay lin But to him Who was she? And why was she omar ne eran ever there? At this stage of his reflection ‘The place was all so empty Mr. Devine chuckled. end st! He looked up and down 11 be seeing ghosts next,” he told the long bare veranda, then out himself. arose the vividly green lawn, No , Onco more did Mr. Devine indulge om was in sight, Behind him were in a chuckle at his own expense when y larkened rooms from he found himself seated alone in the ued no evunds, The shades bie dining-room, a single plate tald Of all the front windows were drawn, &¢ the big round table, and the candle and the yellow and white awnings ‘ght barely suggesting the dim cor- masked them still more, It was as ers and the cavernous fire place. It f€.the place had been put to sleep by with a sense of relief that he ‘mesmerist, He wished he know %®W the butler emerge from the hhew to wake ft up. @ solemn-faced butler, im. “Let's see, what fT ne?” he Veually a man much given to si- a cen wRAtA your nam even among his intimates, Mr, “s, Sppings, air, Soup. sir?” Both re- Bovine now felt that he wanted to y ¥ Q talk. ‘Tho stillness was opprossive, He Ply and auestion were sepulchral in lenged to break It or, at least, to hear vem, 1 have nome soup. Grand- 4¢ broken, There must be servants mother dead, is sho?” back in there somewhere, Why ‘Heg pardon, sir?” Eppings paused dn't they slam a door or break & with his hand on the tureen cover. dishes? So this was what it “Grandmother dead?" repeated Mr. was like to own a@ country place, Devin wan it? “She ts, oir." “Fine the country,” golllo- = “Th, M! . 5 samised Mr. Devine, “"X could spend cheer up, Foul get over i" Spi, Pa a & _ —— — COMPLETE NOVEL VINE. In a Co BDDQDOGHDDHIDDOHHIDHHOOODSDOODIDOOODO “Thank you, sir.” It was all Eppings could think of at the moment, A dignified and solemn ail- ence ensued until the fish was brought Mr. Devine sald he would have PBODODOHSDOHOOOOOSHOOD. conspicuous feminine trait. Why he should rise at the unearth. ly hour of 6, however, he explained in quite a different way. He accused a few twittering sparrows of waking Perhaps, too, it was the spar- rows which drove him out to make a cireuit of the grounds. dentally he glanced up at the win- dows he had watched the night be- The closed shutters revealed He wandered on and found flower garden, there were arbors and gravel walks and stone seats, nd Epsoms"—— he add seg pardon, sir; E»pings, Well, Eppings then, you really must forget about that lost grandmother of himself in a ne layed a dust-covered bottle, Milk for n>, Eppings, al- e the bushes evenly clipped and the walks neatly raked. It reminded him of a city park, and he felt somewhat more at home. Finding a bench under a tree, he sat down and began to wonder how Jong it would be before ho might call for his breakfast without seeming un- Ho was still grappling with this unusual domestic problem, absorbed tn the revelation as to how ignorant ho was of such matters, when he was aroused by a crunch, crunch of footsteps on the gravel. Some one was walking dowa one of the intersecting paths. By leaning forward he could catch sight’ of them as they passed. It was not a particularly dignified attitud nor one wholly comfortable for a man Devine's build to assume; but lean forward he did, tilted a little to one side, an elbow on one knee—a frankly attentive pos- He wished to see who else was stirring so early in the morning. During the brief he atared he had a glimpse of a slender, big-eyed young woman, whose hair hung in a thick, dark braid over one shoulder. of her left arm was a sheaf of freshly cut flowers, in her right hand a pair of shears, And then she saw him. drowned the memory of two grand- mothers, Eppings, and I never used anything stronger than milk. It was not often that the “Cherub” attempted a joke all by himself. haps that was why this one so sadly “Most hextraordinary man, the new master,” reported Eppings in the ser- “Thinks I'm mourn- ing for my grandmother when, blens me, the old Indy's dead and gone these twenty years. vants’ quarters, y he's an awfully wild young man," commented Mrs. Tim- mins, the housekeeper, who was as stout and as aggresaly was thin and obsequiou that be cuts up something and gets his name in the paper I've warned my man, Timmin I won't stand it. ‘the very first moment that M Devine begins to carry on here w ‘Timmins,’ says I, with well-behaved gentlefolks, them's the kind I want to be with.’ ‘That's what I told him, straight and flat, and [ ain't goin’ te see Timmins led into all sorts of deviltry, no matter how rich the folks are that does it. Timmins dropped her broad palms defiantly on her substan- own fell the Tones. clattered on the stones, ‘This manoeuvre was too much for loat his balance and pitched forward on hands and ww hat struck on the brim anv rolled to the further edge By the time he could scramble to his feet and recover h hat the young woman had gathere up he: flowers and the shears, stood quite still, eying him with ap- CHAPTER III. EANWHILE Mr. Devine w: finding out what it was like to be alone in the country He began by ait- ting under the outside porch light and staring into the dark. This proving unsatisfactory, he moved fur- ther and further from the light radius until he had reached the outermost mit of the veranda. tured on little excursions out around but keeping the Nghted He shuddered to of the walk, young woman, ext he ven= eft you aquealed, didn't you?" doorway in sight. think what would happen to him it he should lose it, or some one should turn off the light. Then he witnessed a miracle; the red moon peered over the black tree tops, and gradually there emerged a weird, fantastic landscape, wholly un- like the one which be had watched before dinner, Then, getting a new angle, be per- ceived four yellow rectangles in an the cottage. were windows which faced th » the help stay out of a year's t time you squealing you might send me word, so T can brace myself. Live here, do “Why—er-—that is—not exactly” Thank the Lord, Tt But don't mind ahead with your posey “Neither do I. Just own the place. ‘ou-you don't ob; I'll clear out.” Please don't, ally, Iwas nbout to go.” Suit yourself.” Only after she was out of aight did Mr. Devine roallze that here was an- other person whose presence at Hew- ington Acres was not fully accounted Into viow, and there were more light- " He returned to east a the four yellow kes me I ought to take a cen- commented the * way, I might have asked if sho came from the top floor.”” In less than an hour breakfart was an accomplished fact, and Mr. Devine, now soothed by one of his black cigars, set out for @ more extended tour of the grounds, He discovered tho path leading to the Hound, and had rpent gome time on the porch of the boat- Rouse, watching the steamers and crawl past, when herub.” “Any It Was the silhouette 4 man with a beard iT and eyeglasses, reading. Then another shadow flitted across the shad graceful shape, evidently marked the “Cherub.” bourding-house, or what?” At last two of the windows were darkened, After an interval he saw 1n one of them a glimmer of whiteness. Mr. Devine could imagi: white arms, elbows on the ledge, and a dark head between, 60 intently was he occupied in trying to pierce the shadows that his clgar went out. struck a match to relight tt. done he looked again at the darkened windows and discovered that the shut- ters had been closed. The other win- dows were still lighted, and the shadow of a man reading remained, “Give it up,” coasting vessels Timmins came down, laybe I didn't mention lant night, began Timmins suay thing about the Hewingtons” “T guess you didn't, TMmmini the “Cherub” encouragingly. Didn't leave any messages for me, did they?” “It's not just that, alr, air, they haven't gone.” ine @ pair of Haven't gone! Why, where are they?” “Back at the house, "Oh! you don't say” That is what he did, too, comfort- ably assuring himself of an incuri- ‘The fact that he even- tually went to sleep added to his as- surance that he was free the ir, Mr, Howington’ moved, Perhaps 1 should hava POS RTS bl tie tere Sean a ene path Oe 167 19 zine, Monday! M The Adventures of a Wall Street Man te of Mysteries untry Esta a flying trip, aa it might be— T understand. What I didn't know wouldn't hurt me, eh? It's all right. There's Mr. Hewington and his sick sister, is there. That all?” “And the Countess Vecchi, sir.” “The which?” Mr. Devine grabbed the cigar from between his teoth and turned quickly on Timmins. “The Countess Vecchi, si to look after th int. T is the married daughter, sir.” “Oh! Imported a count, did they? Is he knocking around the place, too?" ‘The Count’s been dead two yoars, sir, and"—here Timmins coughed apol- ogetically behind hie hand—"“the Hew - ingtons wa'n't precisely sorry to lose an stayed Countess im. “Not @ howling success, eh?" “Hardly, sir, The Countess left him two hours after the wedding.” “She must be @ hummer,” observed the “Cherub,” and thon, reflectively: “Countesses are hardly in my line. Guess you can hook up pretty soon and drive me back to the station. I don’t want to disturb the old lady.” “Lord, sir, you won't see any of them! No sooner did they hear you coming than they moved into the top floor of the east wing and there they've shut themselves up like the house was quarantined. Besides, sir, there isn't another Lgry you could get to the city until the 10.33 to- night.” fon, weil, there's plenty of time, then, Perhaps you'll be able to dig up some more reports before night.” Mr. Devine was thinking of the young person he had seen in the garden, It didn’t matter who she ‘was, of course, but {t might be inter- esting to know, CHAPTER IV. HE day passed, however, without further discoveries, although at any moment the “Cherub” was prepared to find himself confronted either by Mr. Hewington, or the Countess, or the young woman of the roses, or some wholly unknown per- son, But he bad the grounds, the verand: nd the great rooms all to Bimeelf. “It's like playing hide and seek and being ‘it’ all the time,” was his com ment. “And I've seen livelier games. He had seated himself for another solitary and stately meal when a bell rang somewhere, and Eppings excused himse:? to answer it. Then ensued out in the reception ball a whispered conversation, part of which Mr, Devine could hardly avoid bear- ing, although he was certain it was not intended for his ears. “Is that—that dreadful man in there?" anked a voici “Wonder if that's m the “Cherub.” He coul the butler’s reply. “Then I must go in," continued the voice. “But Iaten, Eppings; stay within call. Now you may tell him Tam coming.” Eppings reappeared to announce impressively: “The Count Vecchi, sir.” Mr. Devine grabbed his napkin end from between the second and third buttons of his waistcoat and dropped it across his left knee. Also he re- adjusted his necktie and sat up very straight in bis chair, He had a vague notion that all countesses were large, stout women, who wore crowns of some sort, ermine-trimmed robes, and 4 multitude of rings, He had seen one once; an old, wrinkled personage, with a disposition like @ setting hen and a voice like @ cross-cut saw. “The Countess, eh? Well, what thought not catch explanation proved unnec- essary, for through the doorway stepped the big-eyed, slender young person whom ho had seen before break- fast in the gard She wore neither crown nor ermine rob The braid of dark hair had been transformed into imple but effective setting for the long oval of her face, Simple was her gown, too, of some black, flimsy material, which hung in graceful folds away from the aquare- cut neck, ope! out of which rose her white, rounded throat, But the “Cherub” would have known those Dig_eyes under any dinguine, jello! You?’ he exclaimed, "Sa honest, you aren't the Countess, ou? She bowed an admission of the f9c evidently much disconcerted by th ting. elk T'll be hanged!” continued Mr. Devine, guzing #t hor in frank amazement. "Why, I thought-- Well, I'd never take you for @ countons. Say, have @ seat, won't you?” But the Countess Ve viously come on a specific errand. Ix noring his surprise and his invit tion, she walked resolutely to the oj posite end of the table from Mr. 1» vine an usly clasping and un clasping ra as she spoke, he- Kan just as she had intended to be “LT hope ‘Timmins has explained to you, Mr, Devine, our embarrassing situation hi Mr. Devine nodded “My father wishes me to say that the serious condition of my aunt inakes it impossible for us to leave the house at prosent, Just as soon 6 improves we will go away.” ih, that's all right; satay as long us you like.” “But we don’t want to atay at ail My father wishes you to understand that. It—it in very painful for him to accept a favor, even toleration, from you. He charged me not to apologize, however, as the ceircum- stances are beyond our control. am not apologizing, you see, only @x- plaining.” There was much eurnest- ness in her words, and a pleading, half-frightened expression in her bix brown eyes. “Oh, you're doing fine,” sald Mr Devine, assuringly. “Anything else the old gentleman wants me to under- stand "No, I think that 1s all, except that during your continued the “Oh, you needn't do that.” protested Mr, Devine “But it is my father's desire, added the Countess, “And we # take all our meals there’ “Oh, come, that lan't necessary. You tell your father to make himself at Bome here until be'a ready to go. I ‘By Sewell Ford of “SHORTY M’CABE,” Etc. spoken sooner, sir, but they didn't won't bjte him, or you ‘ither. Just know how long you'd stop—maybe you sit down here and have some dinner, and send up for the old gen- T couldn't think of dott to say somethin; Papa would never “But not in the game wi you know, ts merely shock dignant at the wild things you do. Ho thinks that strained or punii that perhaps it in all owing to the in- fluences which surround you, companions, you know, and the men you meet in business, They ate not very nice men, are they?” “Moat of them manage to keep out He thinks that you are rather— that Is, that you—you" ih of color came into the olive- shaded cheeks of the Countess, and her brown eyes began to atudy the Devine suddenly rug pattern. decided that were nice to look at. encouragingly, “Well, rather wild and wicked and reckless, you know. that you might becomo—er—intoxt- He was afraid “Yes, of course; but tell me, are they men of refinement and A cherublc expression spread over the pink-and-white face of Mr. De- “Thinks I'm a sort of @ crore be tween a cowboy and a pirate, eh? Seems to know all about me, too!" “He has read about you in the entured the Countess ou on to do as And there isn't u that you are which for at instant met the calm, of Mr. Devine's bi who has seen about how I spent Paris one week —or was it @ million?" &@ million, the paper said. But you won it all back at Monte Ci tho next week, didn't you? We read ahout the big poker game, too; the arted in Liverpool and end- ed off Bandy Hook. “That was a corke! “And the champagne supper you '@ to forty chorus giris.” I believe there were forty. You have certainly kept well posted.” The Countess Veccht moment before making a response. Sho cast an inquiring glance at Mr. beaming face presented reat. Of course, you ficult to atep at once tt society, but you could make a beginning.” “I could work up, “It would be slow; the: reserve about our bes certain ct you would probably find it impossible ¢! to enter.” es break in with an ax would find it path, but she still kept yen fixed on Mr. Devi wi such an odd wi It wouldn't be ni enter the most of ae things. xclusive sets, but there are plenty of nice people that “ you could meet; that ta, if you want- we your associates.” ink would be a good You'll not mind my ‘ou about it, will you? have wanted for a long Jo something of the kind for be urged me to go into home missionary work. I have tried, but the villagers here are #0 unresponsive that I haven't had much succen “Well, you can try any form on me that you like. “Oh, the bishop will be delighted He rather expect- that I would work merely among the poor of this par- inh—folk who are not #0 wicked as they are so lazy and ehiftiess, never dreamed, of course, of having An opportunity for influencini favored him with a “IT supose that I should explain,” “Papa, you see, in inter- ested in soctology. “Sort of an anarchist, eh ed the “Cheru Not socialism, but s0- clology, the study of social conditions Ht He reads books about ind gathors statistics. ing & pumphiet on the subjec Mr. Devine nodded uncomprehend- peaking to y: 1 “Ho has been particularly interes Pe pars has made quit everything thi in printed about you from a_ newspaper-clipping bureau, and he hog) the pieces pasted In a big “In a book, eh?" such @ lot of them, it's when I tell him! Pf “Must make lively reading.” “Oh, 1t does, Papa says that you are a typical product of the present commercial age.” “Well, that’s nice of him; I've been called worse names.” course’ here the Countess nerved herself to look sternly at the siniling Mr, Devine—"he disapproves very strongly of you. He says it fan't simply that you spend so much money foolishly, but that you set such a bad example to other young men who can- not afford, perhaps, to follow it.” a good polnt,” assented The Countess threw him scared look, as if she wished she Rad Mot gone so fr ‘It's what you might call a of luck for both of us, len't it?” queried the “Cherub.” just how are you going to " But T want to do something le you are here. and exemple count for a good deal. If I could cal talk to you about eatd, “I doi ever been accused of being a perfect Cres oy ae what is a gentle- mi Countess opened very wide, ot exactly proud of some but I'm not asham things I've don either, and I never deny would keep me too bus: “Of course, I know that the news- Papers often righte and feel and “Perhaps they bave ee “— Vecchi paused long rons the table at the peed walk in the 9 o'clock, eh? mastn’t! That ii t in to be there, ot if it should be purely by “Horns and hoofs not in evidence?” chuckled the “Cherub.” “You know what tented the Countess. ly recognize the marks of--of dissi- pro: “One can usual tion. to right, You'll be tn you can't alwaya tell Jooks,” which remark Mr, Devine ac- companied by a whimsical puckering of tho Ips, 4 manoeuvre that did not escape the Countens, an elusive glance and the results of her daring. tenance, as one who officiates at @ ead a acred: se came in and began Drippings, old boy—" began the re an improper person.’ “Too wicked for you to eat dinner h, I keep right on going served the “Cherul didn't know I was quite such a hope. lean case, though.” nd he has read the newspapers, But it’s dull buat- *, eating alone.” couldn't make up for the absence of forty chorus girls.” this parting shot “i'm not fo # ell, Teppinge tite toa protested t! “4 air. “And it isn't half eo bad an it looks, “Tam glad to hear you say so, air, A little Worcestershire, sir?” CHAPTER V. to the matter of raiment, “Cherub” Devine wi fastidious in but one par- He was fond of She delivered I You tell your won't you, that the dreadful in not yet Intoxicated.” no Countess paused at the door. tell him something of the kind, certainly.” chi had ob- ! perhaps it was ti of the “Cherub’ in, ‘Tears showed suddenly in the brown eyes of the Countess. “Oh, you mustn't feel that way, you musto't!” she pleaded, “Of course 1 will. There!" Impulaively she ex- tended both hands to him, Rather awkwardly Mr, Devine took them tn hin, Then he did not know what to do next, whether to let go or to hold on Hoe had not fully decided when a tall, gray-haired man of stern face and dignifled bearing appeared be- hind them, He seemed very much astonished at the scene. “adel “This, father, is Mr. Devine,” Ib was finely done. No hesiiancy, no trembling of voice, no wavering of the eyes, barricade your- sant dreams," The “Cherub” waved a solemn fare- well with his napkin as the Countess disappeared toward the ataire. Devine had not seen the last of the Countess for that aight In a moment she came back T hope | did not say too much,” sho began, Klancing timidly at him “You are not offended, fancy waistooats. An he wae “travelling light,” he had brought to Hewington Acres a bare half dozen of them, and of these he now donned @ creation of tobacco- brown allk, with red dota in It, in the garden at 9 o'clock ere curtosity that led the “Cherub” to pace up and kept walks for a je wae about to give Probably it was vk Very savage?” down the trim! long half hour. the vigil and leave, it of the Countess peering from behind one of the stone gate va Ing it over, about the and so on, you might b Next Week’s Complete Nove THE SHIP OF CORAL| na" soy er ‘There wan @ look In her eyes which somehow made the “Cherub” if he had been shaking @ club at ber. a word from me. would act us If we were the best of you mustn't do that, ould not like that even know that Lam talking to you to have Eppings vauge, but T thought Nain things bet is Kive you Dis w Countess, “we shall keep to our tt 1 came myself” “You're right Eppings would have in” mustn't know nd he Chinks that you ian of the way ho has me sized used to that sort of thing, poste. Ghe dodged out of sight at faine San ten of him, but a : peared. Making @ pretense of not that this morning she was in eray, with something white at her throat. Ho even remembered that last mart nen hand Ly His “good - is” was inten: 0 idte cre to carry out the but it met with no similar res “You must Hg “It wan very wrong of mo @uch a thing. I came onl you 80! beat Durely accidental meeting, in, burriédly. to think of tell “Anything new about me in the Sunday papers?” ‘No, but papa wa: talking, about Good you again lant night, Don't they drink heavily and gamble and—and do other which they shouldn't?” there are a good many bigh “and they lead they do, don't they any one to tell worthy of bettor things? I knew it! But if you could be brought into con- tact with a different cl could ming ith higher gradee of soc ai “Oh, that’a the trouble! H out his scrapbook. Which cl of my many wicked the text this tim aes furni “He read to me about that Fréneh einger. “En Balie Savoy?” “Yen, the one to whom you wg (Oe amone Hara which was h, yes. That was Kittie’s my We ee e ‘Neill, you know,’ “Why, the clipping said she was @. famous Parisian chanteuse!” “Shouldn't be surprised; these Dress agents are «reat on dust the same. Her mother ax to & &@ boarding-house there. I knew, ue Mrs, O'Neill took care of: me for three weeks once when I was and hadn't @ dolla: r “Oh!” said the Countess Vecohi, ch beginning to retreat. “It--it is very Interesting.” “Hut doesn't make good, eh? We he beat ean do. What! net The Countess wan retreating up the cannon cracker to which he has touched a match, “Yen, [ ought to go directly back.’ “But how about the reform? 1 thought we were to have a talk, and that you were going to give me some pointers on breaking into good so- clety, this, are you?” Tl You're not going to quit Ike @ Countess shook her hi “I wan mista of me to make such a promise, But I—I—oh, can't you nec? I ought net to be here talking to you at all,” “Well, why not? What's the ticular matter with me, anyway? re @o you know, you've got me real in- terested on that point. Of course, no howling swell, or anything of that kind; either. Just what is it that's wrong?’ 4 3 but I'm no jail bi Evidently he was much in earnest, and when the “Cherub” got into that frame of mind there was no mistaking {1 While the lips still amiled, the blue eyes took on @ leek of soberness that was very "Oh, I couldn't, 1 couldn't tell you,” “Oh, I couldn't, 1 couldn't tell you, a halt. far. “Then it is something worse than I thought.” that—" “No, it inn't ether, It's coy ae The Countess glanced about in desperation. “Well, I will ask you: Do you consider yourself a—a gem tleman?’ “Now that you mention it," he remember that I have vy gentiema! one who has regard for the “Oh, no no! TI did not mean te @ay that. I couldn't say it. I-% de not know you well enough. I ly asked you to decide for “But you had me all didn't you, from the Gret? you decided that I didn’t come up specifications ‘The C sper Bee was cornered and keow 6' ily. “You know proackful sald anything of the kind. way was that I ought to go back, I must.” “And not come near me agatay™ “Probably not.” ' “Then I suppose Th ie dave “Oh, it im that—it isn't ¢hasr? Countess. * declared the “Cherub? “Must be, “Té {t wasn't you wouldn't run like this. Why, I'm eo bad that won't talk to me, I don't a that you'd even ebake hands w! any one #0 wicked.” It may have been merely 1 pathetic jured who is this?” he demanded! (To Be Continued.) southern seas; By H. de Vere Stacpoole |, of lost gold, WILL BEGIN IN piratical exploits and odd love-in- terest; culmina- ing in the Mt. Pelee eruption,