The San Francisco call., 1905-06-04
II cREPT VERI GJHGERLY
DOLZH TIE STAIRS
WHICH cKEAKED a BIT
III SPITE OF Us -s~ee

mere subsection of the weaker nature to
the stronger The forlorn hope which had
brought me to the Albany was turned as
by magic. into an almost staggering
sense of safety. Rafles would help me
after all. A, j. Raffles would be my
friend 1t was as though all the world
had come round suddenly on my side; so
far therefore from resisting his action.
1 caught and clasped his hand with a
fervor as uncomfortable as the fernzy
which had preceded it.
God bless you" erred Forgive me
for everything. I will tell you the truth
l did think you might help me in my ex-
tremity, though / we'll knew that 1 had
no claim upon you. Still-for the old
schools sake-the sake of old times-I
thought you might give me another
chance. If you wouldn't meant to blow
out my brains-and will still If you
change your mind."
In truth feared that it was changing.
with his expressis.s. even as 1 spoke. and
in spite of his kindly tone and kindlier
use of my old school nickname His next
words showed me my mistake.
What boy 1t is for jumping to con-
elusions! / have my vices. Bunny, but
backing and filling is not one of them.
Sit down, my good fellow. and have
cigarette to soothe your nerves. l insist.
Whisky? The worst thing for YOU here's
some coffee that l was brewing when
you came In. Now, listen to me. You
speak of another chance. What do you
mean? Another chance at baccarat?
~ a.
must turn; suppose It didn't? We should
only have made bad worse No. my dear
chap. you've plunged enough. Do you
put yourself in my hands or do you not?
Very well, then you plunge no more. and
l undertake not to present my check
Unfortunately there are the other men;
and still more unfortunately, Bunny. I'm
as hard up at this moment as you are
yourself.''
1t was my turn to stare at Raffles
Your" / vociferated You hard up?
How am / to sit here and believe that?''
Did / refuse to believe it of you?'' he
returned, snnilingIy. And, with your own
experience, do you think that because a
fellow has rooms in this place and be-
longs to a club or two and plays a little
cricket he must necessarily have bal
ance at the bank? ! tell you. my dear
man, that at this moment I'm as hard UP
as you ever were. / have nothing but
my wits to live on-absolutely nothing
else. 1t was as necessary for me to win
some money this evening as 1t was for
you. We're in the same boat, Bunny;
we'd better pull together 2
Together ! jumped at It. "Pn do
anything in this world for you, Raffies,' =
said. '.if you seally mean that you
won't give me away. Think of anything
you like, and I'll do it! l was a desperate
man when came here, and I'm just as
desperate now. 1 don't mind what I do
il only can get out Of this without a
scandal"
Again see him. leaning back in one of
the luxurious chairs with which his room
was furnished. I see his indolent, ath-
etic figure; his pale. sharp. clean-shaven
features; his curly black hair hts strong,
unscrupulous mouth. And again / feel
the clear beam of his wonderful eye, cold
and luminous as star, shining into my
brain-sifting the very secrets Of my
heart.
IT wonder II you mean all that, he
said at length. "You do in your present
mood; but who can back his mood to the
last7 still. there's hope when chap
takes that tone. Now think of it, too.
you were q plucky little devil at school; !;
you once did me rather a good turn, I