The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-20

time was the lastr'
1T looked rather like it, Bunny. It
was taking all the risks and hitting at
everything. But the game came of,
and some day I'll tell you how"
ooh. Pm in no hurry to hear. Its
enough for me to see you lying there.
l don't want TO know how you came
there, or why. though l fear you must
be pretty bad. 1 must have a good
look at you before let you speak an
other word,''
raised one of the blinds, sat upon
the bed and | had that look. 1t left
me all unable to conjecture his true
state of health, but quite certain in
my own mind that my dear Rallies
was not and never would be the man
that he had been. He had aged TWEEN
ty years; he looked fifty at the very
least. His hair was white; there was
no trick about that, and his face was
another white. The lines about the
corners OF the eyes and mouth were
both many and deep. On the other
hand. the eyes themselves were alight
and alert as ever; they were still keen
and gray and cleaning like finely tenn
pered steel. Even the mouth. with
cigarette to close it. was the mouth OF
Raflles and no other-strong and I'M
scrupulous as the man himself. 1t was
only the physical strength which APP
peared to have departed, but that was
quite sufficient to make my heart bleed
for the dear rascal who had cost me
every tie I valued by the tie between
US two.
Think l look much older?' he asked
at length.
"a bit" l admitted, but it is chief
~ your hair
Whereby hangs a tale for when
we've talked ourselves out, though I
have often thought it was that long
swim that started it. Still, the island
of Elba is a rummy show. can assure
you. And Naples is rummier."
you went there after all?"
Rather! It's the European paradise
for such as our noble selves. But
there's no place that's patch on little
London IS nonconductor of heat; it
never need get too hot for fellow
here If it does it's his own fault
It's the kind of wicket you don't get
out on unless you get yourself out. So
here am again and have been for the
last six weeks. and mean to have an.
other knock"
But surely. old fellow. you're not
awfully fit. are you:'
Fit? My dear Bunny, I'm dead
I'm at the bottom Of the sea-and don't
you forget it for = minute"
But are you all right or are you
not?
NO, I'm half poisoned by Theobald's
prescriptions an FUtri! cigarettes and
as weak as a cat from lying in bed"
Then why on earth lie in bed, Raj
fes""
Because it's better than lying in
Jail, as I'm afraid you know. my poor,
dear fellow. | tel. you am dead. ANA
my one terror is Of coming to life
again by accident Can't you see: |
simply dare not show my nose ont Of
doors-by day. You have no IDEA Of
the number of perfectly innocent
things dead man daren't do. | can't
even smoke SuIlivaus, because no one
man was ever so partial to them as
was iii my lifetime, and you never
know when you may start a clew."
What brought you to these man
sions:"
81 fancied Hat. and a man recon-.
mended these on the boat. Such &
good chap. Bunny, He was my refer
ence when it came to signing the lease.
You see. landed on stretcher-m
pathetic case: old Australian without
a friend in cid country; ordered Enga-
dine as Last chance; no go; not an
earthly; sentimental wish TO die in
London-that's the history of Mr.. Ma
turin. If it doesn't hit you hard. Bun
ny, you're the first. But it hit friend
Thsobald hardest of ALL I'm an in
come to him l believe he's going to
marry on me-"
Does he guess there's nothing
wrong"
Knows, bless you, But he doesn't
know know he knows, and there
isn't disease in the dictionary that he
hasn't treated me for since he's had
me in hand. To do him justice, / be-
lieve he thinks me a hypochondriac of
the first water, but that young man
will go far if be keeps on the wicket
He has spent half his nights up here at
guineas apiece"
"Guineas must be plentiful, old
chap
They have been, Bunny. l can't
say more. But don't see why they
shouldn't be again"
was not going to inquire where the
guineas came from. As if l cared!
But l did ask old Rallies how in the
world he had got upon my tracks, and
thereby drew the sort of smile with
which old gentlemen rub their hands
and old ladies nod their noses Raj
fies merely produced perfect oval Of
blue smoke before replying.
81 was waiting for you to ask that,
Bunny. It's a long time since l did
anything upon which l plume myself
more. OF course in the first place l
spotted you at once by these prison
articles. They were not signed, but
the fist was the fist Of my sitting rab-
Bit!
'But who gave you my addressT'
Il wheedled it out of your excellent
editor. Called on him at dead of night,
when | occasionally 90 afeld like 9TH