The San Francisco call., 1905-06-04


line as did sherlock Holmes in n to-
tally different sphere, for RafHeS and
Holmes are exact cppoSites in view,
character and career.
While sherlock Helmes exercised his
wonderful powers toward the detection
of crime. RahIeS is representcd rs n
man of unusual intellect and os high
birth and breeding who has sunk TO
cmploy1ng his undOubted genius 10 en-
able him 10 live by his wits.
The second adventure OF Rafies-"A
Costume Pfece.-wiH appear next
week.
Copyright, 1898, by Charles Scribner's
Sons)
IT was about 1890 o'clock when ]
returned to the Albany as a last
desperate resort The scene OF my
a disaster was much as 1 had left it.
The baccarat counters still strewed
the table with empty glasses and the
leaded ash trays. A window had been
broken to let the smoke out and was
letting in the fog instead. Rafles him
self had merely discarded his dining
jacket for one of his innumerable
blazers. Yet he arched his eyebrows as
though had dragged him from his bed
Forgotten something?" said he, when
he saw me on his mat.
NO" said l. pussing past him with
out ceremony. And led the way into
his room with an impudence amazing
10 myself
Not come back for revenge. have
you? Because I'm afraid I can't give it
TO you single-handed. I was sorry my
self that The ofhers-'
We were face to face by his freside
and cut him short
"Rafies," said ], you may well be
surprised at my coming back in this
way and at this hour. 1 hardly know
you. I was never in your rooms before
tonight But / tagged for you at
school. and you said you remember me.
OF course, that's no excuse; but will
you listen to me-for two minutes7"
In my emotion had at first TO strug-
gle for every word. but his face re-
assured me as I went on, and I was
not mistaken in its expression
Certainly, my dear man. said he.
'as many minutes as you like. Have a
Sullivan and sit down" And he handed
me his silver cigarette case.
NO" said pushing past him with
I won't sit down, thank you. Nor will
you ask me TO do either when you've
heard what have TO say"
-Really?" said he, lighting his own
cigarette with one clear blue eye upon
me. How do you know?"
Because you'll probably show me
the door," / cried bitterly, "and you'll
be justified in doing II, But it's no
-
dropped over two hundred just now?"
.s He nodded
Il hadn't the money in my pocket"
Il remember"
But had my check book, and I
wrote each of you a check at that
desk"
"wen7"
Not one Of them was worth the
paper It was written on. RafIles. i am
overdrawn already at my bank"
Surely only for the moment?"
no. / have spent everything"
But somebody told me you were so
well or ! heard you had come in for
money!"
so did I. Three years ago. It has
been my curse now it's all gone-every
. penny, Yes I've been fool; there never
was nor will be such fool as I've been.
Isn't this enough for you? Why don't
you turn me out?" He was walking UP
and down with very long face instead.
Couldn't your people do anything?' he
asked at length.
Thank God,'' 1 cried. Il have no peo-
pie. / was an only child I came in for
everything there was. My one comfort
is that they're gone and will never
know"
cast myself into a chair and hid my
face Rafies continued TO pace the rich
carpet that was OF a piece with every
thing else in his rooms. There was no
variation in his soft and even footballs
you used TO be a literary little cuss,"
he said at length; didn't you edit the
mag. before you left2 Any way, recol-
lect tagging you to DO my verses; and
literature Of all sorts is the very thing
+. nowadays; any fool can make living at
it."
shook my head. ANY fool couldn't
write on my debts said L
Then you have a fat somewhere?" he
went on.
Yes. in Mount street"
well. what about the furnitureT'
laughed aloud in my misery There's
been bill OF sale on every stick for
months"
And at that Rafies stood stin. with
raised eyebrows ana stern eyes that l
could meet the better now that he knew
the worst: then, with a shrug. he re-
sunled his walk, and for some minutes
neither OF us spoke. But in HIS handsome,
unmoved face I read my fate and death
warrant; and with every breath cursed
my folly and my cowardice in coming to
him at ALL Because he had been kind
TO me at school, when he was captain
OF the eleven. and / his flag. had dared
10 look for kindness from him now; be-
cause ] was ruined. and he rich enough