The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-06-25

seen-but I'll tell you if you like I've
killed a robber; that's all I've killed
robber, usurer. a jackal. a black
mailer, the cleverest and the crueless
villain unhung. I'm ready TO hang for
him. I'd kill him again.
And he looked US fiercely in the face,
a fine defiance in his dissiDated eyes:
his breast heaving. his jaw like a rock.
Shall / tell you how it happened?'
he went passionately on. He's made
my life hell these weeks and months
past You may know that A perfect
hell. Well, tonight I met him in Bond
street. DO you remember when / met
you fellows? He wasn't twenty yards
behind you; he was on your tracks.
Raff1es; he saw me nod to YOU, and
stopped me and asked me who you
were He seemed as keen as knives to
know. I couldn't think why. and didn't
care, either. for I saw my chance.
said I'd tell him all about you IL he'd
give me a private interview. He said
he wouldn't. i said he would. and held
him by the coat: by the time let him
go you were out of sight and I waited
where I was till he came back in de-
SPAR. I had the whip hand on him
then. I would dictate where the in
terview should be. and I made him take
me home with him, still swearing to
tell him all about you when we'd had
our talk. Well, when we got here
made him give me something to eat.
putting him off and off: and about 10
o'clock I heard the gate shut / waited
a bit and then asked him IL he lived
alone.
mot at ALL says he; did you not
see the servant?'
At said I'd seen her, but thought I'd
heard her go: If I was mistaken no doubt
she would come when she was called;
and yelled three times at the top OF my
voice OF course there was no servant
TO come. / knew that. because I came
to see him one night last week, and he
interviewed me himself through the gate.
but wouldn't open il. Well. when had
done yelling. and not soul had come
near US he was as white as that cell
ing Then I told him we could have our
chat at last; and picked the poker out
of the fender, and told him how he'd
robbed me. but by God he shouldn't rob
me any more. / gave him three minutes
to write and sign a settlement of all his
UBIQUITOUS claims against me. or have his
brains beaten out over his own carpet.
He thought minute. and then went to
his desk for pen and paper. In two sec
ondS he was round like lightning with
a revolver and I went for him bald
headed. He fired two or three times and
missed: you can find the holes IL you like;
but hit him every time-my Godi I was
Ike a savage till the thing was done.
And then didn't care went through
his desk looking for my own bills and
was coming away when you turned up.
i said 1 didn't care. nor do i: out I was
going TO give myself up tonight. and
shall still; so you see 1 shant give you
fellows much troublei''
He was done, and there we stood on
the landing of the lonely house, the low,
thick, eager voice. still raging and ring
ing through our ears; the dead man be-
low. and in front of US mis- impenitent
slayer. knew to whom the impenitence
would appeal when he had heard the
story. and I was not mistaken.
That's all rot" said Raffies. speaking
after pause; I'VE shan't let you give
yourself up
You shan't stop mel What would be
the good? The woman saw me; il would
only be question of time, and / can't
face waiting to be taken. Think of IT.:
waiting for them to touch you on the
shoulder. No. no. no. I'll give myself up
and get it over
His speech was changed: he faltered
foundered- 1t was though a clearer
perception of his position had come with
the bare idea of escape from 1t.
But listen TO me-" urged Rallies:
were here at our peril ourselves We
broke in like thieves to enforce redress
for grievance very like your own But
don't you see? We took out a pane-did
the thing like regular burglars. Regular
burglars will get the credit OF all the
restr'
You mean that shan't be suspectedgs
At do
But I don't want to get or scot free
cried Rutter Historically. i've killed
him. / know that. But it was in self
defense; 1t wasn't murder. I must own
up and take the consequences shall go
mad If I don'tf
His hands twitched; his lips quivercd:
the tears were in his eyes. Raff1es took
him roughly by the shoulder.
Look here. you fooli II the three Of
us were caught here now. do you know
what the consequences would be? We
should swing in a row at Newgate in six
weeks timei You talk as though we
were sitting in a club: don't you know
it's 1 o'clock in the morning. and the
lights on. and a dead man down below?
For Gods sake. pull yourself together
and do what I tell you, or you're dead
man yourself.
II wish L was one," Rutter sobbed. 1T
wish 1 had his revolver to blow my own
brains out. It's lying under him. Oh. my
God. my Godp
His knees knocked together: the frenzy
of reaction was at it's height. We had
to take him downstairs between us, and
so through the front door and out into
the open air.
All was still outside-all but the smoth-
cred weeping OF the unSCrung wretch
upon our hands. Raffies returned for a
moment to the house: then all was dark
as we'll The gate opened from within;
we closed it carefully behind US. and so
left the starlight shining on broken glass
and polished spikes, one and all, as we
had found them.
We escaped; no need TO dwell on our
escape. Our murderer seemed set upon
the scaffold-drunk with his deed, he was
morc trouble than six men drunk with
wine. Again and again we threatened
to leave him 10 his fate. to wash our
hands of him. But incredible and unmer-
tied luck was with the three of US. Not
a soul did we meet between that and
Willcsden. and of those who saw US later
did one think OF the two young men with
crooked white ties. supporting a third in
a seemingly unmistakaDle condition,
when the evening papers apprised the
town OF a terrible tragedy at kensal
Rise?
We walked to MAZDA Vale. and thence
drove openly to my rooms. But I alone
went 1rr,ufairs- the other two proceeded TO