Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-09

(Copynsh,. 1899. BY Charles Scrboer's Soas)
HAT night he told me the
story OF his earliest
crime. Not since the
fateful morning Of the
UMyXE7SNy ides OF March. when he
UOSESyf had just mentioned il as
an unreported incident OF
certain cricket tour. had l succeeded
in getting word out OF Raffies on the
subject. II was not for want of try
ing. He would shake his head and
watch his cigarette smoke thoughtfully.
subtle look in his eyes. half cynical.
half wistful. as though the decent. hon.
est days that were no more had had
their merits after all. RaffieS would
plan a fresh cnormity or glory in the
last with the unmitigated enthusiasm
of the artist 1t was impossible TO
imagine one throb or twitter of CON-
junction beneath those frankly ego
tistic and infectious transports. And
yet the ghost OF a dead remorse seemcI
still TO visit him with the memory of
his first felony, so that had given the
story up long before the night of our
return from Winchester Cricket. how
ever, was in the air. and Rallies
cricket bag was back where he some
times kept it, in the fender, with the re-
mains OF an orient label still adhcriuc
TO the leather My eyes had been on
this label for some time. and | suppose
his eyes had been on mine. for all at
once he asked me if / still burned 10
hear that yarn.
Its 10 use" l replied. You won't
spin it. l must imagine it for my
self"
How can you:'
"Oh, l begin 10 know your methods"
You take it l went in with my eyes
open. as l do now, eh?'
Il cant imagine your doing other
wise"
MY dear Bunny. IT was the most I'M
premcditated thing l ever did in my
life
His chair wheeled back into the
books as lie spranG up with sudden
energy. There was quite an indignant
glitter in his eyes.
Il can't believe that" said l craft
ly. Il can't pay you such poor com
pliment."
Then You must be Il fooi"-
He broke off. stared hard ut me and
in n trice stood smiling in his own
despite.
-"or better knave than ] thought
you, Bunny. and, by Jove. its the
knave. Well. | suppose I'm fairly
drawn. | give YOU best. as they say
out there. As matter of fact. I've
been thinking OF the thing myself.
Lat nights racket reminds me of it
in one or two respects. tell you what.
though. this Is an occasion in any case.
and I'm going TO celebrate it by break
ing the one good rule OF my life. I'm
going to have 4 second drink
The whisky tinkled. the siphon
fixed. the ice plOpped home and seat
ed there in his pajamas. with the in
evitable cigarette, Ratfies told me the
story that | had given up hoping TO
hear. Tn" windows were wide open. |
The sounds OF Piccad.lly foated in ut |
first. Long before lie finished the last |
wheels had ratified. the last brawler |
was removed; we alone broke the quiet |
of the summer night.
mo. they do you very well. indeed. |
You pay for nothing but drinks. so
TO speak. but I'm afraid mine We're
OF N comprehensive character. | had |
started in Il hole. l ought really to
have refused the invitation. Then we
all went TO the Melbourne cup. and l
had the certain winner that didn't win.
and that's not the only way you can
play the fool in Melbourne. l wasn't
the steady old stager l am now, Bun
ny. My analysis was Il confession in