The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-09-29

Clt with flourish or extra specials.
/ You wouldn't rust with a vile repose
( for seven or fourteen years"
Good old Rafies,' 1 chuckled Il
begin TO forgive you for being in bad
+ form at dinner"
But 1 was never more earnest in
my life"
( Go on"
Il mean it,"
Z You know very well that you
wouldn't commit a murder, whatever
else You might do
Il know very well I'm going TO com
nit one tonichtr'
/ He had been leaning back in the sad
( dlebag chair watching me with keen
eyes sheathed by languid lids. Now he
/ started forward, and his eyes leaped
TO mine Ike cold steel from the scab-
bard. They struck home to my slow
/ wits. Their meaning was no longer in
doubt. I, who knew the man, read
murder in those hard blue eyes.
"Bd.rdE I faltered. moistening my
lips with my tongue.
I "Of course"
But you SAID it didn't matter about
the room in Chelsea:"
Il told you u lie"
Anyway, you gave him the slip aft
erward"
THAT was another. l didn't
thought l had when l came up to you
this evening but when l looked out OF
your window you remember? - to
make assurance doubly sure. there he
was on the opposite pavement down
below"
And you never said a word about
( it,"
Il wasn't going TO spoil your dinner,
Bunny. and ! wasn't going to let you
spoil mine But there he was as large
as life. and. of course, he followed US
TO the Albany. \ fine game for him
TO play. a game after his mean old
heart - blackmail from me, brides
from the police the one bidding against
the other But he shan't play it with
me He shan't live 10. and the world
will have an eXtortioner the less.
Waiter. two Scotch WHISTLES and so
das I'm OF at II. Bunny Its the
only thing to he done"
Z You know where he lives. then?"
Yes. ont WilleSGen way. and alone.
The fellows a miser among other
things. long ago found out all about
him"
Again l looked round the room. 1t
was young mans club. and young
men We're laughing. chatting, smoking.
drinking. on every hand. One nodded
10 me through the smoke. Like a ma
chine l nodded 10 him and turned back
10 RafileS with a groan.
surely You viii give him chance.
urged. The very sight of your pistol
should bring him to terms"
1T wouldn't make him keep them"
But you might try the effect"
Il probably shall Here's drink
for you. Bunny. Wish me luck"
I'm coming too
u don't want you"
But l must come"
An ugly CLEAN shot from the steel
\ blue eyes.
ITO interfere?' said Rafiles.
I Not l."
You give me your word?"
Il do
Bunny. if you break it,
"You may shoot me too
Il most certainly should" said
Ratiies solemnly. so you come at
your own peril, my dear man. But if
you are coming-well, the sooner the
better, for | must stop at my rooms
on the way
Five minutes later | was writing for
him at the Piccadilly entrance to the
Albany. | had a reason for remaining
outside. 1t was the feeling-half hope
half fear-that Angus Baird might still
be on our trail. that some more imme-
date and less cold blOoded way of
dealing with him might result from a
sudden encounter between the money
lender and myself. l would not warn
him of his danger, but l would avert
tragedy at all costs, and when no such
encounter had taken place and Raffles
and We're fairly on our way to Willes-
den that, | think, was still my honest
resolve. / would not break my word
if l could help it, but it was a comfort
to feel that could break it if l liked,
on an understood penalty Alas! |
fear my good intentions We're tainted
with a devouring curiosity and over
laid by the fascination which goes
hand in hand with horror
1 have poignant recollection of the
hour it took us TO reach the house. We
walked across st. James park Il can
see the lights now, bright on the bridge
and blurred in the water. and we had
some minutes to wait for the last train
to Willesden. 1t left at 11:21. l re.
member. and Raffles was put out to
find it did not go on to Kensal Rise
We had to get out at Willesden June.
ton and walk on through the streets
into fairly open country that hap
pened TO be quite new TO me. ] could
never find the house again. | remem-
Der, however. that we were on a dark
footpath between woods and fields
when the clock began striking 70.
Surely" said l, we shall find him
in bed and asleep
81 hope we do" said Bafiies grimly.
"Then you mean to break in?"
"What else did YOU Think"
had not thought about 1t at all
The ultimate crime had monopolized
my mind. Beside it burglary was a