, 1905-11-02

as or sympathy Ill that CURING noStrli,
that rigid jaw, that cold blue eye
which never glanced my way. l caught
up my hat. l b%lundered to my feet.
/ would have gone without n word,
but Rafies stood between me and the
door.
& "Whcre are you going?' said he
"That's my business" l replied. 81
won't trouble you any more"
"Then how am l to help you?"
Il didn't ask your help"
"Then why come to me?"
'.Why. indccd:" l echoed. 'Will you
let me pass"
"Not until you tell me where you are
going and what you mean to do
Cant you guess?' l cried. And for
many seconds we stood staring in eacl
others eyes.
"Hayc you got the pluck" said he.
breaking the spell in a tone SO cynical
that it brought my last drop of blood
TO the boil.
"You shall see" said I. as 1 stepped
back and whipped the pistol from my
oyercoat pocket. Now. will you let
me pass or shall l do 1t here?'
The barrel touched my temple and
my thumb the trigger. Mad with OK
element as 1 was. ruined, dishonored
and now finally determined to make an
end Of my misspent life, my only sur
prise to this day Is that l did not do 50
then and there. The despicablc salts
faction of involving another in ones
destruction added It's miserable appeal
to my bnser cgoism. II had fear o.
horror flown to my companions face
1 shudder to think I might have died
diabol!cnlly happy with that look for
my last impious consolation. 1t was
the look that came instead which held
my hand. Neither fear nor horror was
In 1t, only wonder. admiration and
such a measure of pleased expectancy
as caused me after all to pocket my
revolver with an oath.
"You devil" l said, Il believe you
wanted me to do it,"
Not quite" was the reply. made
with II little start and Il change of col
or hat came too late. ITO tell you the
truth. though. half thought You
meant 1t. n ] was never more fasci-
mated in my life. l never dreamed you
had such stuff In you Bunny. No. I'm
hanged If 1 let o &c now. And you'd
better not try that game again. for you
won't catch me stand and look on n
second time. We must think of some
way out Of the mess. I had no idcs
you were a chap of that sort. There.
let me have the gum"
One of his hands fell kindly on my
shoulder. while the other slipped into
my ovcrcoat pocket. and I suffered him
to deprive mt of my weapon without IL
murmur. Nor was his simply because
Ratiies had the subtle power Of making
himself Irresistible Mt will. He was
beyond comparison the most masterful
man whom i have ever known. yet my
acQuieScence was due to more than
the mere subsection OF the weaker M
turc to the stronger. The forlorn hope
which had brought me to the Albany
was turned as by magic into an almost
staggering sense of safety. Rallies
would help me after all. A. ]. Rallies
would be my friend. 1t was as though
all the world had come round sudden
ly to my side. So far. therefore. from
resisting his action. l caught and clasp
ed his hand with Il fervor as uncon-
trollable as the frenzy which had pre-
coded it.
"God bless you" l cried. "Forgive
me for everything. l will tell you the
truth. / did think you might help me
in my extremity, though well knew
that | had no claim upon you. Still.
for Ii old schools sake-the sake of
old times-I thought you might give me
nnnflNnt. .1,n, ,n, ,llbst \
meant to blow out my brains, and will
still If you change your mind"
In truth l feared that 1t was chang
ing. with his expression. even as l
spoke, n in spite Of his kindly tone
and kindlier use of my old school nick
name. His next words showed me my
mistake.
What Il boy it is for jumping to con
illusions! have my vices. Bunny. but
backing and filling is not one of them.
Sit down, my good fellow, and have II
cigarette TO soothe your nerves. in.
sist. Whisky? The worst thing for
you. Here's some coffee that | was
brewing when you came in. Now
listen to me. You speak of another
chance What do you mean? .AnotlI
or chance ut baccurat! Not II | nov
it. You think the luck must urn
Suppose it didn't. We should only
have made bad worse. No. my dear
chap, you've plunged enough. DO you
put yourself in my hands or do you
not? Very well, then you plunge no
more. and l undertake not to presaa!
my check. Unfortunately there are
the other men. and still more unfortu-
nately, Bunny. I'm MS hard up at this
moment as you are yourself"
1t was my turn to stare Mt Rallies.
"You?" I voclferated. You hard up?
How am l to sit hcre and believe That
Did | refuse to believe II of you:'