, 1905-12-07
By e. w. HORNUNG

K Esss, ss,,.w. 49,
He rdrouc the bargains in It cockneu dto-
lCct.
of fact l was thinking less of myself
than of that poor dcvil of Il Jack Rut-
ter. There's n fellow who does things
by halves. He's only half gone to the
bad, and look at the difference be-
tween him and us! He's under the
thumb Of n villainous money lender:
we arc solvent citizens. He's taken
to drink; we're as sober as we are
solvent. His pals are beginning to
cut him; our difficulty is to keep the
pal from the door. Enfin. he begs or
borrows. which is stealing by halves.
and we steal outright and are done
with 1t. Obviously ours is the more
honest course. Yet, I'm not sure. Bun
ny, but we're doing the thing by
Valves ourselvesr
"Why'? What more could we do?"
/ extlnimed in soft derision. looking
round. however, to make sure that
we were not overheard.
what morc?" said Rafles. "yvc!I.
murdcr-for one thing"
"Rprr'
"a matter of opinion. my dear Bun
ny. l don't mean It for rot. I've told
you bcfor. that the biggest nal alive
is the nan who's committed Il murder
and not yet beer found out; at least
he ought to be, but he so very seldom
has h soul 10 appreciate himself
Just think of it. Think of coming in
here and talking to the men. very
likely about the murder itself. ANA
knowing you've done it, and wonder.
ing how they'd look if they knew.
oh. it would he great. simply great
But, besides all that. when you We're
caught TERED be a merciful AMI
dramatic enc of you. You'll fill the
bill for Il few weeks and then snuff
out with Il flourish of extra specials.
You wouldn't rust with Il vile repose
for sever or fourteen years"
Good old Ratiics!!" l chucklcd. 81
begin 10 forgive you for being in bad
form 1T dinner"
my life"
"Go on!'
Il mean it"
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 tonight!'
He had been leaning back in the sad.
dlebag chair. watching me with keen
eyes shcathed by llnguid lids. Now he
started forward. and his eye leaped
to mine like cold steel from the scab-
bard. They struck home to my slow
wits. Their meaning was no longer il
doubt. l. who knew the man, read
murder in those hard blue eyes.
"Batrd?' l faltcrcd, m%oistening my
lips with my tongue.
"Of course"
But you said it didn't matter about
the room in Chelsca?"
II told you Il lie"
Anyway. you gave him the slip aft.
erward."
THAT was another. | didn't. II
thought l had when / came up to you
this evening. but when / looked out OF
your window you remcmber?- tc
make assurance doubly sure, there lie
was Oil the opposite pavement down
below
Aud you never said a word abo.n
it.'
II wasn't going to spoil your dinner
Bunny, and l wasn't going to let yol
spoil mine. But there he was as large
as life, and, of course, he followed us
to the Albany. a fine game for him
to play. 4 game after his mem old
heart blackmail from me. bride:
from the police. the one bidding against
the other. But he shan't play il with
me. He shan't live to, and the WORLD
will ave an eXtortioner the less
Waiter. two Scotch whistles and so
das. I'm Off Mt IL, Bunny. It's the
only thing to be done"
you know where he lives. then?'
Eyes. out Willcsden way. and alone.
The fellows n miser. among other
things. l long ago found out all about
him."
Again ! looked round the room. II
was u young mans club, and young
mon zero inuoIiiny chatting smoking