The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-02-08

Posed by Kyrle Bellew.
My God! You're bleeding like a pig p
end Of the passage. Sing out If there's
anything you want. Your luggage
hasn't turned up yet, by the way. but
here's letter that came this morning.
mot for me?
"'Yes. Didn't you expect oneT
"'I certainly did not
"'Well, here it is
"And as he lit me to nv room I |
read my own superscription Of the
previous day-to w. II. Rafles!
Bunny, you've had your wind
bagged at footer, dare say. You
know what that's like? All can say
is that my moral wind was bagged
by that letter as hope, old chap,
never yet bagged yours. couldn't |
speak. could only stand with my
own letter in my hands until he had
the good taste to leave me by myself.
NV. F. Raffles! We had mistaken
each other for W. Il. Rafi1es-for the
new manager who had not vet arrives |
Small wonder we had conversed at
cross purposes. The only wonder was
that we had not discovered our mutual
mistake How the other man would
have laughed! But IL could not
laugh. By Jove, no, it was no laughing
matter for me! saw the whole thing
in fash, without a tremor. but; with
the direst depression from my own
single point Of view. Call It callous
+. nike. Bunny. but remember that
was in much the same hole as you'vo'l
since been III yourself and that had
counted on this w. Il. Rattles even as
you counted on Al l thought Of the
man with the W. G. beard, the rider
less horse with the bloody saddle, the
deliberate misdirection that had put
me Off the track and out Of the way
and now the missing manager and the
report Of bushrangers at this end But
l simply don't pretend to have felt any
personal pity for man whom Lohad
never seen. That kind Of PHYS usual
ly cant, and, besides, all mine was
needed for myself
II was in as big hole az ever What
the devil was to do? doubt IL I
have sufficiently impressed upon you
the absolute necessity of my returning
\ to Melbournesin funds. Az a matter
Of fact, it was less the necessity than
my own determination. which J. can
truthfully describe as absolute
Money would have. but how-but
how? Would this stranger be open to
persuasion-if told him the TRUTH
No; that would set US all securing the
country for the rest Of the night. Why
should l tell him7 Suppose li;left him
to find out his mistake. would any thing
be gained? Bunny. / give you my
word that I went in to dinner without
definite. intention In my head OF one
premeditated lie upon my lips, might
do the decent natural thing and ex-
plain matters without loss of time. On
the other hand, there was no hurry.
had not opened the letter and could
always pretend had not noticed the
initials. Meanwhile something might
turn up. i could wait a little and see.
Tempted l already was, but as yet the
temptation was vague, and its very
vagueness made me tremble.
Bad news. I'm afraidT said the
manager when at last sat down at
his table.
GA mere annoyance answered.
do assure you-on the spur of the mo-
ment and nothing else. But my lie
was told; my position was taken.
From that moment onward there was
no retreat BY implication, without
realizing what l was doing, had al
ready declared myself w. +. llathes;
therefore w. Il. Raffles l would be in
that bank for that night. And the
devil teach me how to use my lie!'
Again he raised his glass to his lips
l had forgotten mine. His cigarette
case caught the gaslight as he handed
it to me. l shook my head Without
taking my eyes from his.
1.-The devil played up" continued
Raffies, with a laugh. Before tasted
my soup had decided what to do.
had determined to rob that bank in
stead Of going to bed and to be back
Continued IN Daca q