Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-05-17
THE IDES
OF MARCH
No. l of the Series
(Copynsh,, 1899. by Charles ScrbneI's sons.)

EW ~ I'M y 49, 'ht' ~ &S
AS9WeGE l had left it. The bac-
- carat counters still Strew-
ed the table, With the empty glasses
and the loaded ash trays. \ window
had been opened to let the smoke u
and was letting in the fog instead.
Raffles himself had merely discarded
his dining jacket for one of his in
eyebrows as though l had dragged him
from his bed.
Forgotten something's" said he
when he saw me On his mat.
mo-" said /, pushing past him With
out ceremony. And 1 led the way into
his room With an impudence amazing
to myself.
"Not come back for your revenge,
have you? Because I'm afraid l can't
give it you single handed. l was sorry
myself that the others
We We're face to face by his fireside,
and l cut him short.
"Rafles,' said l, you may we'll be
surprised at my coming back in this
way and at this hour. I hardly know
you. l was eve in your rooms before
tonight. But l tagged for YOU at
school, and YOU said You remembered
NE. OF course that's no excuse. Bat
will YOU listen to me for two min
utes:"
In my emotion l had at first to
struggle for every word. but his face
treasured NE as l went on, and l was
not mistaken in its expression.
Certainly, my dear man." said lie;
"as many minutes as You like. Have 4
Sullivan and sit down" Ana he hand
ed me his silver cigarette case.
"No," said /, finding a full voice as
l shook my head; no, I won't smoke.
and I won't sit down. thank you. Nor
will you ask me to do either when
you've heard what l have to say"
"Really:' said he, lighting his own
cigarette with one clear blue eye upon
me. How do YOU know
Because you'll probably show me
the door, 1 cried bitterly, and you'll
be justified in doing it. But it's no
use beating about the bush. You know
I dropped over 900 Just nov:'
He nodded.
81 hadn't the money in my pocket"
IT remember"
But I had my check book, and
wrote each of you a check at that
desk"
"Well?'
"Not one Of them was worth the pa
per it was written on, Rafles. l an
overdrawn already at my bank"
"Surely only for the moment:"
"No. have spent e~verything.'
"But somebody told me you were sc
well off. l heard you had come in fol
money
$50 I did-three years ago. 1t has
been my curse. Now it's all gone-ev
cry penny. Yes, I've been a fool
There never was nor will be such {
fool as I've been. Isn't this enougi
for you: Why don't you turn me
out?' He was walking up and dow.
with a very long face instead.
couldn't your people do anything?'
he asked at length.
THANK Cod" I cried, II have q,
people. l was an only child. | cam
in for everything there was. My o.,
comfort is that they're gone and VII
never know"
cast myself into a chair and hid II,
face. .Rafies continued to pace tn
rich carpet that was Of a piece witt
everything else in his roolnS. Their
was no variation in his soft and eve!
footballs.
"You used to be q literary littl'
cuss," he said at length. Didn't yol
edit the mag. before you left: Any
way I recollect tagging you to do III.
verses, and literature of all sorts il
the very thing nowadays. Any foo
can make a living at it,"
shook my head. ANY fool couldn'
write off my debts" said l.
"Then you have a fat s~omewhereT
he went on.
Eyes, in Mount street,
"Well, what about the furniture?"
I laughed aloud in my misery
~There's been a bill of sale on ever
stick for months!.'
AuQ dL ludl names $1,000 sun, VIII
raised eyebrows and stern eyes tina
I could meet the better now that h
knew the worst. Then, with Il shru.
he resumed his walk, and for son
minutes neither Of US spoke. But i
bis handsome, unmoved ace | read N
fate and death warrant. and wit
every breath | cursed my folly and IN
1T ~ - -
cause he had been kind to me at schot
when he was captain Of the eleven m
i his flag | had dared to look for kiut
ness from him now Because | Wa
ruined and he rich enough 10 pla
cricket all the summer and do notlin
for the rest Of the year ! had fatr
6usIy counted on his mercy. Iris sympi