Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-06-14
LIZ PREMIER
PAS
No. 3 of the Series
CONTINUED

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. l saw the whole thing
70 q flash, without a tremor, but with
the direst depression from my own
single point Of view. Call it callous
II you like, Bunny, but remember that
I was in much the same hole as you've
since been in yourself and that l had
you counted on A. J.. 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 of the track and out of the way
and now the missing manager and the
report of ~bushrangers at this end. But
I simply don't pretend to have felt any
personal pity for a man whom l had
never seen. That kind of PHYS usual
" cant, and, besides, all mine was
needed for myself.
81 was in as big q hole as ever. What
the devil was l to do? l doubt if l
have sufficiently impressed upon you
the absolute necessity of my returning
to Melbourne in funds. AS a matter
Of fact, it was less the necessity than
my own determination. which l can
truthfully describe as absolute.
Money I would have, but how-but
how: Would this stranger be open to
persuasion-if l told him the truth:
No; that would set US all securing the
country for the rest of the night. Why
should I tell him? Suppose l left him
to find out his mistake, would anything
be gained? Bunny, l give You my
word that l went in to dinner without
q definite intention in my head or n
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. l
had not opened the letter and could
always pretend l had not noticed the
initials. Meanwhile something might
turn up. 1 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 afraid" said the
manager when at last l sat down at
bis table.
ga mere annoyance l 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 I was doing, I had al
ready declared myself W. F. Raf1es;
therefore W. F. Rafles I would be in
that bank for that night. And the
devil teach me how to use my lie!!"
Again be raised his glass to his lips
/ had forgotten mine. His cigarette
case caught the gaslight as he handed
1t to me. shook my head without
taking my eyes from his.
1.-THE devil played up," continued
Raff1es, with a laugh. Before l tasted
my soup l had decided what to do.
had determined to rob that bank in
stead of going to bed and to be back
in Melbourne for breakfast if the
doctors mare could do it. / would tell
the old fellow that I had missed my
way and been pushed for hours, as I
easily might have been, and hal never
got to Yea at all. At Yea, on the o.hcl
hand, the PRESERVATION and robbery
would ever after be attributed to a
member Of the gang that had waylai
and murdered the new manager with
that very object. You are acquiring
some experience in such matters, BIN
ny. I ask you, was there ever a bet
ter get-out? Last nights was some
thing like it, only never such Il Ger
tainty. And l saw it from the lNgin-
ning-saw to the end before / had fin.
ashed my soup.
ITO increase my chances, the cashier
who also lived in the bank, was away
oyer the holidays, had actually gone
down to Melbourne to see US play. and
the man who had taken my horse alsl
waited at table, for he and his wife
were the only servants, and they slep,
in a separate building. You may de
pend I ascertained this before we had
finished dinner. Indeed, / was by way
of asking too many questions-the mos
Oblique and delicate was that Whicl
ELECTED my hosts name, Ewbank-nol
was I careful enough to conceal theil
drift.
"'Do you know said this fellow
Dwbank, who was n of the down
right sort, If it wasn't you, l SHOULD
say you were in a funk Of robbers
Have you lost your nerveT
"I hope not said !, turning jolly
hot, / car tell you, 'but-wcll, It's not
a pleasant thing to have to put n bul
let through n fellow
"'NoT said he coolly. 4 should en-.
Joy nothing better myself. Besides
yours didn't go through
~ wish 1t had" ! was smart enough
10 CRY.