The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-05-04

HE CRIED.
pools. of course" exclaimed and
added something about "a clever WON
an" Raffies rose at the phrase.
"A clever woman" he echoed scorn-
fully. II she We're only tAaJ, l should
feel safe Is houses. Clever women
can't forget their cleyerueSs. They car
~ it as badly Is boy does wine and
are about as dangerous. l don't call
Jacques Saillarj clever outside her art.
but neither do l call her a woman at
all. She does mans work over 4 mans
name. has the viii of any ten men l
ever knew, and l don't mind telling
YOU that l fear her more than any per-
son on Gods earth. I broke with her
once" said Raliies grimly. but I know
her If hai been asked to name the
one person in London by whom I was
keenest not 10 he BOWED out. l should
have named Jacques Sa:llard."
That he had never before named her
TO Inc was as characteristic as the
reticeuce with which Raiiies spoke OF
their past relations and even Of their
converse ton in the back drawing room
that evening. Il was a question Of
principle with hin and one that | like
10 remember. Never give 4 woman
away. Bunny" he used 10 say. and he
said il again tonight, but with heavy
cloud upon him. as though his chivally
was sorely tried.
That's all right" said l. IF you're
not going TO be given away yourself"
That's just it. Bunny: that's just
The words We're out Of him: it was
too late 10 recall them. l had hit the
nail upon tie head
so she threatened YOU" said, did
she:"
Il didn't say So" he replied coldly.
"And she is mated with Clown I
pursued.
How she ever married him." he ad-
mitted. lis a mystery to me-"
at always j." said /. the wise man
for once and rather enjoying the role.
Southern blood:"
spanish
Shell be Fostering you TO run off
with her, old chap" said l.
Rallies was pacing the room. He
stopped in his stride for half a second.
SO she had begin Fostering him al
ready. 1t is wonderful In, acute any
fool can lie in the affairs Of his friend.
But Raales resumed his walk without
syllable, and l rereated to safer
ground.
so you sent her to Earl's Court" I
unused aloud. and at last he smiled.
You'll be interested to hear. Bunny"
said he. that I'm now living in Seven
Dials, and Bill Sykes couldn't hold
farthing dip u me- Bless you. she had
my old police record at her fingers
ends. but it was fit TO frame compared
with the one l gave her. had sunk as
low as they did I divided my nights
between the open park and a thieves
kitchen in Seven Dials. If l was de-
Gently dressed it was because l had
stolen the suit down the Thames val
ley beat the night before last. l was
on my way back when first that sleepy
square and then her open window
proved too much for me You should
have heard me beg her to let me push
on to the devil in my own way. There
I spread myself. for l meant every
word but swore the final stage would
be six foot drop" -
"You did lay it on" said l.
ut was necessary. and that had its
effect. She let me 90. But at the last
moment she said she didn't believe 1
was so black as l painted myself. and
then there was the balcony scene you
missed"
So that was all. l could not help tell
ing him that he had got out of it better
than he deserved for ever getting in.
Next moment l regretted the remark.
If l have got out of it." said Raffles
doubtfully. We are dreadfully near
neighbors, and l can't move in a min
ute, with old Theobald taking a grave
view of my case l suppose had bet
ter lie low and thank the gods again
for putting her off the scent for the
time being"
No doubt our conversation was car
ried beyond this point, but it certainly
was not many minutes later nor had
we left the subject when the electric
bell thrilled US both to a sudden silence.
THE doctor?' l queried, hope fight
ing with my horror.
1T was single ring"
''The last post?"
"You know he knocks, and it's long
past his time"
The electric bell rang again. but now
as though it never would stop.
you go, Bunny" said Raffies. with
decision. His eyes were sparkling.
His smile was firm.