Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-05-17
! Wy Raffles,
ST.! 6he Amateur
YN10k2 CraCkSman
= ANlusATHW% ~ By E. W. HoRNUNG
By E. w.

that rigid jaw, that old blue eye
which glanced my way. l caught
up my hat. l Numbered to my feet.
I would have gone without u word,
but Rattles stood between me and the
door.
"Where are You going"' said he.
That's my business" l replied. Il
won't trouble YOU any more"
Then how am l to help you:'
Il didn't ask your help
'Then why come to me-
"Why, indeed:" l echoed. "Wil you
let me pass?'
Not until YOU tell ME where 70. a.e
going and what You mean to do"
Cant YOU guess?" l cried. And cor
many seconds We stood staring in each
others eyes.
"Have you got the pluck" sail he.
breaking the spell in a tone so cynical
that it brought my last drop OF bl1ol
to the boil.
"You shall see" said l, as l stepped
back and whipped the pistol from n.y
overcoat pocket. "Now. will YOU let
me pass or shall l do it here?"
The barrel touched my temple and
my thumb the trigger. Mad with ok
element as l was, ruined, d~ishono"H |
and now finally determined to make &:t
end of my misspent life. my only SUI
prise to this day is that l did not do 50
then and there. The d~espicable salts
faction of involving another in ones
destruction added its miserable appeal
to my baSer egoism, and had fear OF
horror flown to my companions face
/ shudder to think l might have die /
diabolically happy With that look 70.
my last impious consolation. 1t was
the look that came instead which held
my hand. Neither fear nor horror was
in it, only wonder, admiration and
such a measure of pleased expectancy
as caused me after all to pocket my
revolver With an oath.
"You devil" l said, L believe you
wanted me to do it,"
"Not quite" was the reply. made
with q little start and a change of col
or that came too late. To tell YOU the
truth, though. l half thought yon
meant it, and l was never more fasct-
mated in my life. l never dreamed y0u
had such stuff in YOU, Bunny. No. I'm
hanged If l let YOU go now. And You'd
better not try that game again. for you
won't catch me stand and look on a
second time. We must think of some
way out of the mess. l had no idea
you We're a chap of that sort. Thee.
let me have the gun"
One Of his hands fell kindly on my
shoulder, while the other slipped into
my overcoat pocket, and suffered him
to deprive me of my weapon without q
nurmur. Nor was this simply because
Raf1es had the subtle power Of making
himself Irresistible at will. He was
beyond comparison the most masterful
mar whom I have ever known. vet nv
acquiescence was due to more than
the mere subsection of the weaker ma.
ture to the stronger. The forlorn hope
} which had brought me to the Albany
was turned as by magic into an almost
staggering sense of safety. Raffles
would help me after all. 4. j. Rafles
would be NY friend. 1t was as though
all ,lle world had come round sudden.
~ to my side. SO far, therefore, from
resis'in:: his action. / caught and clasp.
ed his hand with q fervor as uncon
] trOllahie as the frenzy which had pre-
cedel it.
"Goi bless YOU" | cried. "F'orgive
me for everything. I will tell you the
truth. l did think you might help ms
. in my extremity. though we'll knew
{ that | had no claim upon you. Still
i for the Old schools sake-the sake O
old times-l thought YOU might give me
i, another chance. If you wouldn't
e meant to blow out my brains. and viii
b still If you change your mind"
G In truth | feared that it was chang
Il ing, with his expression, even as
spoke, and in spite Of his kindly tom
. and kindlier use Of my old school nick
] name. His next words showed me my
mistake.
What q boy it is for jumping to con
8 illusions. l have my vices, Bunny, BIZ
i. backing and filling is not one Of them
Sit down, my good fellow, and have
t cigarette to soothe your nerves. ! in
sist. Whisky: The worst thing 70
you. mere > some cOlIee mat ! wa
brewing when you came in. Nov
listen to me. You speak Of 'anothe
chance What do you mean? Anoth
er chance at baccarat: Not If I know
Y 1t. You think the luck must turn
Suppose it didn't. We should onl
h have made bad worse. No, my dea
t chap, you've plunged enough. DO yor
@ put yourself in my hands or do 70,
:. not: Very well, then you plunge n
@ more, and l undertake not to presen
II my check. Unfortunately there ar
V the other men, and still more unfortu
h nately, Bunny, Pm as hard up at thi
V moment as you are yourself"
1t was my turn to stare at Rnfies
u you" vocifcratel. you hard up
d How am TO sit here and believe that
/ "Did ! refuse to believe ii Of yoni
s he returned, smiling, "And with you
V W experience do you tlliIk that be
< cause II follow has rooms In this plnc
!. and belongs to Il club or two and play