The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-01-11
By E. w. HoRNUNG

as of sympathy in that curling nostril.
that rigid jaw, that cold blue eye
which never glanced my way. caught
up my hat. Numbered to my feet.
l would have gone without word,
but Raffles stood between me and the
door.
Where are you going?' said he.
"That's my business" replied. IL
won't trouble you any more"
''Then how am to help you?"
II didn't ask your help"
''.Then why come to me?"
why, indeed?" echoed. will you
let me pass"
Not until you tell me where you are
going and what you mean to do"
Cant you guess?' cried. And for
many seconds we stood staring in eacl
others eyes.
Have you got the pluck" said he
breaking the spell in a tone so cynical
that it brought my last drop of blood
10 the boil.
you shall see" said l, as stepped
back and whipped the pistol from my
overcoat pocket. Now, will you let
me pass or shall do ii here?"
The barrel touched my temple and
my thumb the trigger. Mad with ex
element as | was, ruined, dishonored
ana now finally determined to make an
end OF my misspent life, my only sur
prise to this day is that did not do So
then and there. The despicable salts
faction Of involving another in ones
destruction added it's miserable appeal
to my baser egoisln, and had fear or
horror flown to my companions face
shudder to think might have died
diabolically happy with that look TO-:
my last impious consolation. 1t was
the look that came instead which held
my hand. Neither fear nor horror was
such measure of pleased expectancy
as caused me after all to pocket my
revolver With an oath.
You devil" said. II believe you
wanted me to dosit.."
Not quite" was the reply. made
with little start and change Of col
or that came too late. "To tell you the
1 truth. though. half thought you
meant it, and ! was never more fasci-
| mated in my life never dreamed you
had such stuff in you, Bunny. No, I'm
| hanged ii l let you go now. And you'd
better not try that game again. for you
wont catch Inc stand and look ON a
second time. We must think of some
way out of the mess. l had no idea
You We're Il chap of that sort. There,
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 !:
lnurmur. Nor was this simply because
Ea1iies had the subtle power Of making
himself irresistible at WILL He was
beyond comparison the most masterfu
man whom have ever known, yet my
acquiescence was due to more thar
the mere subsection Of the weaker ma
tule 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 Rallies
would help me after all A. j. Rallies
would be my friend 1t was as though
all the world had come round sudden
ly to my side So far, therefore. from
resisting his action, caught and cl sp
ed his hand with fervor as uncon
/ trollable as the frenzy which had pre-
coded it.
God bless you!" l cried "Forgivt
me for everything. | will tell you THE
truth. l did think you might help me
in my extremity, though well knew
that ! had no claim upon you. Still
for the old schools salie-the sake Of
old tlmes--I thought you might give me
another chance. If you wouldn't
meant to blow out my brains, and will
still il you change your mind
In truth l feared that it was chang
ing, with his expression, even as
spoke, and in spite of his kindly tone
and kindlier use of my old school nick
name His next words showed me my
mistake
What boy it is for jumping to con
illusions! l have my vices, Bunny. bu
backing and filling is not one of them
Sit down, my good fellow. and have ;
cigarette to soothe your nerves. in
sist. Whisky? The worst thing fol
you. Here's some coffee that l wa:
brewing when you came in. Now
listen to me. You speak of another
chance What do you mean? Anoth
er chance at baccarat? Not if l know
1t. You think the luck must turn
Suppose it didn't. We should only
have made bad worse. No, my deal
chap, you've plunged enough. Do 20,
put yourself in my hands or do 70,
not?s Very well. then you plunge nj
more. and I undertake not to presen
my check. Unfortunately there ar,
the other men. and still more unfortu
nately. Bunny. I'm as hard up Mt THU
moment as you are yourself"
1t was my turn to stare ut Raffles
"YouT vociferated. You hard up
How am to sit here and believe that =
{ Did refuse to believe 1t of you?
, he returned. smiling. And with you
OWN experience do you think that be
J canse q fellow has rooms In this place