The Jasper news., 1907-04-04
J. Two. cooler rogues / never Wish tc

meet!' st
but wouldn't it be well, sir, to
hasten % asked William. - ese
ave have plenty Of time now. my
SON." ~
You have not entered this ROOM"
said the girl, her terror slipping from
her, simply to offer these banalities.
What do you wish?"
What perspicacity, Wiliam!" cried
the rogue, taking out cigarette case.
81 don't know what that word
means, sir, but as you do, 1t seems to
fit the occasion proper enough"
1T means, William, that this charm
ing young lady scents our visit from
affair.""
II had suspicion, sir, that 1t might
mean that" William leaned against
the wall, his -beady eyes twinkling mer.
rily.
The master rogue lighted a cigar
cite at one of the candles. sea.
you join me ?"-proffering the hand
some gold case.
I took cigarette and fired it. Il
really wanted it, / would show up
we'll before this girl If | died for it.
blew a cloud Of smoke at the can
dle-hame. There was sparkle Of
| admiration in the girls eyes.
"Mr Comstalk, my respect for you
increases each moment" The rogue
sat down.
And to whom might this hand
some case belong?" / asked, examin
| ing it closely.
| ooh. that has always been mine
There was time, '-blowing rings al
| the candelabrum, when | was re.
spected like yourself, rich, sought
after. A woman and a trusted friend:
how these often tumble down our
beautiful edifices! Yes, am a scamp,
a thief, rogue; but not because I
need the money. No, retro
spective eyes-"I need excitement
tremendous and continuous,
ment to keep my vigilance and inven.
ton active day and night, excitement
| to obliterate memory.
But we can't do it, my friend, we
can't do it. Memory is always with
us. She is an impartial Nemesis; she
dogs the steps of the righteous and
the unrighteous. To obliterate mem
DRY, that is it! And where might
find this obliteration, save in this
life? Drugs? Pah! Oh, have given
Haggerty royal chase. 1t has been
meat and drink to me to fool the
cleverest policeman in New York Till
yesterday my face. as criminal, was
unknown to any man or woman, save
William here, who was my valet in the
old days. | have gone to my clubs
dined, played billiards; fine comedy
a fine comedy! Tomorrow William
and, | sail for Europe. Miss Haw
qnsrrc rubies ! have ever seen. Per-
MT me 20 examine it,"
The girl tore the ring from her An.
ger and flung it on the table mada
| chair. my
! wouldn't do it, SIR" warned Will.
liam quietly. ""'
My muscles relaxed.
do not commit any rash action Mr.
oomstalk, said the girl, smiling
pravely into my eyes. The gentle.
man would not appreciate it."
The master rogue picked Nm tho
ring and rolled it lovingly about his
palms. ~"
Beautiful, beautiful" he mur.
INJURED. Finest pigeon-blood, too, II
is easy worth thousand. shall
give you my note of exchange for it?"
-hnmorously The girl scorned TO re.
ply. lie took out a little chamois bag
and emptied its contents on the table
HOW they sparkled, scintillated, glow.
cd; thousands in the whitest Of
stones! How he ever had got his
nhgers on them is something / shall
never learn. Aren't they lust beautj. ]
ini?" he asked naively. "Can Won
Diame me for coveting them?" He set
the ruby on top of the gllttering heap.
1t lay there like a drop of blood Pres.
entity he caught it up and-presented
1t. to the girl. who eyed him in aston.
ishment Il only wanted to look nj
It," he said courteously. 81 like vonr
grit as much as admire your beauty
Keep the ring"
To be Continued