The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-12-30


Ill Blows the Wind that
Profits Nobody
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Peter Ruff, summoned By telephone
from his sitting-room. slipped down
the stairs like cat-noiseless. swift.
The voice which had summoned him
had been the voice OF his secretary
voice almost unrecognizable-A voice
shaken with fear. Fear. No, it had
been terror.
On the landing below. exactly under
meath the room from which he had de-
scended, there was door upon which
his name was written upon small
brass plate - Mr.. Peter Ruff He
opened and closed Il behind him with
swift movement which he had prac-
tised In his idle moments. He found
| himself looking in upon a curious
scene.
Miss Brown, with the radiance OF
her hair ehectually concealed, in plain
black skirt and simple biouse-the
ideal secretary-had risen from the
seat in front OF her typewriter. and
was standing facing the door through
which he had entered, with small
reyolyer-which he had given her for
birthday present only the day before
-clasped in her outstretched hand.
The object OF her solieitude was, 1t
seemed to Peter Ruiz, the most pitiful-
looking object upon which he had ever
looked. The hours had dwelt with
Merrfes as the years with some people,
and worse. He had lost his cap; his
hair hung over his forehead in wild
confusion; his eyes were red, blood.
shot, and absolutely afame with the
terrors through which he had lived
underneath them the black marks
might have been traced with char.
coal pencil. His cheeks we're livid
save for one burning spot His
clothes, too, were in disorler-the
starch had gone from his collar, his
tie hung loosely outside his waistcoat.
He was covering back against the
wall. And between him and the girl.
stretched upon the floor, was the body
OF a man in huge motorcoat, a limp,
/ inert mass which neither moved nor
seemed TO have any sign of life No
wonder that Peter Ruff looked around
! his office, whose serenity had been so
trasically disturbed, with an air OF
mild surprise.
Dear me-" he exclaimed. some
thing seems TO have happened, My
/ dear Violet. you can put that revolver
away. | have secured the door,
Her hand fell to her side. She gave
! little shiver of relief. Peter Ruff
nodded.
That is more comfortable be de-
clared. Now, perhaps, you will e1-
plain"
That young man." she interrupted,
"or lunatic-whatever he calls him.
self-burst in hers few minutes
ago, dragging-that. she pointed TO
the motionless figure upon the floor
1t | had not stopped him. he would
have boited of without word of e1-
plantation
Peter Ruff with his back against
the door. shook his head graveiE.
Ny dear Lord Merries," he said,
my Office is not mortuary."
Merries gasped
You know me, them" he NUT
tered, hoarsely.
OF course" Run answered. "It is
my profession 20 know everybody. Go
and sit down upon that easy-chair,
and drink the brandy and soda which
Miss Brown is about 10 mix for you.
That's right
Merries staggered across the room
and half fell into an easy-chatr. Ha
leaned over the side with his face
buried ia bis hands, unable still TO
face the horror which lay upon the
bier Of brandy and soda was In his
hands. He drank it like man who
drains fresh life into his veins.
Perhaps now" Peter Ruff sug-
gested, pointing 10 the motionless fig
IRE, you can give NE some explana-
ton as TO this,
Merries looked away from him all
the time he was speaking His voice
was thick and nervous.
There were three OF us lunching
together - he began =" four alto
gether. There was a dispute, and this
man threatened us Afterwards there
was fight. II fell to my lot to take
him away, and cant get rid OF him,
/ can't get rid of him. he added,
with something that sounded like a
sob.
Il still do not see" Peter Ruff
argued, why you should have brought
him here and deposited hin, upon my
perfectly new carpet"
You are Peter RUIZ" Merries de-
clared. Crime Investigator and Pri-
vate Detective you call yourself You
are used 10 this sort of thing. You
Will know what to do with it. Ii Is
part of your business"
II can assure you" Peter Ruff an
swered. " that you are under deiu-
sion as TO the details OF my profession
am Peter Ruff he admitted. " and
call myself a crime investigator
fact, | am the only one worth speak
ing OF in the world. But I certainly
deny that | am used 10 having dead
bodies deposited upon my carpet, and