Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-02-06
THE ADVENTURES OF
Mr.. PETER RUFF
BY e. Phillips Oppenheim-Mrs. Bog
nor's Star Boarder.
Copyright, 1909, by the Pearson Pub
fishing Col
Continued from Yesterday

lOie heI' Is SpOheH do tHOuSH W INC
dead"
Sir Richard nodded.
Just as we'll" he remarked. " for |
am going to talk about a man who |
wish were dead. ."
There are few Of us" Peter Run
said. who have not our enemies"
Have you any experience OF black
mailers?" Sir Richard asked.
In my profession" Peter Ruff an
swered. 81 have come across such
persons"
q have come TO see you about one. 4"
Sir Richard proceeded. Many years
ago. tho was fellow In my regi-
ment who went TO the bad-never
mind his name. He passes to-day as
Ted Jones-that name will do as well
as another. | am not" Sir Richard
continued, a good-natured man, but
some devilish impulse prompted me
to help that fellow. | gave him money
three or four times. Somehow, don't
think It's a very good thing 20 give a
man money. He doesn't value tit
comes too easily. He spends It and
wants more"
There's a good deal of truth in
what you say, Sir Richard" Peter
Run admitted.
'iOur friend. for instance. wanted
more" Sir Richard continued. He
came to me for II almost as a matter
OF course. | refused. He came again:
lost my temper and punched his
head. Then his little game began"
Peter Ruff nodded.
He had something TO work upon.
/ SUPPOSE" he remarked.
Most certainly he had" Sir Richard
admitted. IL ever / achieved sufii-
cient distinction in any branch OF life
TO make II necessary that my bio
graphy should be written, | promise
you that you would find it in many
places a little highly colored. In
other words, Mr.. Ruff. | have not al
ways adhered TO the paths OF right
eousness'
A faint smile fickered across Peter
Ruff's face.
" Sir Richard" he said. your can
dor is admirable"
There was one time" Sir Richard
continued, when ! was really on my
last legs. II was just before | came
into the baronetcy. | had borrowed
every penny | could borrow. | was
even hard put 10 II for a meal. ! went
TO Paris. and | called myself by an
other mans name. | got introduced
to a somewhat exclusive club there.
My assumed name was a good one
fl was the name. in fact. OF a relative
whom ! somewhat resembled. | was
accepted without question. | played
cards, and | lost somewhere about
eighteen thousand francs"
A sum-" Peter Run remarked.
(which you probably found it incon-
venient 70 pay"
There was only one course" Sir
Richard continued, and ! took II. /
went back the next night and gave
checks for the amount Of my indebt-
edness-checks which had no more
chance Of being met than II | were TO
draw tonight upon the Bank OF Eng
land for q million pounds. | went
back. however, with another resolve.
| was considered to have discharged
my liabilities. and We played again.
rose a winner OF something like sixty
thousand francs. But played to win.
Mr.. Run, Do you know what that
means?
You cheated, Peter Ruff said, in
an undertone.
Quite true" Sir Richard admitted.
:" cheated There was a scandal,
and | disappeared. | had the money,
and though my checks for the eigh-
teen thousand francs were met. there
was a considerable balance in my
pocket when ! escaped out Of France.
There was enough to take me out to
America - big-game shooting in the
far West. No one ever associated me
with the impostor who had robbed
these young French noblemen-no
one, that is 10 say. except the person
who passes by the name OF Teddy
Jones"
How did he get to know" Peter
Ruff asked.
The story wouldn't interest you"
Sir Richard answered. a. He was In
Paris at the time-we came across one
another twice. He heard the scandal.
and put two and two together |
shipped him off to Australia when |
came into the title He has come back.
Lately. | can tell you, he has pretty
well drained me dry. He has become
a regular parasitic cold-blooded
leech. He doesn't get drunk now. He
looks after his health. | believe he
even saves his money. There's
scarcely a week | don't hear from him.
He keeps me a pauper. He has
brought me at last to that state when
| feel that there must be an ending,"
You have come to seek my help"
Peter Ruff said slowly. From what
you say about this man. | presume
that he is not to be frightened?
" Not for a single moment" Sir
Richard answered. THE law has no
terrors for him. He is as slippery as
an eel. He has his story pat. He
even has his witnesses ready. I can
assure you that Mr. Teddy Jones isn't
hv any means an ordinary sort of per-
SON" ,
He is not to be bluffed." Peter
Ruff said, slowly; he is not to be
bribed. What remains?"
81 have come here" Sir Richard
said. for your advice. Mr. Ruff.
The blackmailer." Peter Ruff said,
is a criminal
He is a scoundrel! " Sir Richard
assented.
He is not fit to live" Peter Ruff
repeated.
" He contaminates the world with
every breath he draws! Sir Richard