Arizona republican., 1911-01-01
THE ADVENTURES OF
 MR. PETER RUFF
By E. Phillips oppenheim-"IIl Blows the WinH That Profits
 Nobody."
COPYRIGHT. ,sos BY THE PEARSON PUBLISHING co.
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 don't think I'll have anything tC do with it." he declared. I don't like your description at all"
 It'll be all right with you" Merrie: declared, eagerly. Its my nerves that's all. You see, I was there-wheu the accident happened. See here," he added, tearing pocketbook from his coat, have three hundred and sev enty pounds saved up in case I had to bolt. I'll keep seventy-three hun dred for you-to dispose of it!
 Ruff leaned over the motionless body, looked into its face. and nodded
 Masters, the bookmaker." he re marked. H'm! I did hear that he had lot of money coming to him over the Cambridgeshire."
 Merries shuddered
 May I go?" he pleaded. There's the three hundred on the table. For Gods sake, let me go.
 Peter Ruff nodded
 "I wish you'd saved little more" |" he said. However,"
 He turned the lock and Merries rushed out of the room. Ruff looked across the room towards his secretary.
 Ring up 1885 Central" he ordered, sharply.
 
 Peter Ruff had descended from his apartments on the top floor of the building in new brown suit with which he was violently displeased, to meet a caller.
 |" I am sorry to intrude-Mr Ruff. believe it is?" Sir Richard Dyson said, little irritably-" but 1 have not great deal of time to spare
 Most natural" Peter Run de- clared. Pray take a chair, Sir Rich ard. You want to know, of course, about Lord Merries and poor Mas ters."
 Sir Richard stared at his questioner, for moment, without speech Once more the fear which he had succeeded, in banishing for a while, shone out of his eyes-revealed itself in the white ness of his face.
 "Try the easy-chair, Sir Richard" Peter Ruff continued, pleasantly. Leave your hat and cane on the table there, and make yourself com fortable. I should like to understand exactly what you have come to me for"
 Sir Richard moved his head toward Miss Brown. t--ss
 My business with you." he said. is more than ordinarily private. have the honor of knowing Miss"
 Miss Brown" Peter Ruff inter- rupted quickly. |" In these offices, this young lady's name is Miss Violet Brown"
 Sir Richard shrugged his shoulders.
 It is of no importance" he said, only, as you may understand, my business with you scarcely requires the presence of a third party, even one with the discretion which I am sure Miss-Brown possesses
 In these matters Ruff answered, my secretary does not exist apart from myself. Her presence is neces- sary. She takes down in shorthand notes of our conversation. I have a shocking memory. and there are al- ways points which I forget. At the conclusion of our business, whatever it may be, these notes are destroyed. l could not work without them"
 Sir Richard glanced a little doubt fully at the long, slim back of the girl who sat with her face turned away from him.
 "Of course" he said, if you make yourself personally responsible for her discretion"
 "I am willing to do so," Ruff inter- rupted, brusquely. guarantee it. Go on, please.
 "I do not know, of course, where you got your information from" Sir Richard began, but it is perfectly true that l have come here to consult you upon a matter in which the two people whose names you have men, tioned are concerned. The disappear ance of Job Masters is, of course, common talk; but I cannot tell what has led you to associate with it the temporary absence of Lord Merries from this country
 Let me ask you this questionS Ruff said How are you affected by the disappearance of Masters?
 Indirectly, 1t has caused me a great deal of inconvenience" Sir Richard declared.
 Facts. please" Ruff murmured.
 " It has been rumored," Sir Richard admitted. that owed Masters large sum of money which could not pay" Anything else?" Ruff asked. Z" It has also been rumored," Sir Richard continued, that he was seen to enter my house that day, and that he remained there until late in the afternoon"
 "Did he?" Run asked. Certainly not Sir Richard an- .wered.
 Peter Ruff yawned for a moment, put covered the indiscretion with his land.
 Respecting this inconvenience" he ,aid. which you admit that the dis appearance of Job Masters has caused you, what is its tangible side?"
 Sir Richard drew his chair little nearer to the table where Ruff was 'itting. His voice dropped almost to ! whisper.
 It seems absurd" he said, and ret, what I tell you is the truth. I ! rave been followed about-shadowed,