Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-02-22
THE ADVENTURES OF
MR.. PETER RUFF
BY E. Phillips oppenhsim-Ths Per.
tidy of Miss Brown:
Copyright, 1909, BY the Pearson Pub
fishing Co.
CONTINUED from Yesterday

pocket-book
{" 1t is a bargain" he declared "Ou
bet, | presume, carries immunity TO
me?"
By all means" Sogrange answered
with little bow
The Marquis beckoned to Lord Soth
erst, who was crossing the hall.
My dear fellow" ne said. =" do tel
me the name of your halter in London
Delions failed me at the last moment
and | have not hat fit for the cere
mony tomorrow.
III lend you half-a-dozen, II YOU
can wear Them" Lord Sotherst an
swered, smiling. The governors sure
to have plenty, too"
Sogrange touched his head with g
smile.
Alas!" he said. My head is
small, even for a Frenchman's. I'm
agine me-otherwise, | trust, suitably
attired-walking to the church TO
morrow in a hat which came 10 my
earsi
Lord Sotherst laughed.
Scots will do you all right" he
4Ou lSlcpuOHt.
/ shall send my man up" Sogrange
determined. He can bring me back
a selection. Tell me, at what hour is
the first drive this morning, and are
the places drawn yet?"
Come into the gun-room and we'll
see," Lord Sctherst answered.
Peter Ruff made his way to the back
quarters OF the house. In a little sit
ting-room he found the man he sought.
sitting alone. Peter Run closed the
door behind him.
John Dory," he said. Il have come
to have few words with you"
The detective rose to his feet. He
was in no pleasant mood. Though the
telephone wires hac been flashing their
news every few minutes, ii seemed,
indeed. as though TIE car which they
had chased had vanished into space.
What do you want to say to me?"
he asked grufny.
:" l want. if can" Peter Run said
earnestly, to do you a service"
John Dory's eyes glitte-ed.
- think" he said. " that | can do
without your services"
Don't be foolish" Peter Ruff said.
" You are harboring grievance
against me which is purely an i'm
aginary one. Now listen TO the facts.
You employ your wife-which after
all, Dory, | think, was not quite the
straight thing-to try and track down
a young man named Spencer FitZ-
gerald, who was formerly, in small
way, a client OF mine. | find your
wife an agreeable companion-we be-
come friends. Then | discover her OBJ
ject, and know that | am being fooled.
The end OF that little episode you re-
member. But tell me why should you
bear me ili-will for defending my
friend and myself?
The detective came slowly up to
Peter Ruff. He took hold of the lapel
OF the others coat with his left hand,
and his right hand was clenched. But
Peter Ruff did not falter.
Listen to me-" John Dory said. 81
will tell you what grudge | bear
against you. 1t was your entertain
ment of my wife which gave her the
taste for luxury and for gadding
about. Mind, | don't blame you for
that altogether, but there the fact re-
mains. She left me. She went on the
stage"
Stop" Peter Ruff said. You
must still hold me blameless. She
wrote to me- | went out with her
once. The only advice gave her vas
to return TO you. So far as | am con-
cerned, | have treated her with the
respect that | would have shown my
own sister"
You liel John Dory cried, fercely.
" A month ago, saw her come to your
fat | watched for hours. She did
not leave it-she did not leave 1t all
that night!
If you object to her visit" Peter
Run said quietly, " ii is my wife whom
you must blame"
John Dory relaxed his hand and took
a quick step backwards.
Your wife?" he muttered.
Exactly" Peter Ruff answered.
" Maud-Mrs Dory-called to see me;
she was ill-she had lost her situation
she was even, / believe, faint and
hungry. | was not present. My wife
talked to her and was sorry for her.
While the two women were there to-
gether, your wife tainted She was
put to bed in our one spare room, and
she has been shown every attention
and care. Tell me, how long is 1t
since you were at homer"
Not for ten days" John Dory an
swered, bitterly. Why?"
Because when you go hack, you
will find your wife there, ter Run
answered She has givW up the
stage. Her one desire is to settle
down and repay you for the trouble
she has caused you. You needn't be-
lieve me unless you like. Ask my
wife. She is here. She will tell YOU"
John Dory was overcome. He went
back 10 his seat by the window, and he
buried his face for moment in his
hands.
Ruff" he said, Il don't deserve
this. I'VE had bad times lately,
though. Everything has gone against
me. | thinA / have been bit care
less. with the troubles at home and
that"
Step" Peter Raff insisted. Now
come to the immediate object Of M
visit to you. You have had some bad
luck at headquarters. | know of 1t.
am going to help you to reinstate
yourself brilliantly. With that, let Us
1c hurv tho oorapaoc