Arizona republican., 1911-01-15
THE ADVENTURES OF
MR.. PETER RUFF
BY e. Phillips Oppenheim-mr. Vim
cent Gswdor, Commission
Agent.
fcsrtfrs,1 L,srr ,.sf.,Ga,..

Cdu. but IN OTOeT Iual l may 40 oO
ii is necessary that you should answer
me two questions-truthfully
Her eyes grew wider. Ii was the
face of a terrified child.
Why not?" she exclaimed. What
have | 10 conceal!"
Peter Rufus expression never
changed. There was nothing about
him, as he stood there with his hands
behind him, his head thrown a little
forward in the least inspiring
ing calculated to terrify the moet
timid person. Yet the girl looked al
him with the eyes of a frightened
bird.
Remember. then" he continued,
smoothly, that what you say TO me
is sacred You and | are alone with.
out witnesses or eavesdroppers. Was
IL Brian SOtherst who shot Abbott
or was II you?
She gave a little cry. Her hands
clasped the sides of her head In hor-
ror
81! she exclaimed, Il! God help
me- "
He waited. In a moment she looked
up.
You cannot believe that" she said,
with a calmness for which he was
scarcely prepared. :" 1t is absurd. !
left the room by the inner door as he
took up his hat TO step out into the
hall"
Incidentally" he asked" this is
not my other question. mind-why did
you not let him out yourself?
We had disagreed" she answered.
CURLY.
Peter Ruff bent his head in assent.
81 see," he remarked You had
disagreed Abbott probably hoped that
you would relent, so he waited for a
few minutes. Brian Sotherst. who had
escaped from his engagement in time.
he thought, to come and wish you
goodnight, must have walked In and
found him there. Bye-the-bye, how
would Captain Sotherst get in?"
" He had a key" the girl answered.
My mother lives here with me. and
We have only one maid. II was more
convenient. ! gave him one washed in
gold for birthday present only few
days ago"
Thank you" Peter Run said. The
revolver, understand, was your prop
erty?"
She nodded.
." 1t was a present from Brian" she
said. He gave it to me in joke, and
| had ii on the table with some other
curiOsities."
THE first question" Peter Ruff said.
/" is disposed OF. May / proceed TO the
second?"
The girl moistened her lips.
Yes! she answered.
why did you sup alone with Austen
Abbott last night?"
She shrank little away
Why should not?" she asked.
"You have been on the stage, my
dear Miss Shaw" Peter Ruff continued,
" for between four and five years.
During the whole of that time II has
been your very wise habit to join sup
per parties, OF course, when the COM
pany was agreeable TO you. but TO sup
alone with no man! Am not right?
% You seem TO know a great deal
about me-" she faltered.
Am | not right" he repeated.
"Yesi she answered.
You break your rule for the first
time" Peter RUIZ continued, " In favor
OF a man of VIGOROUSLY bad character,
a few weeks after the announcement
Vi lOuI tu6d6tulCuN "
young English gentleman. You know
very well the construction likely TO be
put upon your behayior-you, of all
people, would be the most likely TO APP
preciate the risk you ran. Why did
you run 1t? In other words, repeat
my question. Why did you sup alone
with Austen Abbott last night?"
All this time she had been standing.
She came q little forward now, and
threw herself into an easy chair.
1T doesn't help!" she exclaimed.
" ALI this doesn't help,
Nor can | help you, then" Peter
Run said, stretching out his hand for
his hat.
She waved to him to put II down.
II will tell you" she said. 1t has
nothing to do with the case, but since
you ask, you shall know. There is
dear little girl in our company
Fluffy Dean we all call her-only eigh-
teen years old. We all love her, she
is so sweet, and just like | was when
| first went on the stage, only much
nicer. She is very pretty, she has no
money, and she Is such an affectionate
little dear that although she is as
good as gold, we are all terrified for
her sake whenever she makes acquaint-
ances. Several of us who are most in
terested made a sort of covenant. We
all took IT in turns to look after her,
and try TO see that she did not meet
any one she shouldn't Yet, for all
our precautions, Austen Abbott got
hold Of her and turned her silly little
head He was a man of experience,
and she was only child. She wouldn't
listen to us-she wouldn't hear word
against him | took what seemed to
me to be the only chance. | went to
him myself begged for mercy. /
begged him to spare the child. ! swore
that if-anything happened to her, |
would start a crusade against him. |
would pledge my word that he should
be cut by every decent man and woman
on the stage! He listened TO what |
had to say and at first he only smiled.
When | had finished, he made me an
offer He said that IL | would sup with
him alone at the Milan. and permit
him to escort me home afterwards. he
would spare the child. One further
condition be made-that | was TO tell
no one why did il. 1t was the mans
brutal vanity. / made the promise,
but break 1t now. You have asked
me and | have told you went
through with the supper. although |
. Ios IA In % IrI,