Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-02-20
THE ADVENTURES OF
MR. PETER RUFF
BY e. Phillips oppsnhsim-Ths Per-
tidy of Miss Brown.
Copyright, 1909, BY the Pearson Pub
fishing Co.
CONTINUED from Yesterday


deed, as friend of the family. You
signs you may have against the Glen
aryon jewels?"
Sogrange leaned back in his chair
and laughed softly. His lips. when
they parted from his white teeth. re-
solved themselves into lines which. at
that moment, seemed to Peter Run
more menacing than mirthful. So
grange was, in many ways, a man of
remarkable appearance.
oh. Peter Ruff" he said, "you are
bourgeois little personl You should
have been the burgomaster in a little
German town. or a French mayor with
chain about your neck. We will see.
l make no promises. All that | insist
upon. for the present, is that you do
not leave this house-party without ad-
vising me-that is to say. II you are
really looking forward to that pleasant
life in the country, where you will
hunt little and shoot little, and
grow into the likeness OF a vegetable.
You, with your charming wife. Peter
Ruff, you should be ashamed to talk
like thati Come, / must play bridge
with the Countess. l am engaged for
table"
The two men parted. Peter Ruff was
uneasy. On his way from the room,
Lord Sotherst insisted upon his join
ing a pool.
Charming fellow, Sogrange," the
latter remarked, as he chalked his cue.
He has been a great friend OF the
governor's-he and his father before
him. Our families have intermarried
once or twice"
He seems very agreeable" Peter
Ruff answered, devoting himself to the
game.
The following night, being the last
but one before the wedding itself, a
large dinner-party had been arranged
for, and the resources OF even so
princely a mansion as Clenarvon Court
were strained TO their utmost by the
entertainment Of something like one
hundred guests in the great banquet
ing-hall. The meal was about half
way through when those who were not
too entirely engrossed in conversation
were startled by hearing dull. rum
bling sound, like the moving of num-
Der OF pieces Of heavy furniture.
People looked doubtfully at one an
other. Peter Ruff and the Marquis de
Sogrange were amongst the first to
spring to their feet.
It's an explosion somewhere" the
latter cried. Sounds close at hand,
too"
They made their way out into the
hall. Exactly opposite now was the
room in which the wedding presents
had been placed, and where for days
nothing had been seen but a closed
door and a man on duty outside The
door now stood wide open, and in
place of the single electric light which
was left burning through the evening,
the place seemed almost afiame.
Ruff, Sogrange and Lord Sotherst
were the first three TO cross the thresh
old. They were met by rush OF
cold wind. Opposite to them, two Of
the windows, with their boardings.
had been blown away. Sergeant
Saunders was still sitting in his usual
place at the end of the table, his head
bent upon his folded arm. The man
who had been on duty outside was
standing over him, white with horror.
Far away in the distance. down the
park, one could family hear the throb-
bling of an engine. and Peter Ruff,
through the chasm, saw the lights
Of great motor-car flashing in and
out among the trees. The room itself
the whole glittering array of pres
ents-seemed untouched. Only the
great center-piece-the Clenarvon dia-
monds-had gone. Even as they stood
there, the rest of the guests crowding
into the open door, John Dory tore
through. his face white with excite
ment. Peter Rufus calm voice pene-
trsted the din OF tongues.
Lord Sotherst," he said, "you have
telephones to the keepers lodges.
There is a motor-car being driven
southwards at full speed. Telephone
down. and have your gates secured.
Dory, | should keep every one out of
the room. Some one must telephone
for doctor. / suppose your man has
been hurt"
The guests were wild with curiosity,
but Lord Clenarvon, with an insistent
gesture, led the way back to the din
ing-room.
Whatever has happened" he said,
" the people who are in charge there
know best how to deal with the situa-
ton. There is a detective from Scot
Iduu 1dTQ anu MS SuDOTdlndIeS, ana
gentleman in whom | also have
most implicit confidence. We will re-
sumo our dinner. If you please, ladies
and gentlemen"
Unwillingly, the people were led |
away. John Dory was already in his |
great-coat. ready to spring into the |
powerful motor-car which had been |
ordered out from the garage. A doc
tor. who had been amongst the guests, |
was examining the man Saunders, who |
sat in that still. unnatural position at |
the head of the table.
The poor fellow has been shot in
the back of the head with sons pecu- !
liar implement" he said The bullet !
is very long-almost like a needle
and X seems to have penetrated very !
nearly to the base of the brain"
Is he dead?" Peter Ruff asked.
The doctor shook his head.
MOI" he answered AN inch |
higher up and he must have died at
once. l want some of the men-ser-
wants to help me carry him to bed
room, and plenty of hot water Some |
one else must go for my instrument |
case" -
Lord Sotherst took these things in
charge. and John Dory turned to the
man whom they had found standing |