Arizona republican., 1911-01-26
THE ADVENTURES 0F
 MIR. PETER RUFF By E. Phillips Oppenheim-The Little Lady from Servia. (Copywright, 1909. by the Pearson Pub
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 was leaning forward. tying his white
 cravat with the aid of the little pol
 ished mirror set in the middle of the
 dark green cushions. At his right
 hand was Lady Mary, watching his
 proceedings with an air of agonized
 impatience.
 Let me tell you" she begged.
 Kindly wait till I have tied this
 and put my studs in." Peter Run h.
 terrupted. It Is impossible for me to
 arrive at a hall in this condition, and
 I cannot give my whole attention to
 more than one thing at time"
 We shall be there in five minutes!
 she exclaimed. What is the good unless you understand, of your coming at all?"
 Peter Run surveyed his tie criti- cally. Fortunately, 1t pleased him. He began to press the studs into their places with firm fingers. Around them surged the trafic of Piccadilly; in front, the gleaming arc of lights around Hyde Park Corner. They had several narrow escapes. Once the brougham swayed dangerously as they cut in on the wrong side of an island lamp-post. A policeman shouted after them. another held up his hand-the driver of the brougham took no mo- tice
 "I am ready" Peter Run said. quietly.
 My younger brother r- Maurice" she began. breathlessly-" you've never met him. Know, but you've heard me speak of him. He is private secre- tary to Sir James Wentley-"
 Minister for Foreign Affairs?" Ruff answered, swiftly.
 "Yes, Maurice wants to go in for the Diplomatic Service. He is dear"
 Is it Maurice who is in trouble?" Peter Ruff asked. Why didn't he come himself?"
 am trying to explain" Lady Mary protested. "This afternoon he had an importart paper to turn into cipher and hand over to the Prime Minister at the Duchess of Montford's dance tonight. The Prime Minister will arrive in a motor-car from the country at about two o'clock. and the first thing he will ask for will be that paper. It has been stoleni
 At what time did your brother finish copying it. and when did he dis cover its loss?" Run asked, with a slight air of weariness. These prelimi- nary inquiries always bored him.
 He finished it in his own rooms at half-past seven," Lady Mary an- swered. He discovered its loss at eleven o'clock-directly he had arrived at the ball"
 Why didn't he come to me him. self?" Peter Ruff asked. "I like to have these particulars at first hand"
 He is in attendance upor Sir James " There Is trouble in the East. as you know, and Sir James is expecting dis patches tonight. Maurice is not al lowed to leave"
 Has he told Sir James yet?"
 He had not when left" Lady Mary answered. "If he Is forced to do so. 1t will be ruini MT. Ruff. you must help us. Maurice is such a dear. but a mistake like this, at the very beginning of his career. would be fatal Here we are. That Is my brother wait Ing just inside the hall"
 A young man came up to them in he vestibule. He was somewhat pale, put otherwise perfectly self-possessed. From the shine of his gloss black | hair to the tips of his patent boots he 1 was. in appearance. everything that young Englishman of birth and l athletic tastes could hope to be. Peter | auff liked the look of him. He waited l or no introduction. but laiG his hand i It once upon the young mans shoul- Ter.
 Between seven-thirty and arriving | lere," he said, drawing him on one | ide -" quick Tell me, whom did | -ou see? What opportunities were | here of stealing the paper. and by 
 finished 1t at five and twenty past even," the young man said, sealed { in an official envelope. and stood it i. ID on my desk by the side of my coat nd hat and muffier, which my ser ant had laid there, ready for me to T ut on. My bedroom opens out from | ny sitting-room. Whilst 1 was dress ng. two men called for me-Paul Jer- ,yn and Count von Hern. They H 'oAACu OuBn OOul anu hsn sat together in the sitting-room ntil I came out. The door was wide pen. and we talked all the time.'' They called accidentally? Peter uff asked.
 No-by appointment" the young Ian answered. 1" We were all coming D here to the dance. and we had greed to dine together first at the avoy." !" You say that you left the paper l your desk with your coat and st?" Peter Ruff asked. Was 1t lere when you came out?" Apparently so. the young man an- vered. Tt seemed to be standing in Iactly the same place as where I had 1t 1t. put fin into my breast pocket, Id 1t was only when I arrived here at fancied the envelope seemed yhter. went off by myself and tore open. There was nothing inside but If newspaper. 1" 1" What about the envelope?" Peter nff asked. That must have been e same sort of one as you had used
 you would have noticed it?" "It was" the Honorable Maurice swered.
 " It was a sort which you kept in ur room?"
 i" Yes! " the young man admitted.