The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-02-06
The Adventures
Mr.. Peter Ruff
~ Z. ..,1l..s o.-E~.x,e,
The Little Lady from
Servia


Westward sped the little electric
brougham. driven without regard to
police regulations or any rule OF the
road: silent and swift, wholly regard
less OF other vehicles-as though. in
deet' its occupants were assuming to
themselves the rights Of Royalty. In
side. Peter Ruff. a little breathless.
was leaning forward, tying his white
eravat with the aid of the little poll
islled 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
Impotence
Let me tell you-" she begged.
Kindly wait till / have tied this
end put my studs in Peter Ruiz In
terrupted. q 1t is impossible for me to
cannot give my whole attention to
more than one thing at a time
I'VE shall be there in FIVE minutes,
she exclaimed. " What is the good.
unless you understand, OF your coming
at ala
Peter Ruiz surveyed his tie criti-
cally. Fortunately, it pleased him. He
began to press the studs into their
places with firm fingers. Around them
surged the traffic of Piccadilly: In
front, the cleaning 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 Zip his hapd-the
driver OF the brougham took no no.
tice.
II am ready" Peter Run said,
quietly.
Ny younger brother - Maurice. =
she began, breathlessly-" you've never
met him, l 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 1t Maurice who is in trouble. !"
Peter Ruff asked. Why didn't he
come himself?
II am trying to explain" Lady
Mary protested. This afternoon he
had an importar. 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 1t has been stolen"
At what time did your brother
finish copying it, and when did he dis
cover its loss?" Run asked, with a
slight air OF WEAKNESS. These prelimi-
nary inquiries always bored him.
He finished 1t in his own rooms
at half-past seven" Lady Mary an
sEered. " He discovered it's loss at
eleven o'clock-directly he had arrived
at the ball"
Why didn't he come to me him
self" Peter Ruff asked. like to
have these particulars at frss hand.
g He is In attendance upen 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 yeti"
He had not when 1 left" Lady
Mary answered IF he Is forced TO
DO SO. it will be ruin. Mr.. Ruiz, you
must help u.s. Maurice is such a dear,
bat a mistake like this, at the very
beginning OF his career, would be fatal.
Here we are. That is my brother walt
ing just inside the hall"
A young man came up to them in
the vestibule. He was somewhat pale,
hut otherwise perfectly self-possessed.
From the shine OF his gloss. black
hair to the tips of his patent boots he
was. in appearance, everything that
young Engiishman OF birth and
athletic tastes could hope to be. Peter
Ruff liked the look Of him. He waited
for no Introduction. but lait. his hand
al once upon the young mans Shout
der
Between seyen-thirty and arriving
here" he said, drawing him on one
SIDE -" quick! Tell me. whom did
you see? What opportunities were
there of stealing the paper, and by
whom
finished 1t at FIVE and twenty past
seven" the young man said, sealed
1T In an official envelope, and stood il
zip on my desk by the side of my coat
and hat and muffler, which nay SER
want had laid there, ready for me te
nut on. Ny bedroom opens out from
mr. sitting-room. Whilst I was dress
ing. two men called for me-Paul Jer.
mTn and Count Won Hern. The,
walked through my bedroom first, ant
then sat together in the sitting-roon
until came out. The door was wid'
open. and we talked all the time
They called accidentally Pete
Ruff asked.
No--by appointment" the youn
mar answered We were all comm
on here to the dance, and we ha
agreed to dine together first at tn
Savoy"
You say that you left the pape
on your desk with your coat an
hate" Peter Ruff asked Was
there when you came out?
Apparently SO" the young man al
swered. 1t seemed to be standing
exactly the same place as where ba
left it. put in into my breast poke
and it was only when I arrived he
that | fancied the envelope seemt
lighter. ! went off by myself and to-
ii open. There was nothing inside b
half a newspaper!
"a yrYh,t ,bout the euya10np2 Pet