Arizona republican., 1911-01-22
THE ADVENTURES OF
 MIR PETER RUFF
By E. Phillips Oppenheim-Delilah
 from Streatham.
(Copywright, 1909, by the Pearson Pub
 fishing CO.)
(ConsinKsS /yOss yssfsyGsJ)

in her desire for information concern ing Mir Spencer Fitzgerald?
 Then" Peter Ruff admitted, I'm afraid that l must conclude that her unchivalrous clod of a husband has indeed stopped to make tool of her" !"
 And in that case" Miss Brown de- manded, what shall you do? ?"
 "I was just thinking that out, " Peter Ruff said mildly, when you spoke ="
 The friendship of Peter Ruff with the wife of his enemy certainly ap- peared to progress in most satisfactory fashion. The dinner and visit to the theater duly took place. Mir. Ruff was afterwards permitted to offer a slight supper and to accompany his fair com panion a portion of the way home in a taxicab. She made several half hearted attempts to return to the sub ject of Spencer FitZgtrald, but her companion had been able, on each oc- casion, to avoid the subject. Whether or not she was the victim of her hus- bands guile, there was no question about the reality of her enjoyment during the evening. Ruff, when he remembered the flash of her eyes across the table, the touch of her fin- gers in the taxi. was almost content to believe her false to her truant lover. If only she had not been married to John Dory, he realized, with a little sigh. that he might have taught her to forget that such a person existed as Spencer Fitzgerald. and to induce her to become Mrs. Peter Ruff!
 On their next meeting. however, Peter Ruff was forced to realize that his secretary's instinct had not mis- led her. It was, alas, no personal and sentimental regrets for her former lover which had brought the fair Maud to his office. The pleasures of her evening-they dined at Romano's and had a box at the Empire-were insufficient this time to keep her from recurring continually to the subject of her vanished lover. He tried strategy jealousy amongst other things.
 Supposing," he said. as they sat quite close to one another fin the box during the interval, supposing l were to induce our friend to come to Lon don-I imagine he would be fairly safe now if he kept out of your husband 5 way-what would happen to me-"
 "Youl" " she murmured. glancing at him from behind her fan and then dropping her eyes.
 Certainly y-me, [" he continued. Don't you think that should be do- ing myself very i'll turn if brought friends, and I cannot afford to lose
 AnN -tRI care for him."
 She shook her head.
 Not a scrap." she declared.
 "Then why did you put that adver- tisement in the paper?" Run asked. with smooth but swift directness.
 She was not quick enough to parry his question. He read the truth in her disconcerted face. Knowing it now for a certainty, he hastened to her aid.
 Forgive me-" he said, looking away. "I should not have asked that question-it is not my business. will write to Fitzgerald. l will tell him that you want to see him, and that I think 1t would be safe for him to come to London"
 Maud recovered herself quickly. She thanked him with her eyes as well as her words.
 And you needn't be jealous, really" she whispered behind her fan. q only want to see him once for a few min utes-to ask a question. After that, don't care what becomes of him."
 A poor sort of Delilah, really, with her flushed face, her too elaborately coiffured hair with its ugly ornament. her ready-made evening dress with Its cheap attempts at smartness. her cleaned gloves, indifferent shoes. But Peter Ruff thought otherwise.
 You mean that, after have found him for you, you will still come out with me again sometimes?" he asked wistfully.
 "Of course!" she answered. When ever l can without John knowing" she added, with an unpleasant little laugh. If you only knew how l loved the music and the theaters. and this sort of life! What a good time your wife would have. MT. Ruff! she added archly.
 It was no joking matter with him. IlC ndO lO lhob At Wdot HI effect, her tool, that she making use of him, willing to betray her former lover at her husbands bidding. It was enough to make him, on his side. burn for revenge! Yet he put the thought away from him with a shiver.- She was still the woman he had loved she was still sacred to him! That night he pleaded an engagement. and sent her home In taxicab alone.
 John Dory, waiting patiently at home for his wife's return, felt a cer- tain uneasiness when she swept into their little sitting-room in all her cheap splendor, with flushed cheeks -an obvious air of satisfaction with herself and disdain for her immediate John Dory was com looking man-the absence of his collar, and his somewhat shabby carpet slippers. did not inn prove his appearance. He had neg lected to shave, and he was drinking beer At headquarters he was not considered quite the smart young officer which he had once shown signs of becoming.
 He looked at his wife with darken- ing face, and his wife, on her part, thought of Peter Ruff in his immacu- late evening clothes.
 We'll" he remarked, grumblingly,