Arizona republican., 1911-02-10
THE ADVENTURES OF
MR.. PETER RUFF
BY (. Phillips Oppenhein-Mrs. Bog
nor's Star Boarder.
(Copywright, 1909. by the Pearson Pub
fishing Col
CONTINUED from Yesterday

poor as | was. | nave ~ cnech-DOoh
in my pocket, and larger balance in
the bank now than have ever had be-
fore. If write you a check for, say.
a hundred-no, two,-fivei he cried,
desperately watching Peter Rufus I'M
changing face" five hundred pounds.
will you come round with me TO Sir
Richards house in a hanson at
/ once?"
i Peter Run shook his head.
Five thousand pounds would not
buy your liberty from me, Major
JONES'" he said.
The man became AFFECT.
Have pity, then" he pleaded. My
health is not good couldn't stand
Imprisonment. Think of what it
meansAto a man of my age to sud-
denly leave everything worth having
in life Just because he may have i'm
posed a little on the generosity Of a
friend! Think how you would feel.
and be merciful!
Peter Ruff shook his head slowly.
His face was immovable, but there was
look in his eyes from which the other
man shrank
Major JONES'" he said, you ask
me to be merciful. You appeal to my
pity. For such as you l have no pity,
nor have | ever shown any mercy. You
know very well, and know, that when
once the hand of the law touches your
shoulder, it will not be only a charge
of blackmail which the police will
bring against you!
There Is nothing else-nothing
elsel 4" he cried. Take half my for
tune, Mr.. Ruff. Let me get away.
Give me a chance-just a sporting
chancel"
Il wonder" Peter Ruff said, what
chance that poor old lady in Weston
had? No, am not saying you muir
dered her. You never had the pluck.
Your confederate did that, and you
handled the booty. What were the in
itials inside that ring you showed US
at dinner tonight, Major Jones?"
Let me go to my bedroom" he said,
in strange, far-away tone. You can
come with ne and stand outside"
Peter Ruff assented.
ITO save scandal" he said, "yes! "
Three flights of stairs they climbed
When at last they reached the door,
the trembling man made one last ap-
peal.
Mr.. Ruff" he said, " have a little
mercy. Give me an hours start-just
a chance for my lifei "
Peter Ruff pushed him in the door
al am not a hard man." he said.
"but keep my mercy for men,
He took the key from the inside Of
the door, locked it, and with the key
In his pocket descended to the draw
ingroom. The young lady who had
sat on Major Jones's right was singing
a ballad. Suddenly she paused in the
middle of her song. The four people
who we're playing bridge looked up.
Mrs. Bognor screamed.
What was that?" she asked quickly.
" 1t sounded" Peter Ruff said, very
much like revolver shot"
see." Sir Richard remarked, with
a queer look In his eyes, as he handed
over roll Of notes to Peter Ruff, 1.-The
jury brought 1t in Suicide >! What
can't understand is"
Don't try" Peter Ruff interrupted
bruskly. 1t isn't In the bond that
you should understand"
Sir Richard helped himself to a
drink. A great burden had passed
from his shoulders, but he was not
feeling at his best that morning. He
could scarcely keep his eyes from Peter
RUIZ.
Ruff" he said, 81 have known you
some time, and have known you to
be a square man. have known you
to do good-natured actions. | came to
you in desperation-but l scarcely ex-
pected this."
Peter Ruff emptied his own tumbler
and took up his hat.
Sir Richard" he said," you are like
a good many other people. Now that
the thing is done, you shrink from
the thought of 1t. You even wonder
how | could have planned to bring
about the death of this man. Listen,
Sir Richard. Pity for the deserving,
or for those who have in them one
single quality, one single grain, of
good, Is sentiment which deserves
respect. Pity for vermin, who crawl
about the world leaving a poisonous
trail upon everything they touch, is
false and unnatural sentiment" For
every hopelessly corrupt man who is
induced to quit this life there is
more deserving one, somewhere or
other. for whom the world is a better
place"
So that, after all, you are a philan-
thropist. Mr.. Ruff" Sir Richard said.
with forced smile.
Peter Ruff shook his head.