Arizona republican., 1911-01-23
THE ADVENTURES OF
 MIR. PETER RUFF By E. Phillips Oppenheim-Delilah from Streatham. (Copywright. 1909. by the Pearson Pub
 fishing Co.)
(Ce.ffnss6 /rers resferdsyl


 not the one to sit there and reproach me with 1t, are you?"
 Its gone far enough, anyway, John Dory said. It's gone further han I meant 1t to go Understand me, Maud-it's finished! I'll find your old sweetheart for myself"
 She laughed heartily.
 You needn't trouble" she answered, with a little toss of the head. |" I am not such a fool as you seem to think me. Mir. Ruff has made an appoint ment with him.
 There was a change in John Dory's face. The mans eyes were bright they almost slittered.
 You mean that your friend Mir. Ruff is going to produce Spencer Fitz- gerald?" he exclaimed.
 He has promised to-" she answered. John," she declared, throwing herself into an easy-chair. II feel horrid about it. I wonder what MT. Ruff will think when he knowsl !"
 You can feel how you like" John Dory answered bluntly, so long as l get the handcunfs on Spencer Fitz- geralds wrists!
 She shuddered She looked at her husband with distaste.
 Don't talk about 1t! " she begged sharply. " It makes me feel the mean est creature that ever crawled. l can't help feeling, too, that MT. Ruff will think me a wretch-quite the gentle man he's been all the time! l never knew any one half so nice. !" John Dory set down his empty glass.
 "I wonder" he said, looking at her thoughtfully. what made him take such fancy to you! Rather sudden. wasn't it, eh?"
 Maud tossed her head.
 "I don't see anything so wonderful about that" she declared.
 Listen to me. Maud," her husband said, rising to his feet. You aren't a fool-not quite You've spent some time with Peter Ruff. How much think carefully-how much does he re- mind you of Spencer Fitzgerald?"
 Not at all," she answered promptly. "Why. he is years older, and though Spencer was quite the gentleman, there's something about MT. Ruff, and the way he dresses and knows his way about-well you can tell he's been a gentleman all his life"
 John Dory's face fell.
 Think again." he said.
 She shook her head.
 Cant see any likeness" she de- clared He did remind me a little of Sim just at first. though" she added, raiiect:vely-" little things he said, and sort of mannerisms. I've sort of 1F l,o though"
 When is this meeting with Fitz- gerald to come of? John Dory asked abruptly.
 She did not answer him at once. A low, triumphant smile had parted her lips.
 "To-morrow night" she said: he Is 10 meet me in MT. Ruff's office"
 At what ume?" John Dory asked.
 At eight o'clock" she answered. "M Mir. Run is keeping his otfice open late on purpose. Spencer thinks that afterwards he is going to take me out to dinner"
 You are sure of this?" John Dory 1 asked eagerly. You are sure that the man Ruff does not suspect you? You believe he means that you shall meet Fitzgerald?"
 "I am sure of it." she answered. ." He is even a little jealous" she con- tinued, with an affected laugh. He told newell, never mind!
 He told you what?" John Dory asked.
 She laughed.
 Never you mind," she said. "I have done what you asked me, anyway. If | Mir. Ruff had not found me an agree | able companion, he would not have ] bothered about getting Spencer to meet me. And now he's done It." she | added, " do believe he's little jeal- ous"
 John Dory glared. but he said noth- 1 ing It seemed to him that his hour | of revenge was close at hand!
 It was the first occasion upon which | words of this sort had passed between ] Peter Ruff and his secretary. There | was no denying the fact that Miss | Violet Brown was in passion. It | was an hour past the time at which i she usually left the office. For an | 0OuT SnS Hdu plcducu, anu CNci ANuh remaiHed unmoved.
 You are a fool she cried to him | at last I am fool too. that have | ever wasted my thoughts and time | upon you Why can't I make you see? | Tn every other way, heaven knows, you | are clever enough. And yet there | comes this vulgar, commonplace. taw- l dry little woman from heaven knows | where. and makes such a fool of you | that you are willing to fling away your | career-to hold your wrists out for | John Dory's handcuffs!
 My dear Violet" Peter Ruff an- swered deprecatingly. you really | worry me-you do indeed!
 "Not half so much as you worry l me-" she declared. Look at the time. | It's already past seven. At eight | o'clock Mrs. Dory-your Maud-is coming here hoping to find her old sweetheart"
 Why not?" he murmured.
 "Why not, indeed?" Miss Brown answered angrily. Don't you know can't you believe-that close on her heels will come her husband-that r4s l.