The Washington herald., 1912-06-30

TN these days, the duties of Miss
Brown as Peter Ruf's secretary
= had become multifarious Not
withstanding, there were occasions
when she found herself, of necessity,
idle. In one Of these she broached the
subject which had often been in her
mind.
Peter" she said softly, "do you re-
member the night when you came
through the fog and burst into my little
fat?"
Quite well, he answered, "but it is
a subject to which prefer that you
do not allude."
'I will be careful" she answered. Il
only spoke of it for this reason. Be
fore you left, you sketched out the
career which you proposed for your
self. In maEy respects, you have been
highly successful, but / wonder if it
has ever occurred to you that your
work has not proceeded upon the lines
which you first indieated?"
Il think / know what you mean" he
said. Go on"
That night" she murmured softly,
you spoke as a hunted man; you spoke
as one at war with Society; you spoke
as one who proposes almost a campaign
against II. When you took your rooms
here and called yourself Peter Ruff, it
was rather in your mind to aid the
criminal than to detect the crime. Fate
seems to have decresd otherwise. Why,
l wonder?"
Things have gone that way" Peter
Ruff remarked.
4 will tell YOU why" she continued.
1T IS because, at the bottom of your
heart, there turks d strong and uncon-
querable desire for respectability. In
your heart you are on the side of the
law and established things. You do not
like crime; you do not like criminals.
You prefer the company of law-abiding
people. even though their ways be mar
row l can see that you will end your
days in the halo of respectability.
Peter Ruff was a little thoughtful; he
recognized the truth of the girls
words.
You know, I am rather like that"
he admitted. When / see a family
party, I envy them. / do not care
very admirable powers of observation,
Violet"
Things being So" she remarked,
what are you going to say to Sir Rich
ard Dyson:"
Peter Ruff was frank.
Upon my soul" he answered, 'T
don't know"
You'll have to make up your mind
very soon," she reminded him. He is
coming here at II o'clock.
Peter Ruff nodded
4 shall wait until hear what he has
to say" he remarked
His letter gave you a pretty clear
hint" Violet said, that it was some
thing outside the law"
The law has many outposts," Peter
Ruff said. "One can thread ones way
in and out, if one knows the ropes. Get
back to your woIk. Don't you hear the
lift stop"
She resumed her place in front of her
desk. There was sharp tap at the
door.
Come in" said Peter Ruff.
Sir Richard Dyson entered. His eyes
were baggy-he had aged within the
last few months.
Well. Mr.. Ruff" he said. shaking
lands, how goes it,
i am very well Sir Richard" Peter
Ruff answered. Please take a chair
Sir Richard took the easy-chair. Then
his eyes fell upon Miss Brown.
Cant do without your secretary"
he remarked.
"Impossible" Peter Ruff answered.
As l told you once before, l am her |
guarantee that what you say to me, or
before her, is spoken as though to the |
dead"
Sir Richard nodded.
Just as well" he remarked, "for |
am going to talk about a man who |
wish were dead. Have you any expert |
cnce of blackmailers ,"
In my profession" Peter Ruff an |
swered, I have come across such per-
sons"
Il have come to see you about one"
Sir Richard proceeded Many years |
ago there was a fellow in my regiment |
who went to the bad-never mind his |
name He passes to-day as Ted Jones |
| am not good-natured man. but some |
devilish impulse prompted me to help |
that fellow. | gave him money three or
four times. Somehow, don't think its |
a very good thing to give man money. |
He doesn't value tit comes too easily |
He spends it and wants more. Our |
friend, for instance, wanted more. He /
came to me for it almost as a matter of !
course l refused He came again; I
lost my temper and punched his head |
Then his little game began"
Peter Ruff nodded.
He had something to work upon, I
suppose;" he remarked.
Most certainly he had" Sir Richard
admitted. There was one time when /
was really on my last legs. 1t was
lust before I came into the bsronetcy
| had borrowed every penny I could
borrow. was even hard put to it for
meal went to Paris. and l called