The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

one mlStake IN MS CdTetr-iI ne SNci
really wished to retire-he Joined the
Double-four. Now, perforce, he comes
out of retirement. 1t is true, he comes
out in a new guise. His field of activity
lies in different sphere. but he is still
Peter Ruff just the same-still the most
delightful scamp who has been given to
recent fiction, and not altogether q scamp
at that.
His adventures are told by the master
of all tellers of mystery tales. There
will be ten stories-each complete In it
self Here's the fourth. The fifth, en-
titled THE Seven suppers Of Andrea
Kornst." will appear next Sunday.
TIE GRosT and his wife were
dining together at the corner
- table in a fashionable but
somewhat Bohemian restaurant Both
had been in the humor for ren1i-
niscences, and they had outstayed most
of, their neighbors.
Il wonder what people really think
of u.s." Violet remarked pensively. q
told Lady Amershal, when she asked
US to go there this evening, that we
always dined together alone somewhere
once week, and she absolutely refus-
ed to believe me- With your own hus-
band, my dear?' she kept on repeating" !"
"Her ladysnip's tastes are more cath
olic," the baron declared dryly. yet.
after all, Violet, the real philosophy of
married life demands something of this
sort"
Violet smiled and fingered her pearls
for minute
What the real philosophy of mar
ried life may be l do not know" she
said, 'but am perfectly content with
our rendering of it. What fortunate
thing, Peter, with your intensely prac-
teal turn of mind, that nature en-
dowed you with so much sentiment"
De Grost gazed refectively at the
cigarette which he had just selected
from his case
Well" he remarked, there have
been times when l have cursed myself
for a fool, but, on the whole, sentiment
keeps many fires burning"
She leaned toward him and dropped
her voice a little
Tell me-" she begged, "do you ever
think of the years we spent together in
the country? Do you ever regret?"
He smiled thoughtfully.
1T is hard question, that" he ad-
] loved, but there were DAYS, too, when
longed to hear the hum of the city
were of life and death and the great
passions. l am not sure, Violet, wheth-
er. after all, it is well for one who has
lived to Withdraw absolutely from the
thrill of life"
She laughed, softly but gayly.
Il am with YOU" she declared, "ab-
solutely. think that the fairies must
have poured into my blood the Joy of
living for its own sake. should be
an ungrateful woman indeed. if l found
anything to complain of, nowadays.
Yet there is one thing that troubles
me" she went on, after a moments
pause.
And that?" he asked.
The Danger" she said, slowly. II
do not want to lose you, Peter. There
are times when | am afraid"
De Grost flicked the ash from his
cigarette
The days are passing" he remarked,
when men point revolvers at one an
other, and hire assassins to gain their
ends Now, it is more battle of wits
We play chess on the board of life
still, but we play with ivory pieces in
stead of steel and poison. Our brains
direct and not our muscles"
She sighed
1T is only the one man of whom I
am afraid" she said. You have out
witted him so often and he does not
forgive"
De Grost smiled. 1t was an immense
compliment-this
"Bernadinep she repeated. "All that
you say is true, but when one fails with
modern weapons, one changes the form
of attack. Bernadine at heart is a saw
age"
THE hate Of such a man." de Grost
remarked complacently, ''is worth hav-
ing. He has had his own way over
here for years. He seems to have
found the knack of living in q maze
Of intrigue and remaining untouchable
There were a dozen things before I
came upon the scene which ought to
have ruined him. Yet there never ap-
peared to be anything to take hold Of
Even the criminal department once
thought they had a chance / remem-
Der Sir John Dory telling me in disgust
that Bernadine was like one of those
marvellous criminals one only reads !
about in fiction, who seem, when they
pass along the dangerous places, to |
walk upon the air, and leave no trace
behind"
Before you came" she said, "he had |
never known failure. Do you think |
that he is man likely to forgiven"
Il do not" de Grost answered grim |
ly. 1T is little, of course, a battle |
all the time. Yet, Violet, between you
and me. if Bernadine were to go, half |
the SAVIOR of life for me would depart |
with him"
Then there came curious and |
wholly unexpected interruption. A man
in dark, plain clothes, still wearing his
overcoat, and carrying a bowler hat. |
had been standing in the entrance of
the restaurant for a moment or two,
looking around the room as though in /
search of some one At last he caught
the eye of Baron de Grost and came
quickly toward him.
Charles" the baron remarked, rails
ing his eyebrows. Il wonder what he
wants"
A sudden cloud had fallen upon their
little feast Violet watched the COM
ing of her husbands servant, and the
reading of the note which he present.
ed to his master with an anxiety which
she could not wholly conceal. The