The Washington herald., 1912-07-28

into the room.
In the middle of the apartment upon
a canopy bedstead, which had once
adorned kings palace, lay Mime dc
Maupassim. Her face was already
touched with the finger of death, ye,
her eyes were undimmed and her lips
uhquivering. Her hands, covered with
rings. lay out before her upon the lace
| ooverlid.
Peter Ruff, who had not even been
allowed sufficient time to change his
travelling clothes, was brought without
hesitation to her bedside She looked
! at him in silence for a moment, with
cold glitter in her eyes.
you are four days late, Monsieur
Peter Ruff" she remarked. "Why did
you not obey your first summons?"
Madame" he answered, Il thought
that there must be a misunderstanding.
Four years ago l gave notice to the
council that ! had married and retired
into private life"
The woman's thin lip curled
From death and the Double Four,"
she said, there is no resignation which
counts. You are as much Our creature
to-day as am the creature of the dis
ease which is carrying me across the
threshold of death"
Peter Ruff remained silent. The
woman's words seemed full of dread
significance. Besides, how was it possi-
bic to contradict the dying?
'1t is upon the unwilling of the
world" she continued, speaking slowly,
yet with extraordinary distinctness that
its greatest honors are often conferred
The name of my successor has been
ballotted for. secretly. 1t is you, Peter
Ruff, who have been chosen"
This time he was silent because he
was literally bereft of words. This
woman was dying and fancying strange
things!
He looked from one to the other of
the stern, pale faces of those who were
gathered around her bedside. Seven of
them there were-the same seven At
that moment their eyes were all To-
cussed upon him. Peter Ruff sank back
Madame" he murmured, "this can
not be"
Her lips twitcI.d as though she
would have smiled.
What We have decided" she said,
1--WE have decided Nothing can alter
that. not even the will of Mr.. Peter
Ruff"
A low murmur of voices from those
others repeated her words.
Peter Ruff opened his lips, but closed
them again without speech. A wave of
emotion seemed passing through the
room. Something strange was happen
ing. II was death itself, which had
come among them.
Peter Ruff drove back from the cem-
etery with the Marquis de Sogrange,
and, for the frs. time since the death
of Madame. $ subjects were spok-
en- of.
q have waited here patiently" he
declared, but there are limits. l want
my wife"
Sogrange took him by the arm and
led him into the library of the house in
the Rue de St. Quintaine. The six men
who were already there waiting rose
to their feet
Gentlemen" the marquis said, SIS it |
your will that l should be spokesman"
There was a murmur of assent Then |
Sogrange turned toward his companion, |
and something new seemed to have
crept into his manner-a solemn, al
most a threatening note.
Peter Ruff" he continued, you have
trified with the one organization in this
world which has never allowed itself
to be taken liberties with or dehed. You
have been treated leniently, according
to the will of Madame. According to
her will, and in Difference to the po-
sition which you must now take up
among US, We still treat you as no
other has ever been treated by US. The
Double-Four admits your leadership and
claims you for its own"
81 am not prepared to discuss any,
thing of the Sort Peter Ruff declared,
until my wife is restored to
me-"
The marquis smiled.
THE traditions of your race, Mr..
Ruff" he said, "are easily manifest in
you. Now hear our decision. Your
wife shall be restored to you on the
day when you take up this position to
which you have become entitled. Sit
down and listen"
Peter Ruff was rebel at heart. but
he felts the grip of iron.
During these four years when you,
my friend, have bee. growing turnips
and shooting your game, events in the
great world have marched, new powers
have come into being, a new page of
history has been opened. As every
hing which has good at the heart
wolves toward the good, so we of the
Eo.r b,-. 1:fxnJ .,.- |