The Washington herald., 1912-06-02

TESTWARD sped the htu'
" electric brougham, driver
w without regard to police reg
ulations or any rule of the road. In
side, Peter Ruff, little breathless, was
leaning forward, tying his white era
vat with the aid of the little polished
mirror set in the middle of the dark
green cushions. At his right hand was
Lady Mary, watching his proceedings
with an air of sgonized impatienee.
Let me tell you--" she begged.
Kindly wait till / have tied this and
put my studs in," Peter Ruff interrupt
ed. 'It Is impossible for me to arrive
at a ball in this condition, and can
not give my whole attention to more
than one thing at a time
'We shall be there in FIVE minutes 7!
she exclaimed. "What is the good, un-
less you understand, Of your coming at
alp"
Peter Ruff surveyed his tie critically.
Fortunately, it pleased him He began
to press the studs into their places with
firm fingers.
I'm ready" Peter Ruff said, quietly.
any younger brother-Maurice," she
began, breathlessly-'you've never met
him, l know, but you've heard me speak
of him. He is private secretary to Sir
James Wesley
Minister for foreign afairsi" Ruff
asked, swiftly.
"Yesl Maurice wants to 60 in for
the diplomatic service He is a dear,
and so cleverl"
as it Maurice who is in troublei"
Peter Ruff asked. "Why didn't he
come himself2"
Il am trying to explain" Lady Mary
protested. This afternoon he had an
important paper to turn into cipher and
hand over TO the prime minister at the
Duchess of Montford's dance tonight
The prime minister will arrive in a
motor car from the country at about 2
o'clock, and the first thing he will ask
for viii be that paper. 1t has been
stolen"
AT what time did your brother finish
copying it, and when did he discover its
loss?" Ruff asked.
He finished it in his own rooms at
7:3o," Lady Mary answered. He dis
covered its loss at II o'clock-directly
be had arrived at the baIL",
why didn't he come to me himself7"
Peter Ruff repeated. "I like to have
these particulars at first hand"
He is in attendance upon Sir James
at the ball., Lady Mary answered
There is trouble in the East as you
know, and Sir James is expecting dis
patches tonight. Maurice is not al
lowed to leave"
Has he told Sir James YETI"
He had not when left" Lady
Mary answered. "If he is forced to |
do so, it viii be ruin. Mr.. Ruff, you
must help US. A mistake like this, at |
the very beginning of his career, would |
be fatal. Here we are. That is my
brother waiting just inside the hall"
A young man came up to them in the
yestibule. He was somewhat pale, but
otherwise perfectly self-possessed. |
Peter Ruff liked the look Of him. He
waited for no introduction, but laid his
hand at once upon the young mans
shoulder
Between 7:3o and arriving here"
he said, drawing him on one side
quick Tell me, whom did you see?
What opportunities were there of sted-
ing the paper, and by whom"
L finished It at 7:2s," the young
man said, sealed it in an official en-
velope, and stood it up on my desk by
the side of my coat and hat and muf-
fer, which my servant had laid there,
ready for me TO put on. My bedroom
opens out from my ,sitting-room. While
| was dressing, two men called for me
Paul Jermyn and Count Won Hern.
They walked through my bedroom
6rst, and then sat together in the sit
tIng-room until came out The door
was wide open, and we talked all the
time"
They, called accidentally" Peter
Ruff asked. ID
"No-by appointment" the young
man answered. 1--WE were all coming
on here to the dance, and we had
agreed to dine together first at the
Savoy"
you say that you left the paper on
your desk with your coat and hat?"
Peter Ruff asked. WAS It there when
you came out"
Apparently So" the young man an ,
gwered- 1T seemed to be standing in |
exactly the same place as where l had !
left it. / put it into my breast pocket, |