The San Francisco call., 1913-07-27
The Temperance Of RaMes

You were in the Upper Sixth together. reJoineo'
nettled by his Tone
What does that matter? glad to say mao
too much sefrespect and too little respect TOT han
ever to be friend of his them knew too many Oh IL, M
things ne did," said Nipper Nasmyth His nuent insults
had my breath. But in a lucky fash saw my
retort
You have had special opportunities OF oosersa
ton, living in the town. said and drew nrst oioo
between the long hair and the ragged beard out 'hA
80 he really did get out at nights?" remarked my
adversary. You certainly give your Irieho away
What's he doing now?"
let my eyes follow Rafies round the room before
replying He watzing with masters wife-waltzins
he did everything Other couples seemed 10 melt
before them And the woman on his arm looked ra
diant girl.
meant in town. or wherever lives his mysterious
lfe' explained Nasmyth told him that he could
himself clever did not trouble me-
his epithet that caused to prick my ears
And found some difficulty in following Raffes right
round the
Il thought everybody knew what he doing He's
playing cricket most of his time. was my measured
reply, If touch of insolence can
honestly ascribe that to my nerves.
And is that all he does for a livng? pursued my
inquisitor keenly
you had better ask Raffes himself" said to that
pity you didn't him in public at the meet
ing" l beginning show temper in my en-
barrassment and. course. that made Nasmyth the
more imperturbable
calling by mystery you of it, said he.
And, for that matter call frs-class cricket ais
graceful calling. when it's followed by men VINO ousht
10 be gentlemen, but are really professionals III sehe
manly clothing present gladia toria ath-
letcsm regard of the great evils Of the age
but the thnly yelled professionalism OF the so-caheo
amateur is the evil of that craze Men play
for the gentlemen and are paid than the players
who walk of another gate In my time there was
of that. Amateurs were amateurs and sport was
sport There Raffieses IN nrst-ciass criche'
then | had forgotten Raf1es was modern drst-class
cricketer explains Rather than see my son
another. do you what I'd prefer to see him?
neither knew cared; yet wretched premonitory
fascination held breathess till was told
I'D prefer to him thief. said Nasmytn say
agey and when his eyes done with me ne turned
his heel So ended that stage of my discontinue
1t only give place to a worse was all TINS
accident fell design? Conscience had made coward
me, and yet what had l to dlspeheVe tne
We pirouetting the edge of an abyss;
later the false step must come ana the PIT
l began wish myself back In LONDON
and 1 did get back to room In our old mousse MY
dancing days already there had taken the
resolution which I remained true as better
to better there the painful association was
of personal unworthness fell 10 tnlnh-
ing my room Dances and was stu smoking
cigarette which Rafes had taught me to appreciate
/ up find him regarding me from the
door He opened it noselessly as only Raffes
could DOORS and now he closed In the same pro
fessional fashion
Il missed Achilles hours ago." said he And still
he's sulking his tent
Il have been" answered. laughing he could
always make but I'll chuck 1t If you'll stop ana
smoke. doesn't mind. There's ash tray pro-
vded for the purpose. ought to be sulkng between
sheets I'm ready to sit up with you till morn
ing.
1--WE might do worse; but the other hand we
might do still better rejoned Raies and for ne
resisted the seductive Sullivan As matter OF TACT
it's morning now another hour it will be dawn. and
where could day better than in Warheld woods
along Stockey road on the upper or mid
dlee | don't want to turn in any more than you do
may as that the whole show down here
exalted than anything for years But II
can't Bunny, lets have some fresh air instead
HAS everybody gone to bed?" l asked.
Long ago. l the last in. Why?"
'Only might sound little odd. our turning out
again if they to hear US"
Rahies with smile made of mischief
and cunning 1t the purest mischief imaginable
the most innocent and comic cunning.
They at ALL Bunny" said he i
get 1 did in the good old nights I've
been spelling for the chance ever since came Gown.
There's the smallest harm in it now, and if you'h
with I'll show how it used to be DONE"
know" said l. who used to haul up the
rope you, and let 1t down again to the mnute!
Rafies looked down on me from lowered hds' over a
smile humorous offend. my dear good Bunny!
do you that then had only one way
of doing thing? I've had spare loophoe all my lfe
and when you're ready I'll show 1t was when
was here. off those boots and carry your tennis
shoes Slip another coat put out your light and III
meet you the landing in two minutes
e with upffted finger, and not syllable.
and he led stocking soles close against
skirtng, feet each particular STEP 1t must
tons obviously assumed for entertainment; but
i
risk of endurance IL came TO grief.
With scarcely creak reached the hall and coulo
have walked out of the street door without danger or
difficulty But that would not do for Rallies He must
needs lead me into the boys part through the the green green
ting but Raies seemed to enjoy nothing better than
these mock obstacles and in few minutes we were
resting with sharp ears in the boys hall
Through these windows?' l whispered when the
clock the piano had had matters its own way long
" Whispered Raies as he opened the
whose ledge our letters used to await US OF morn
ing. .
then through the quad
And the gates at the end No talking, Bunny:
a dormitory just overhead; but ours was IN
front you remember. and if they had eyer seen me
should have nipped back this way while they were
watching the other" -
His finger his lips got out softly into
the starlight. remember how the gravel hurt as we
smooth, tagged margin Of the house Tor the
quad but the nearer of two long green seats
prepared construe Tor second
in the summer term), mercifully handy and once
in our rubber we had no difficulty In scaling
gates beyond the FIVE Moreover we dropped into
doubled back beneath the study windows, nor
heard football in main street of the sumberne
town fell like night dews and the petals
Of the poet but Rafies his through mine and
would chatter in whispers went
you and the Nipper had word, or was 1t words?
you of the tail of my when was dancing,
heard out of the tail of ear 1t sounded like
words Bunny, and thought caught my name. He's
most cor ma I know.