The Washington herald., 1914-02-15
tCopyright. lsli.)


one Of his innumerable blazers
Forgotten something's said he. when
he saw me on his mat
NO" said I. pushing past him without
ceremony.
Not come back fer your revenge. have
youe''
We were face to face by his fireside.
and cut him short.
.Rafies," said ], you may well be sur
prised at my coming back in this way
and at this hour. / hardly know you.
was never in your rooms before tonight
But / tagged for you at school. and you
said You remembered me OF course
that's no excuse; but will you listen to
me for two minutes!'
Certainly, my dear man." said he;
"as many minutes as you like" And he
handed me his silver cigarette case
NO" said /, finding full voice as I
shook my head. Nor win you ask me
to when you have heard what I have
to say"
"Reallyg' said he, lighting his own
cigarette with one clear blue eye upon
me. How do you know"
"Recause you'll probably show me the
door" cried bitterly. You know I
dropped over two hundred just now?"
He nodded.
Il hadn't the money in my pocket"
81 remember"
But had my check book. and I wrote
each of you a check at that desk"
"weII?"
Not one of them was worth the pa
per it was written on. Raffies. 1 am over
drawn already at my bank
surely only for the moment?'
mo. / have spent everything"
But somebody told me you were so
well of, I heard you had come in for
so 1 did. Three years ago. 1t has
been my curse: now it's all gone-every
penny, Isn't this enough for you? Why
don't you turn me out?' He was walk
ing up and down with a very long face
instead.
I cast myself into chair and hid my
face.
You nave q nat sOHle"ncTt. ne dShSu.
Yes. in Mount street"
We'll, what about the furniture?'
/ laughed aloud in my misery. There's
been bill of sale on every stick of 1t for
months"
And at that Rafies stood still. with
raised eyebrows and stern eyes that i
could meet the better now that he knew
the worst; then, with shrug, he re-
stunned his walk, and for some minutes
neither of uSspoke. But in his handsome
unmoved face / read my fate and death
warrant; and with every breath I cursed
my folly and my cowardice in coming to
him at ALL There was as little of mercy
as of sympathy in that curling nostril.
that rigid jaw, that cold blue eye which
never glanced my way. 1 caught up my
hat. i blundered to my feet 1 would
have gone without a word; but Rafies
stood between me and the door.
Where are you going?" said he.
That's my business" 1 replied. Il
~Sn't trouble you any more"
Then why come to me?"
why, indeedr' 1 echoed. will you
let me pass?'
Not until you tell me where you are
going and what you mean to do
Cant you guess?' 1 cried.
-'Have you got the pluck?" said he,
in a tone so cynical that it brought my
last drop Of blood to the boil.
You shall see" said /, as I stepped
BAH and whipped the pistol from my
overcoat pocket. Now, will you let me
pass or shall 1 do it here?"
The barrel touched my temple, and my
thumb the trigger. Mad with excite
ment as 1 was, ruined, dishonored. and
now finally determined to make an end
OF my misspent life, my only surprise to
this day is that did not do SO then and
Rafies' face which held my hand. Neither
fear nor horror was in it; only wonder,
admiration. and such a measure of
pleased expectancy as caused me after
all to pocket my revolver with an oath.
You deviIr' 1 said. IT believe you
wanted me to do it''
Not quite" was the reply, made with
a little start, and a change of color that
came too late. "To tell you the truth,
though, half thought you meant II, and
i was never more fascinated in my life. I
never dreamed you~had such stuff in you,
Bunny! No, I'm hanged il I let you 60
now. And you'd better not try that game
again, for you won't catch me stand and |
look on a second time. We must think Of |
some way out of the mess. I had no |
idea you were a chap of that sort! There, |
let me have the gun
One of his hands fell kindly on my |
shoulder, while tn ther slipped into my |
overcoat pocket and / suffered him to
deprive me Of my weapon without a |
murmur. He was beyond comparison the |
most masterful man whom I have ever |
known; yet my acQuiescence was due to /
more than the mere subsection OF a |
weaker nature to the stronger. The for
lorn hope which had brought me to the
Albany was turned as by magic into an
almost staggering sense Of safety. Raj
fies would help me after all! A. ]. Raj
fies would be my friendi It was as though
all the world had come rouni suddenly
TO my side; so far therefore h6m resist
ing his action. caught and clasped his
hand with fervor as uncomfortable rs
Il