The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 6, 1905, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL. SONS OF A STOKY Or ng endanger nisguided it of never ush sheets.” What 1 lock at any of the sage- supposed,” returned Weaver quietly. *“If you had 1 don't think you would be here. present man- of the Inter-Mountain is open- ed of deliberate murder. The ursued is denounced us being institutions and all citi- both it and its gs are coming up r. Jasper will ceting. If so leak out mititary force hands 1 fear hold the 1ire ealth to k r, your advice is leman after a briet I'll leave to- As soon red send this mes- Shoulu the boys rease their zeal, extending above all, re- not an imi- Poltz. to inc th bills want a ar strik from the room s way 1o Mr. found the per, an arose, getting sk te ulking made b Entering Mr. on his succeeded he in Weaver. “I put up 1t worked like a charm. t on No. 4, a thoroughly Lord for that,” said Mr. “It will avert the Had he remained, d our hands most effect- ng intent o the fire. as, party, *‘do le answer. of the the are message—take it ete. commer- nd Blank men. tate eter Lawrence, Jersta John slidated Iy 1 not be de Pre on the ground lared. but there John, I'll take your for once, when Howe and asks for a red nsolidated’s service will be pted. Lawrence will get ‘it as electricity can put into New You can rest assured nothing ver the Inter-Mountain best course Howe. your work strike is de- to the telegraph office. vour piece the oper- 1. Gray. guard Miss rned letter as the apple of eve. When vou read it, take care it soak ir the morning the and opera-house presented an ous le. Its widely-flung objective point of the ited populace of the town. closed and barred, quiet, spake pan- trend of public in- early hour, the trembled over a dense cked humanity, which took the entire population of olid busir men jostled rs with faro dealers and “tin- mu.,\,;m. aces of mothers painted cheeks of A community of to the throttling of Upon the rele, were the all terminals their votes res die. As the vered in the hushe: ¢ ry white and with a « ous look of age upon his drawn ed by Gray, Brady and Ho the stage. Unnoticing the ave of applause. he passed ttle table.set upon the to stand awaiting chance' to speak. Cheer upon cheer re- ded through the great hall, ter- mir in a tiger for “the old boy who stood by us.” As the uproar is the In combined Town Hall ed ;uul of the Despite® t} zainst t carlet si terests was alive ng monster. ates of Upon final stage u the sank into silence he ng hand, saying in a ting voice: “My friends, the result of a deliberate rt of the present Inter-Mountain has sent our tramp: trangers, that ha nd thought, that flouted the restraining te and filled our ceme- mangled forms of our the hoarded resentment s the stern approval of of policy empty- land of ecch zens into ti free hand with the 1ind The press has made the of the outraged outburst fa- to all. & ding through the vi- outs of the quick. threads the ve wail of the untimely dead, quity must cease!' ™ rse roar from the audience of a blood-scenting LS LSS L S S S S S GRS LGS0 S He « between the room ed him not ed deliverer fore Raes recalicd in Italian. a drink, but er voice. hen I've let him t the s lucky appened put your ¥ Don’t ck aga and 1§ for me 1 got a word with him before ey trussed me I've pre d to se 1 1 will. but 1 n out of my sight for the if you d him last night,” T exelatm: the blazes didn’t he 10 me till the eleventh hour?” I knew he'd have to cut it fine, ugh T hoped not quite so fine as all inat. But all's well that cnds well, I declare I don’t feel so much the srse. 1 shall be sore about the gills bit—and what do you think?” e pointed to the long black ruler with the bronze stain; it lay upon the floor. He held out his hand for it and 1 gave it to him. ere LAST LAUGH | B GGG S SRRSO SSLL55: s ./ same one 1 affles, with with,” ghastly gagged him his 4till He was a after Now bit of an artist, old Cor- ali?” let’s he rhow you fell into his aid I briskly, for I was as xiou Lear as he seemed to tell only for my part T could have wait- until we were safe in the flat, 1 do want to get it off my chest, g Ratfies admitted, “and yet [ can tell you after all. I fol- lowed vour friend with the velvet eyes. I followed him all the way here. Of course I came up to have a good look at the house when he'd let himself in, nd damme if he hadn't left the door ajar. Who could resist that? I had pushed it half open and had just one fodt on the mat when I got such a crack on the head I hope never to get again When I came to my wits they were hauling me up to that ring- bolt by the hands and old Corbuccl himself was bowing to me, but how he 8ot here I don’t know yet.” “1 can tell you that,” said 1, and told how I had seen the Count for myself on the pavement underneath our win- dows. “Moreover,” 1 continued, “I saw him spot you and five minutes after in Earl's Court road I was told he'd driven off in a cab. He would see you follow- ing his man, drive home ahead and catch you by having the door left open in the way you describe “Well,” said Raille he deserved to from an, and ch me somehow, for he’d com- nd Naples on purpose, ruler the ring-bults were ready fi: and even this house taken furnished for nothin else! He meant catching me before he'd done and scoring me off in exaetly the same way that I scored off him, oniy stain it gravity on arising, he you r which we have in- conditions, in Strike d conditions, s have a to Drowned in the awful tumult Mr. stood waving, expostulating then as the vengeful sound waves spent into ominous calm, re- sumed: “The gentlemen behind me rep- resent the crystallized thought of the system. Fully empowered, upon their verdict rests the terrible responsibility of launching the coming trouble. It was my inte 1——as outlined in the posted notice of the meeting—to have a private conference at its clc The thorough unanimity malkes this unnccessary. The vote will be—as should be, a decision of mutual interest—public; but one re- striction T wish to put before you. Can vou, on the high honor of Western men, pledge me to remain absolutely silent tiger. Jusper hands Howe, his head bared. Catching the eyes bent so anxiously upon him he nodded vigorously. Returning to the table Mr. Jasper in a volce, through which ran the curious catch of a sob, said: “Engineer Gray will read you a tter. This letter has a heavy bear- ing, and I .wish every one in the house to give it the most careful attention. We are making history very fast now, and this paper upon which are penned v the hand of a young girl in distant Virginia the words leading to the vic- tory of the right is destined to form the base of a new order—a changed evil.” . John, in a began ‘the reading of the letter. voice of clear distinctness, As the head and saying “Your thirty minutes have nearly passed. If my friend Sena- tor Lane wishes to address you he has my permission.” The -gentleman thus introduced stepped forward to stand sllently before the hushed, cxpectantly awaiting audience. “Fellow citizens, he said at last, hoursely *“The awful revelation of the last few minutes almost transcends b Hef. I am a politiclan and thoroughly aware of the seamy side of our business life, but that financiers looked upon hu- life as pawns in the game man mere of dollars comes home as a lightning flash. Have we to face the knowledse dhat a body of fiends have entered into our America to whom death, suffering, or the long weariness of disability is a welcomed aid 1o depleting treasures? From our bleak Atlantic eoast come at times horrible tales, legends of a body of men who, by changing lights, lure unsuspecting vessels to black ruin. Can it be possible that the process of rail- road wrecking is being carried upon the ame Ynes and in our midst? Friends, you know when went from my heart and life. the light How the for an interval of thirty minutes fter the rendition of the verdict? Under- stand. gentlemen, I fully apprechate the importance of this step and when I tell you on the pledge of a life spent in your midst that it is of the highest interest to all. T know you will cheerfully play the old man’s game blind. The answer whs the instant uplifting of every hand in the house. In the deep succeeding hush Mr. Jasper turned to the bronz-d awaiting faces, then in a voice of most thrilling solemnity said “Gentlemen: As the duly aulhorized repr. ta of your respective di- visions, empowered to faithfully veice their is it the unanimous de cision of all employes to no longer sub- mit to the continuance of the present intolerable tions, and, if a strike is aecl it is to be to a bit- ter fin a h that will leave to the Inter-Mountain—should they per- sist in the present management—but right of w nd two streaks of rust Slowly clearly fell the fateful The of the press agent swiftly his pad. After a Mr. Jusper said: “Now, gen- please announce your decision favor of an immediate strike se ives wishes, co and pes flew brief pause tlemen, All in arise.” Slowly—as rise thunder every man of the committee his feet. The revorter searching look, clouds arose to took a swift, then thrusting his pa- per into a pocket, passed swiftly out Mr. Jusper with a shaking hand drew out his watch—the hand spoke at 10:30. True to their word not a ripple came from the aundience. Turning to the awalting semi-circle, he satd: *“Thank you. Be seated.” . Crossing with unsteady steps to the window he looked across the street the In door of the telegraph office stood R N R S NN S S S SO0 G0 B ST S SO I B SOOI going one better, of course. Ha tuhl me , sitting where am - sitting rlock this morning, and smok ing a most abominable cigur that smelied ever since. It appears 1 twenty-four hours when 1 left him trussed up, but he. said twelve would content him in my case, as thore certain death at the end of them T mightn't have life cnough left ta preciate my end if he made It long=r. Iut 1 wouldi't have trusted him if he conid have got the clock to go twice round without firing off the pistol He cx- plained the whole mechanism of th to m He had 1 out on the vineyard 1 told you about, and theu he sked If T remembered what he had prom- ised me in the name of the rra. 1 only remembered some vague thicat but he was gocd enough to ghve me so many particulars of that insiitution 1 could make a European reput exposing the whole show if it wi<n't for my unfortunate resemblance to that in- fernal rascal Raflles. Do you think they would know me at the Yard, sunny, after all this time? Upon my soul, I've a good mind to risk it!” 1 offered no opinion on the point. How could it interest me then? But interested 1 was in Raffles: never more so in my iife. He had been tortured all night and half a day, vet he could sit and talk like this the moment we cut him down. He had been within a minute of his death, yet he was as full of life as ever; ill- treated and defeated at the best, he could still smile through his blood as though the boot were on the other leg. I had imagined that T knew my Raffles at last. T was not likely so to flatter ‘myselfy again. “But what has happened to these vil- laing?” T burst out, and my indignation was not only against them for thelr cruelfy. but also against their victim for his plegmatic attitude toward them. It was difficult to believe that this was Raffes. “Oh,” =ald he. Ttaly instanter: “they were to go off to they should be crossing forceful sentences, simplicity the though horro ing acre terrible in the very of auccusation, fell slowly from der's lips, faces blanehed as in the presence of a nameless Mr. Jasger, his bhands clutch- « his breast, sat, his eyes run- ning rapidly over the angry white- flecked sea helow him, his lips moving in silent supplication. Should you.live to be responsible to an American audi- ence for a thing that blanches their faces white, the lips silent, you will be able to understand what it means to stand very close to an awful experisnce. From the middle of wie house a man arises, and, ing -down the aisle. steps upon the A shuddering intake of breath sweeps through the house as the form, white-faced with a dunger- ht in flashing ) steps to Mr. Jasper's side, who, arising, says, as John finishes the letter : “Gentlemen of the committee: doubtless wondering as of this sceming farce. Do you not see that the syndicate has the news of a dsclared strike. Mr. Blank, also, will, and will_alone, receive your second, de- . Time presses; can 1 send him \\-l)ll that it is declared off; that all men resume work: thus allowing him to profit in the mové even now under way in New York?" antly, v man arose again. ¢ at the window waves a handker- chief to the waliting Howe who rapidly disappears into the telegraph office. A nod to the upward glance of the oper- ator, then Gr cipher, to the great ystification the man relaying in ba, ity of breakinginto Assoc ation stuff. Mr. Jasper then rapidly explained Weaver's manly course, closing by hold- ing the unsigned check high over his 1€ You are to the meaning of commits the unhcard of enorm- But do listen to what T am telling you: it's interesting, my dear man. This old sinner Corbucci turns out to have been no ¢nd of a boss in the Camorra— ¢s so himself. One of the capi paran.c my boy, no less: und the velvety Johnny a glovano onorato, Anglice, fresher. This tellow here was also in it, and I've sworn to protect him from them evermore: and it's just ax [ said, haif the organ-grinders in London belong, and the whole lot of them were pnt ~n my tracks by secret instructions. This excelient youth manu- ison ok Saffren Hill when now. he's at home. “And why cn carth didn’t he come to me quicker “Reearse he conldnit talk ta vou; he could only feteh you, and it was as mueh ax his life was worth to do that Lefore our friends had departed. They were going by the 11 o'cloek from Vic- toria, ard that didn’t leave much ehe Bt heoeertainly oughtn't to have run it ns fine 28 be did. Still. vou must remember that T had to fix things up with him in the féwest possible words, in a single minute that the other two were indiscreet enough to leave us alone together.” The ragamufin in question was watching us with all his solitary eve, as thovgh he knew that we were dis- cussing him. Sudderily he broke out in agonized accents. his hands clasned and a face so full of fear that évery moment T expected to see him on his knees. But Rafles answered kindly, reassuringlv, [ could tell from his tone, and then turn- ed to me with a compassioniate shrug. “He suvs he couldn’t find the man- sions, Bunny, and really it's not to be wondered at. T had only time to tell him to hunt you up and bring veu here by hook or crook hefore 12 “to-day. ‘and after all he has done that. . But now.the poor devil thinks vou're riled with him. and- that we'll give him avn.y to the Comorra.” “Oh, it's not with him I'm riled” T sald frankly, “but with those blackgnards, and—and with vou. old chap, for taking it all as you do, while other - train upen which my o v daughter was returning from an Eastern school wa: wrecked by the blunder of u drunken train crew. How the sweet, innocent young life, for which I would have will- ingly laid down position, wealth or life as a paltry forfeit, was ground into crushed, tortured death. A horrible mockery of youth and bLeauty, alone re- maining vivid in the awful ravings of my insane wife. Now, the words ‘law and order’ have always meant much to me. I, and men like me, hold our po- sitions only by the careful observance of the code: but to men comes the time when the mighty hand of God turns the page of their life book. Then over the smug of trammels of musty laws sounds the stern ‘Eve for an eye, tooth for tooth.” T call all to witnes } the personal result be the brand of social oul in heaven lem Asylum, outlawing. I swear by the and the one gibbering in to hunt to death the men r ble to me for my rulned home. Boys” (through the polished diction and easy Senatorial address ran now the fron of camp, mine or i1ange) “Coleman graces the first pole.”” Then restraint became as a morn- ing mist. With horritied eyes John spring into the yelling mass hatless, coat torn to shreds, cursing meb leader. “What of my idéa of getting Coleman out of town?" asked Jtr. Jasper quietly. Johu’s answer was an involuntary shud- der. At th2 same time in the luxurious quiet of -his private office, Mr. Poltz, American manager of the great syndi- cate and various other highiy respected legitimate interests of ‘‘vested capital,” sat intent upon a strip of paper with Parker. A boy saw. Lane to emerge a frothing enters with a card. Glancing R e coundrels have the last on their way to such infamovs and ave safely me with a curi- that T never in earnest. I my all tafilos looked up at :sly open eye—an eye saw when he was net fancied he did not like pression but one. After lavgling matter to him. But arc they?” sald he. it “['m not so su You said they were! “1 s1id they should be “Didn’'t you hear taen go “I heard nothing but the clock all night. ft was like Big Ben striking at the list—striking 9 to the fellow Cin the dyop. And in that open eye I saw at last a deep glimmer of the ordeal through which he had passed. “But, my dear oid Raffles, if they're still on the nremises™ The thovght was too thrilling for a finished sentence, . “I hope thwy are,” he said grimly, going to the door. “There's a gas on! Was that burning when you came in?" Now that I thought of it, yes, it had been. “And smell,” . a frightfully foul 1 added as' I followed Raffles down the stairs. He turned to me gravely, with his hand upon the frovnt- room doer, and at the same moment 1 saw a ¢out with an astrakhan collar hanging oh the pegs. “They arc in here, Bunny,” he said, and turned the handle. "The door would only open a few inches. But a detestabl> odor camo out, with a broad bar of yellow gu:light, Raffles put his handkerchief to his nosc. [ followed his example. signing to our ally te do the same, and in angther minute we had all three squeezed into the room. The man with the yellow boots was ly- ing against the door, the Count's great carcass sprawled upon the table, and at a glance it was evident that both men had been dead some hours. The old Camorrist had the stem of a liqueur here's at it. Poltz ‘springs to his feet with a horrid Yiddish oath, crying, “‘See” here, Parker.” Parker pales, then stands with protruding eyes upon the “Peter Lawrence.” As Lawrence entered the two vulture faces twitched. Something in the tall, commanding form, ercct head and clear, direct cyes spoke of the victor survey- ing despised, unworthy antagon “Well, Mr. Lawrence,” sneered Poltz, “your old-time doves are making a fine mess of our property. If we have an engine, car or roundhouse left by this time we are playing im luck.” Then Lawrence spoke. Leaning across the table, he transfixed the Sem- itic orbs with a direct stare, then, with a laugh, sald, “Mr. Poltz, if Mr. Blank was so far dead, to all comsiderations cf public duty as to surrender even, cutting words, came very slow but distinctly now-—-"his control of the Inter-Mountain into your blood-stained hands he could make you pay & very pretty sum for your whistle For a full thirty seconds the silence drifted unbroken. Poltz sat, black eyes open to their fullest extent, con- templating the smiling face opposite, “Why, man, you are crazy,” he finally blurted out. Lawrence stepped quick staring card, y to the win- dow, after throwing it up, stood listen- ing intently to the street noises far be- neath. “Come here, both of you,” he com- manded sharply. The wondering puir obeyed. ‘Listen to those newsboys,” he added softly. Up from the bedlam of jargon and Strike oft dialect came the shrill cries, Exclusive news Brit rs lose ns control,” etc. Lawrence turns to the stricken pair, suyiug grimly: “Mr. Poltz, the next time vou plan one of your peculiar campaigns, select a place out of car- shot of closed windows, and when I tell you that the whole scheme is now to every n in Uintah and the »u will readily apprec the Rockies Inter-Mo 1 the far ain trains were moving as usual, but in remote localities under the direc- tion of a very badly mystified lot of wmen “The shortest strike on record,” growled big Tom Gorh as from a broken truck he surveyed the land- scape through the haze arising from aort el “Get a man cross-eyed g to keep up with suen cr do- fhink the old brotacrhood is nough for me. ange 1o say. similar thoughts were rumming through ali eads that time. By 6 oclock the next mornii sociation” men would have proven ¢ hard to locate. Jasper and party were yet muining at Uintah. The outburst, ing nothing on which to wreck | Bt subsidia:thite” thesinayitable Balt. ashamed state usuwaliy succeeding epochs where Nature stand with her grim outlines unclotired. With an Instinctive perception of coming events the men gathered around the the the telegraph office. At 8 o'cloc old chief dispatcher responded imperative call of a 97" me “DENVER. 10-1, '8 “To all employes: I have this day scvercd my connection with this system The vacated position “m e Blank H. As no one but Mr. Blank and Law rence knew the true cause of the abo unprecedented wire, it always remained a source of mystery. Luckily there was a small second-story porch to the build- ing. Holding the paper high in his lands, the faithful oid fellow stepped out before the awaiting crow “Great news,” he cried h old man is back again!” Amid the uproarious cheeri ceeding the reading of the tele man grasped John's arm, saying ing to an ashen-faced old man, bling blindly amid the swaying “Better look out for the old seems to have too heavy Yes, a load, even of cr ¥ times heavy to a heart and brain weak- ened in the strugsle of the kind which leads to consummation. Joined by Grady he supported the old man to his room. sage. ‘the ily ; pe where a couple of toddies soon put him into a peaceful sleep. A few days later the following was re- coived: “Silver Canyon: J. Jasper—. range with Gray and Brady to méet me at Black River on No. 1 the Tth. “JOHN BLANK." On the evening of the instanced date the little party were awaiting the coming of the train. The wheels had scarcely ceased turning when 2 tall form swuns from the office car on the rear. After a vigorous handshaking he sald, “Mr lank wishes ta see you all in his car.” Then catching Mr. Jasper's arm he led the way to the rear. “John,” growled Brady, as they R BY M-B-DE COURCY stumbled along the long train, “this i a new one on me. My only experience with private cars has been to shove them upon cussing. awaiting engineers, but you don’t seem to care. T“Why should” 17" asked John simply. On entering the car they found a warm welcome awaiting The remnants of sup- per % been removed the strangely assorted party settled down to cigars and n.asceline comfort. * sald Mr. Blank, “I am unable to properly thank you for the service you have so faithfully rendered. It came in the nick of time, as had they succeeded in their scheme of wreckage my Interest would have become valueless, the future of the road a problem. As it Is the best of our State are fully aroused to the men- ace of capital employed to wreck instead of for building up. e future can be made very bright, but [ heed loyal and intelligent aid from each department and every man. Mr. Lawrence, kindly hand me-the package of papers representing our last night's work.” Lawrence quickly spread a handful of letters upon the table. From the pile Mr. Blank selected one, handing it to Lawrence with remark, “I'll appoint you reading clerk. Lawrence glanced over the familiar page as though it had first fallen be- neath his eyes—at the innocent decep- tion Mr. Blunk’s eyes danced merrily “Mr. Jasp i Lawrence, slowly. This letter is addressed to you: ‘Mr. John Jasper, ete., 1 Jeriy tendes 3ou the position of superifitendent of motive power and machinery at a compensation of §WM0 per annum. Trusting this offer will meet with an acceptance, 1 remain.” Jasper broke the surprised silence y saying: “I'm not for that posi- tion. I'm only a rough uid mountain man and without imaginatton enough to see myself in a white-shirt job. I would surely be a beauty!" “Mr. Jasper. you will kindly remember that I've never accepted your resigna- tion. Now I need you other man is v 1 as yous If to restore orde the present 1 and t rtain need 3 As for white slirt part—our oflices are filled with figure jugsling taflor models, who will willingly tak: your share for $30 per month. Your ap- pointment, sir, is effective from this darte. The new superintendent of M. P. and settled back into his chair. Without glance toward h Mr. Blank selected M another from th “Mr. Gray,” Je looked up in sur- prise. “in this letter you are directed to report\to the college of minerals at Berlin. where arrangements have been raude for a three years' course of study Your present r pay will be semt you monthly, but all bills will be sent to M. Blank.” 4 Gray, T intend to make an In- vestment The are to be the last te throw sand into my eves. On your way to New York please pass through your home and in person de- liver this package and lett Be very © ful of it It conta ds to the amount of $20.000 and n a letter of appreciation Lawrer d I could manufac And say. young man, if 1 were ur pl ra take steps to keep tk noney in the fam- ily." joined in the laugh e entire party afforded by John's blazing face. “Now, Mr. Jaspe resumed Mr. Blank, tossing a letter across the table, “I have a recommendation to make, Should it meet with ve approval make the appointment immediate.” While Mr. Jasper wi iphering the note Mr. Blank resume As to the voung man Howe, Mr. Lawrence has a scheme for his benefit Here Mr. Jasper raised his head; a sly twinkle in his eyes. ‘Mr. Brady,” he said slowly, “Will you accept the position of :H\nrll _road foreman of e ers under me? Inste f answering Brady®sat si- lently gazing out into the night They were rushing through a’dip ly- ing at tihe foot of the five-mile grades. The pointer of the speed dial quivered .gainst 63, out in the racing shadows the red lignite sparks threaded swiftly past. The lever bites deeper into the unseen engine, a splitting roar drifts back to them. As the palatial car sways curve he lifts his o the awaiting smashing k direct against a head to le¢ eyes opposite. Mr. k.” says he decidedly, “I've always looked upon the petty jobs men like me are capable of filing as being for cripples or pets. Through- God's merev I'm not in the first class and have no desire to seek the other. I am a1 engineer and would not nything which by putting my knees desk would take that” —pointing to the flying, lounging canyon—*“out of n life foreve: Mr. Blank extended his hand over the table, saving brokenly, “Of such are the builders of our empire.” THE END. change s e O] glass between his swollen blue fingers, one of which had been cut in the break- age, and the livid flash was also “brown with the last biood that it would ever ed. His face was on the table, the ivge mustache projecting from under it and the either leaden cheek, vet looking stranzely alive. Broken bread scraps of frozen macaront lay upon cloth and at the bottem of two oup plates and a tureen. The macaroni had a tinge of tomato, and there was a crim- #pn dram l2ft in the tumblers, with an empty flasco to show whence it came. But near the great gray head upon the table another liqueur glass stood. un- bLreken, and still full of some white and stinking liquid. ard near that a tiny ver flask, which made me recoil rom Ratfies as I bad not from the dead, fot 1 knew 1t to be his. “Come out of this-poisonous air.” he said starnly, “and I will tell you how it has happened.” So we all three gathered together in the hall. But it was Raflles who stood nearest the street door, his back to it Kis eyes upon us two. And though it was to me only that he spoke at first he would pause from point to point and translate into Italian for the benefit of the one-eyed alien to whom he owed his life. “You probably don't even know the name, Bunny,” he began, “of the dead- licst poison yet known to sciev It is cyanide of cacodyl, and I have car- ried. that small flask of it about with me for months. Where I got it matters nothing: the whole point is that.a mere sniff reduces flesh to clay. T have uever had_any opinion of suicide, as you knew, but I always felt it worth while to be.foréarmed against the very worst. Well, a bottle of this stuff is calculated to stiffen an ordinary room- ful of ordinary people within five min- utes: and I remembered my flask when they had me as good as crucified in the small hours of this morning. I asked them to take it out of my pocket. I begged them to give me a drink before they left me. And what do you sup- pose they did?” I thought of many things, but sus- gested none, while Raflles turned this much of his statement into sufficiently fluent Italian. But when he faced me > was still flaming. “That beast Corbucei!” said he: “how can 1 pity him He took the flask; he would give me none; he flicked me in the face instead. My idea was that he at least should go with me—to sell my life as dearly as that—and a sniff would have settled us both. But no, he must tantalize and torment me. He thought it brandy: he must take it downstairs to drink to my destruction! Can u have any pity for a hound like that?” “Let us g [ at last said hoarsely, as Raffles finished speaking in Italian, and his second listener stood open- mouthed. “We will go,” said Raffles, “and we will chance being seen. If the worst comes to the worst this good chap will prove that I have been tled up since 1 o'clock this morning, and the medical evidence will decide how long those dogs have been dead.'™ But the worst did not come to the worst, mere power to my unforgotten friend the cabman, wiho never came for- ward to say what manner of men he had driven to Bloomsbury Square at top speed-on the very day upon which the tragedy was discovered there, or whence he- had driven them. To be sure they hac not behaved like murderers, whereas the .evidence at the inquest all went to show that the defunct Corbueci was little better. His reputation. which transpired with his identity, was that of a libertine and a renegade, while the infernal ap- paratus upstairs revealed the flendish arts of the anarchist to boot. The in- quiry resulted eventually in an open ver- dict and was chiefly instrumental in kill- ing such comvassion as is usually felt for the dead who die in their sins. ‘But Raffles would not have passed this title for this tale.