Show The Adventures of Mr P et r Ruff Riff Private Investigator tor torBY an 1912 by Associated literary Lii Pr W John Dory D o f BY E. E PHILLIPS r f r IX I X Ey 1 n. nu Ruff Ruit an- an anI I gathered no now note merely a a. blind I it Tt it t IK R R. R JOHN DORY who had arrived M MR at court from the railway station was ushered nearest of ot door of ot one by the butler to the tho tho the rooms on the thc ground floor overlooking overlooking over over- looking tHe Park A J. policeman was his by policeman there on guard guard-a. a in although he was attitude And salute and nodded John Dory plain clothe clothes turned to tho the butler ho he me You see lee tho the man knows said uld Here Is IB m my card I am John Scotland Yard I 1 want to from Dor Dory sergeant with the tho have hare a few words Tho The butler turned toward an elderly In a 0 pink coat and riding g descended into breeches who ho had Just the hall His lordship Is here he ho said laid There Thera from Scotland Yard gentleman your Is a n lordship who wishes to enter entex the tho morning room to speak with tho the ser- ser geant Inspector John Dor Dory at your YO lordships lordship's lordships lordship's lord lord- ships ship's service John Dory said sa saluting sa- sa I Lord ord smiled I should have thought that that under the circumstances ho said two of been enough Still have ha would you YOli pray go In and speak to the sergeant Rather dull week for tor him 1 Im I'm m afraid and quite unnecessary I am not so sure your our lordship John Dory pory answered Tho The diamonds are arc known all nIl over the world Isn't a thieves thieves' and I suppose there den In Europe that does not know that they will remain hero exposed with your OUr daughters daughter's other wedding presents pres pres- admitted admitted admitted admit admit- John Dory was WIlS accordingly jealously jealously jeal jeal- ted Into the tho room which was so BO had every ev every every ev- ev guarded The windows one ono of ot them been boarded up and the ery electric lights consequently fully long table stood in the turned on A middle of ot the apartment serving as support support for tor a lon long glass show-case show open at the top Within this from end to end stretched tho pre presents which h a large circle of acq acquaintances were vere presenting presenting pre pre- to one of the most popular the occasion occasion occa occa- young oung norn women n In society on sion Ion of her approaching m marriage to the Duke of ot Rochester In the tho middie middle mid mid- wonderful 1 diamonds dle die the tho set in th the form of oC a tiara flashed strange lights into the somberly lit apartment At the tho end of ot tho table tablea a policy ser sergeant t. was al sitting John Good morning Saunders Dory said I see you youVe got It pretty snug in here Pretty Prett well thank you ou sir Saunders there hero anything ders deIs answered Is stirring Not exa exactly I that Saunders he said To tell toll you the truth I came camo down hero because of oC that list of guests you OU sent me up Saunders smiled I think I can guess guels the name you singled out sir air he said It was Ras as Peter Ruff Rut of ot course John Dory said What is he doing here herein herein in the house under his own name andas and andas as a a. guest I l have asked no questions sir answered answered an an- ered Saunders I underlined the it might seem worth name in case le your while wh to make inquiries John Dory went ro round nd the tho th boat boarded d windows window examining the wo work lt carefully careful careful- ly until he reached tho the door I 1 am going to see eo if I can have a word ord with his lordship he said Bald He caught Lord ord Jn In the act actor of or mounting mounting- his horse In n the great courtyard There Ther Is II one name your our lordship among your list lilt of ot guests concerning whom I wish swish to have ha a word with you ou the detective said the said tho name of ot Mr Peter Ruff Dont know anything about him Lord answered cheerfully You must see my daughter Lady Mary Muy It was 1 she sho who sent him his Invitation Seems a decent sort of ot fellow fel- fel fellow fellow fel fel- low and ancl rides as well as the best John Dory returned Into the house to make inquiries respecting Lady Mary ar In a a. fow few minutes n he was shown Into her presence relence Another detective she exclaimed I 1 am sure I 1 ought to feel teel quite safe no now What can can I do for tor you ou Mr Ir Dory I have had a list of the guests sent to me John Dory answered In which I notice the name of Mr Peter Ruff Do you ou want to know all about Mr Ir Ruff Ruf Lady Mary risked smilingly If It your our ladyship will pardon my sa saying so John Dory answered I think that neither you nor an anyone one else elso could tell teU mo Inc that What I wished to s say was wal that I understood that we wo at Scotland Yard were cro placed In charge of f your our j Jewels we 1 until after the wedding weddIn Mr r. r Peter Ruff Is 18 as you ou ma may be aware a A. private detective himself I understand perfectly Lady Mary Man Manald ald said I can assure you ou Mr Ir Dory that Mr Ir Ruff Ru Is here hero entirely as a personal and ver very valued friend of my own On two occasions he has r rendered very iery signal service to my nW family sen family services ices which I am quite unable to re re- re quite John Dory Dory bowed boned In that case your our IAd ladyship ho said there Is nothing moro more to be said I conceive it It however hoo to bo ho my duty to tell ten you ou that In the opinion of ot Scotland Scotland Scotland Scot Scot- land Yard th there them rA are arc things about the carper career o of Mr Peter Ruff fluff which need explanation Lad Lady Mary laughed frankly M My dear Mr Dory Dorr she said this Is one 01 of oC the cases then In which I Ican Ican Ican I 1 know more morA than can assure assure- you ou that Scotland Yard There Is no person inthe In Inthe the thc world In whom I have havo more confidence confidence con con- and with more reason than Mr Peter Ruff nutt S a matter of ot fact this thin In some ome A AS respects the most remarkable of ot tho the ad adventures which had ever befallen befall befall- en Mr lr Peter Ruff fluff came to him by accident accident ac ac- ac Lady Ladr Mary had Insisted upon his coming corning with his wife to the par party y which was as assembling at Court In honor of her hor own approachIng approach- approach Ing wedding Peter Ruff fluff for several days das thoroughly enjoyed cd himself Ho had however a vcr very distinct and disagreeable dis die n agreeable shock when on tho night of ot John Dorys Dory's appearance he recognized d among a few newly arrived guests the Marquis do He took tho opportunity as soon as possible of or withdrawing his wife from a little circle circle circle cir cir- cle among whom the they had hatI been talkIng talkIng talk- talk Ing to a more moro retired corner of oC the room Violet he said ald dont look behind now now- no now VoI Vo I recognized him at nt once she In interrupted In- In It Is the Marquis de So- So grange It will be best for you he said not to notice him Of Ot course courso his here may be he accidental A Ai Aitho I the tho same time I am uneasy She understood in a moment The diamonds diamonds' she whis whis- It Is Js ju just t the sort of ot affair dalr which would appeal to the Four Double he said Violet if IC I were ere not sure auro that he had seen mo me I should leave tho the house this minute Why Vh she asked aled wonderingly Dont you ou understand that I myself self am om still sUll what hat they call a a. corresponding member of the Four Double and the they have hrie a right to appeal to me for help helpIn In this country countr as ns I have a rl right ht to appeal to them for tor help or Information information tion In France We have both made uso use of ot one another to some fome extent No 1 o doubt I If tho the marquis ha has an any scheme In his mind he would look upon me as asa a alua valuable ble an ally Sho She turned slowly I pale Peter she hc said sald you wouldn't dream to b bib bo so foolish 1 He shook his head firmly What would happen if It you ou refused to help help sho she asked tremulously I do not know Peter Ruff fluff answer answer- ed d. d The con conditions are a little sovere But after all all there are arc no hard and fast tast rules It rests with the MargUls himself to shrug his shoulders shoulder and appreciate appreciate ap ap- ap- ap my p position Perhaps he nia may not even exchange a word with me Here is Lord coming to talk to you Remember dont don't recognize So- So gran grange e. e Dinner that tha nl night h wa was an T unusually cheerful meal Peter Ieter Ruff tUIl who no was an excellent raconteur told many stories Tho Marquis de was perhaps the next neat successful in his hili efforts ef efforts ef- ef forts torts to entertain his neighbors Violet found him upon her left lett hand and al although although nl- nl though he showed not the slightest signs of having ever seen her before 1 they were vcr very soon excellent friends After dinner and Peter Ruff nut drifted together on their wn way to the tho billiard room range Sog-range continued to talk courteously of ot trifles until having havIng having hav hav- ing decided to watch the first game they found themselves alone on the leath leather r divan surrounding the room This Is an unexpected pleasure m my friend said Professional Not ot In tho the least Peter Ruff fluff answered an an- I have havo had bad tho the good fortune to render I Lady Mary Iary and Lo Lord Lod d Soth- Soth erst h her r. r brother at al different times services which the they are pleased to value alue highly We Ve are here as ordinary ordinary nary guests gUests my my wife and I. I The Marquis sighed Mr MI Ruff Hurt he said what do you OU suppose the Income from my estate amounts to Peter Ruff fluff shook his head het Somewhere about seven en millions of ot francs declared There are few men in Paris more extravagant than I I. I but I J cannot spend my Income Do you think that it Is for tor the sake eake of ot gain that I have havo come across tho the Channel to add the diamonds to our coffers Peter Ruff sa sat t vcr very still You mean that 7 ho said saltI Of Ot co course re answered you realize it directly you Qu saw me Dont Don't O understand nd that It is the tho gamblers gambler's instinct the Instinct the restless desire de- de desire desire de de- sire to to be playing toss and with fate with honor with life and death if IC you ou will that will that brings such as ns myself into the ranks of the Four Double Jr c L I y i r f 1 iI i tt i 1 c t J 1 r IA i 11 4 I h.- h. Ye t 1 I I I J I 71 II c t f I- I f I K 1 1 I 7 i J 7 74 4 j.- j. II I f Driver er p please 1 return clurn t to 0 the court a at t once i Marquis Peter Ruff fluff answered I Ithe the confidence with ith which you OU have honored honore me trie Inspires me to mako snake you one ono reque request t. t I am here Indeed as a a. friend of or the tho family You will not auk ask me to help In an any designs you ou may have ha against the on Jewels r t loaned back In his chair and laughed softly Oh Peter Ruff Hurt he ho said owe we will sec see I 1 make malte no promises All that I insist upon for the present is that you do not leave this party house-party without advising me Come I must pIa play bridge with the CoUntess jc jk jc HE following night being the last T THE but one before the wedding itself a n large dinner party part had been arranged for The Tho meal was about way half through when those who were not tots to entirely engrossed In conversation conversation conversation con con- were startled by hearing a dull rumbling sound Peter Ruff Rutt and the Marquis de dc were among the first to spring spring- to their feet Its an explosion somewhere tho tiro latter cried Sounds close at hand too The They made their way a out Into the hall Kali Exactly opposite was the room In which the wedding presents had been placed nad nod where for days lo S nothing nothIng nothing noth noth- ing had been seen but a closed door and a man on dut duty outside The door now stood wide o open en and In place of or orthe the single Ingle electric light which was waR left lert burning through the evening the place s seemed emed almost aflame Ruff fluff e and Lord were the first three to cross the tho thresh thresh- holds hold The They were met b by a a. rush of ot cold wind Opposite to them two of ot tho the windows with their had hatI b been en blown awa away Sergeant Saunders was till still sitting In his usual place atIce at athe atthe the Ice he end end table Ills hit head bent upon I his folded arms army The man mon who had been on dut duty outside wasa was as standing over him white with horror honor Far Fara Faraway Faraway a away way In tho distance down tho the park one could faintly hear the throbbing I Io o of an engine The rhe room the itself itself the whole glittering arra array of or presents presents- seemed scorned untouched Only the great centerpiece cen cen- the the diamonds had diamonds had gone l Even ven as they stood there tho thorest thorest thorest rest of or the guests crowding Into the theo o open often en door John Dory Don tore through h. h Peter Ruffs fluffs calm voice penetrated tho din of ot tongues Lord he said al you ou have telephones to the keepers keepers' lodges There Is a motor car being driven southwards at nt full tull speed Telephone down and have ha your gates secured Dor Dory I 1 should keep every one out of the tho room Some one one must telephone for fora a doctor I 1 suppose your our man has been hurt Unwillingly the people were led etI away A d doctor who had been among the guests was examining examining- Saunders The poor fellow tellow has been shot In Inthe inthe the tho back of or the head with some peculiar peculiar peculiar pe pe- culiar implement he said The Tho bullot bullet bullot bul bul- lot let Is Iser er very long almost long almost like a a. needle antI and and It seems to haVo have penetrated very nearly to the bate base of ot the brain An Aninch AnInch Aninch inch higher up and he ho must have died at once I want some of the men servants servants servants ser ser- to help me carr carry him to a bedroom be bedroom bed bed- room John Dory Don turned to 10 the man whom him they had found Cound standing standing- over Tell us exactly what wha t happened I was standing outside the thc door the man answered I heard no sound Inside there inside there was nothing to excite there in Suddenly suspicion any way was this explosion It took toole me mo perhaps perhaps per per- seconds to get the haps thirty or tort forty unlock thedoor the tho key out of oC my pocket and door When I entered tho the side aide o of the h l town 1st In like nv UkI that drat the dla- dla I r o ant was nil i leaning lean leaning monds monde were wore gone Saunders was Jn ing forward just in the position he lie hIn Is h soulIn SOUL SOULIn another wasn't in now and there thero In 81 sight ht Then you and antI the others other came e. e John Jolin Dory Doty rushed from rom the room him word that the car they had brought was waiting A few Cew seconds later tho the pursuit was or of orthe orthe led carried out started Saunders was the room followed by the do doctor tor There remained only Peter Rut Ruff and ana duty outside the man who had been on Peter fluff seated lcd himself whore Saunders Saunders Saunders anti and seemed to Do fro ders had been sitting closely examining the table all round for sonic some moments Once ho he took up oc ot the pages something from between n the book which the Sergeant had apparently ap ap- apparently ap- ap It carefully caro care been reading and put Then pocketbook fully Into his own ho leaned back in the chair with ns his hands clasped behind his head and his hi eyes fixed upon the ceiling colling Hastings he lie Bald to the policeman I wonder |