Show r y L' L c J JE V Note Mr Ir lct leter r nut Kuff tiC maJc nu OMM one OM oney In IJ IfS Ir lie IK r y tc M C ho bo 11 the 1 h 1 C out tut of nt Soll Noe IH 1 C out In hi at t lIlee 1115 I IL t I Iru TU Iks le Ii 11 u 11 oe the tIit arnor arno- arno jun UC but Is roOt must lh d bill hie r u the t D I nut lot altogether 0 to ti h u I. I anI aint at In n. n tol told toh by 11 t tIe tle h mauler of or orlU ii ral will be tc of If Wt KB lU tL ICh lu Ju Heres Here's tn wiil The Am Aw- The flie I he WH will PI Sunday desire of or Madame that you the tT V is I 11 circle here on I should join out our evening c n next at 10 to o'clock day c SOG HA G E man looked up UI from the sheet The which hc he held In his of or note otO pap Paper r g and gazed through the open hand before which he was T windows r I was as a vory Jl lInK It IL ILas tc t peaceful prospect There wa was his hla I VC crr Let smooth shaven the hoops hoopa lawn croquet the a chalk haik marlc maric firm ed neatly the boundarY Be- Be nd distinct upon court th thu the ond and to the left eft the walled I gardens A little farther awa away garden dult and orchard and R. R was the for tor farther still the farm tarm which little farther has hns been the tho Joy years four lour the last His meadows were yellow life of his i thin line ot of willows buttercups a a. l where the thc brook wound its laz lazy t showed the tho bottom fields way through Rut Ruff stood like a a. man tur d d Peter ho looked those as i to stone for even from before his passed away things of the world beat In his eyes eyes the roar world Of Intrigue or of crime II c the ears world where the strong man hewed the tho weaklings and the tho to Power his way w before tho sickle fell feU t like Uke corn desire of or Madame It is 18 t the Peter fluff clenched his fists M J be beIt It was a 3 message from too there ot of which had world every cry memorY a world in- in been heon had seemed nO O which he In deed to hold an any place 4 longer nger neo r draperies draperies' drap- drap of a a. womans woman's soft t S- S tries eries' Tho broke broko rustle In upon his reverie S He Hei turned round with his usual morning i his lips g P s gre It If Ung country upon transformed Ute had agreed his f with J wife Peter She Ruff Buff It had I dream r j m across the room room-a. of white te muslin and pink Peter dear bill bUI m my Another forage 1 through her arm firm demanded demand passing tf she new admire my I his Put it away uway and morning gown he had together together torether-he He pulled himself himsel from his wife secrets no aloud Eald Eaid and read Listen he Paris Faris Rue De St. St Dear Mr Rut Ruff had the wo since sinCO long time It It Is a Is the visit from you It of oC a pleasure that you should join of oC Madame desire Thursday evening e here on our circle circle- G 1 next at 10 H l 1 A t hA Violet Volet Violeta a was a a. little recognize tho the sinister sinister sinis sinis- somehow to failed tailed few sentences those underlying ter tel note take an any you ou to They wont won't expect said When sh she surely notice of ot it it Peter and left this place you ou them offices you ou gave your dUr ur ron London had understand that you OU to definitely Y these life Ute that all into private retired finished with you ou things were things thinS's Peter Ruff are some There hero finished never which are slowly said she reminded OU But Rut you I him From Front the Four Double he an- an resignation is recognized f cred no save n vc death th will wU i You Peter You ou will not go 10 think of or going she be begged ged not hi his Ho He twisted the letter Jetter between cen fingers and sat down to hie his breakfast No 10 ho 10 said I 1 shall not j go o That morning morning- Peter Ruff spent upon his stock es es- looking over e his hla farm arm I some new machinery and I talking crops with his lIs bailiff In the afternoon he played a ed his customary I round of or golf golt I Two days dars later he received another I letter This time it St was couched In terms On a 11 square card carL at atthe th the top of or which was t stamped a a. small coronet he read as follows at home Saturday Saturday Satur Satur- j i f r- r Mme u do o If day dar evening May 2 at 10 o'clock In small letters at the tho bottom lefthand lefthand left left- hand corner wore were added the words To meet friends s Peter Ieter Ru Ruff put the card upon the thA fire ind el went out for foi II a mornings morning's rabbit shooting with his keeper When he hc re returned returned ro- ro turned luncheon was ready read but Violet was waA aa ab absent ent He rang rang- the bell Where hAre Is your mistress Jane jine ne he asked the thc parlor maill The girl hn had no Idea Mrs Irs rs Ruff Rutt had left eU for the village several severa hours ago since then she had not been seen Peter Ruff Huff ate ote his luncheon alone and understood Tho The afternoon wore on and at night he traveled up to London Ho lie knew I better than to waste time by purpose purposeless less inquiries Instead ho took th the D o'clock train the tiie next morning to Paris Parts c 1 IT T was c as s a chamber of ot death depth into which I he was ushered dismal dismal et yet of or it ite sort unique marvelous The Thc room Itself might have ha been the sleeping apartment apart apart- ment meat of an nn empress lofty empress lofty with white paneled walls adorned simply with glided gilded lines JInes with high windows cio closely close close- e- e ly curtained now so that neither sound nor the light of do day might penetrate In Into to the room In the middle of oC the apartment upon a a. canopy bedstead Vohl which h had once adorned a kings king's palace lay Jay Mme de Her face tace was already touched with the finger of death yet et ethor her hor eyes were undimmed and her lips Ups Her bands covered with rings lay ay out before her upon the lace l. l Peter Rut Ruff who had bad not even een been heen allowed sufficient time to change hi his traveling clothes was wa brought without hesitation to hl her r bedside She looked at him In silence for or a moment with witha a cold cod glitter gUtter In her eyes You are four days das late Monsieur Peter fluff she remarked Why did id you not obey your first summons Madame he answered I thought that there thore must be bo a a. misunderstanding Four years ago o I gave notice to the council that I had married and retired into private life The womans woman's thin lip Up curled FrOIn From death and the Do Four Double Fout bo she said there Is no resignation which counts You are as much our ur creature today as I am the creature of ot the disease disease disease dis dis- ease which is carrying me mc across the threshold of or death Peter Ruff Buff remained silent The Tho womans woman's words seemed full of dr dread ld u significance Besides how was t it possible possible pos pos- sible to contradict the dying It is upon the unwilling of oC tha world orld she continued speaking slowly slowly slow slow- ly yet with extraordinary distinctness that its greatest are often con con- The name of ot my successor has been balloted for secretly It I is you ou Peter Ruff who has hM been chosen This time he was silent because e ho he was literally bereft of ot words This This' woman was dying and tan fancying ing strange things He looked from one to the othor other of or ortho th tho rt t y 1 f tiC nr hn u 0 v. v w w. w gathered around her ber bedside Seven Seyen of ot thorn there were were the the same seven At that moment their o eyes es were all fo focused to- to upon him Peter Ruff fluff sank back Madame he murmured murmured this cannot cannot cannot can can- can can- not be Her Hor lips twitched as ns though she would have smiled What we have decided sh she said we havo have decided Nothing can alter that not even the will of ot Mr Peter Ruff A low murmur of or voices from those others repeated her words Peter Rut Ruff opened his lips Bps but closed them again without speech A wave of emotion seemed passing through the room Something strange was happen happen- ing lag It was death Itself which had come among them y ETER RUFF BUFF drove back from the cemetery with the Marquis do and for the first time since the death of Madame serious subjects were spoken of or I have ha waited here patiently h ha he declared but there are limits I want my wife too took him by the tho arm antI and led him into the library of or the house Inthe in inthe the he Rue flue de tie St S1 The six men who were already there waiting rOseto rose roseto roseto to their feet Gentlemen the marquis said is it your will wm that I should houd be spokesman spokes es- es man manTo There Ther was a 1 murmur of or assent Then I. I The Four Double Four e Recalls Mr Peter Ruff Copyright 1911 1011 by y the Associated Associated Literacy Press r. r 1 j U fd J J II f I y z II I I t 1 t r. r J I r 1 i i r 1 1 1 i 4 j 11 I a I t. I r 1 ft iI IJ j f 0 fI I J. J I. I 1 If I iii r. r 7 r r t J 1 I I. I I f I I 1 I. I f ff 1 1 09 I f I I 4 I I I. I foJ I j W f t. t I fP 1 i I 1 tJ I I l I I II I i I t I lI II i I I I e I I P 1 i T f t h I d 1 j r. r i t 11 I tr JI y I Il l 11 i nt ld 9 1 I Wf J. J J H r t I f I C Im it Sr I. IIII l l P I t h I. I 7 I Vi M h 1 t j Z rl Il t 1 I k i a M J 1 II ill i I I 1 y IU i I i J l H HI i W r I. I t 11 I fbi i 1 I I 1 l' l f Wo W o. o T n I Jo j I t i. i A I I Jim III a jt a I 1 y JJ i PETER RUFF THE WOMANS WOMAN'S WORDS SEEMED PULlS PULL OF OP DREAD SIGNIFICANCE BESIDES HOW WAS IT P POSSIBLE TO CONTRADICT THE DYING turned toward his companion and something new seemed to have crept into his manner a. a a solemn al almost almost almost al- al most a threatening note Peter Ruff he continued you ou have havo trifled with the one organization in this world which has never n allowed to be taken liberties with or defied You havo o been treated leniently according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to the will vilI of Madame AccordIng AccordIng Accord- Accord Ing lag to hor her will and in iii deference to the position which you you- ou must now ow take up amongst us us we still gUn treat you as no other has ever er been treated by us The Four Double admitted your our leadership and claims you for Its own I I am not not prepared to discuss s an anything anything any any- thing of the sort Peter Ruff HuH declared cJ doggedly until my wife Is restored u uto to me The marquis smiled The Thc traditions of or your race Mr Mt It Ruff fluff he said aid said are casH easily manifest In hi you ou Now hear henr our decision Your wife wiCe shall be restored to you on the day o a when you OU ta take 1 up this position to I which you have havo become entitled Sit down and listen i Peter Ruff Huff was a 11 rebel at heart head but buthe buthe ul he felt the grip of iron hon During these four years when you m my friend have ve been growing turnips and shouting shooting your OUt game events in th-i th great reat world have ha marched new powers jowers powers pow pow- ers have e come Into being a new page nf has lias been onen d. d As s every I tiling thing g which h h- h hh h has i good od at al the heart evolves toward the tho good go so we of oC the Four Double have lifted u our OUI great enterprise en en- on to a higher plane The world wOId of criminals Is still at atour atour atour our beck heck and call catl wo we still claim tho the I right to draw the line between mOl nl but lUl today theft and immoral honesty tho t DouliN Four Four is concerned with I i greater things I I I Within the four fOUl walls of oC this room within tho the hearing rin of oC these m my broth- broth I I fidelity Is atho tho the rs rs whoso as suro uro a a- Atones of Paris Parl I tell you OU a great t 80 so- so eLret e- e i 01 ei eL ct The government of our country co I JUK huit craved for fOE Oil our aid and tho thu a nill of Hf our organization It is no longer 1 th the wealth of or the world alone alon which w wo We j nay control but the actual destinies o of nations What I suppose you oU moan to say sav savIs Is Is Peter Ruff remarked that youve you've beon been going In for politics You put pill it my J English buHOS bull bull- dog OS 80 answered but you rou aro right Most Interesting Peter Ruff Fluff de declared de- de dared but so 50 far tar as I 1 I. I personally am Co concerned concerned concerned- nod nod- Listen the martinis marquis Not ot a R. hundred yards yarda from Crom the French embassy In London J is waiting I for COl you yOLI OU A house and s ant l' no less esS I I magnificent than the embassy it You OIl will become the ambassador in London of the Four Double-Four titular head of our association a personage whoso whose power Is to none nono In your great city clY The will of Madame lives Jives even bc- bc the grave The fhe spirit which animated ant ani mated mate her when alive breathes stilt still In ill all of or m us In London you ou will wield Iella a great power Use Ue It for tor the common goo good And remember this the this the Dou Dou- I Four ble-Four has never tailed failed the thc Double Double- 1 I Four can never or tail fail dent ent Pot Peter I Ruff said Of course If I have to take lh thing On I 1 shall do domy domy domy my best but It If I might venture to al allude al- al lude for tor a R moment to anything so ao o trifling trifling- a as my own domestic affairs I I 1 ara ara am sli t sE l. l w are fj V am vcr very anxious to know about my wife vI Ite fe So range smiled You will find tind Irs Mrs Ru Ruff awaiting you OU In iii London he announced Your address Is Porches tel house Porches- Porches ter tel Square When do I t go there Peter Ruff asked Tonight was the answer And An what do I do when I get set there thereZ ho he persisted For or three days the marquis told him him you ou will remain Indoors and give au audience lence to whomever may come to you At the end of oC that time you rou will un understand a little more of our purposes purposes pur put poses and our objects objects perhaps perhaps even of or our power I see difficulties Peter Poter Ruff re rem remarked re- re m marked rk d There will wll be a gooc good man many people who will vill remember me tue when I r rhad ha had offices In Southampton Row My Iy name you ou sec see Is uncommon So ranSe drew drow r w a a. document from the breast pocket of ot his coat When you OU leave eave this house to tonight tonight to- to nl night ht he ita proclaimed we bid goodby forever to Mr MiS 11 Peter Ruff You will find In this envelope on the thc title deeds of oC ofu ofa a u small property which Is our gift to you ou Henceforth you OU will ill be known by bythe bythe I Ithe the name and title of or your our estates Title Tille Peter Ruff gaspe gasped I You Vail will reappear In London So So- So grunge grange continued as the Baron Baron de Grot GroEt Peter Ruff shook his his' head It wont won't do ho declared declare people will find me mc out There is nothing to be found out the marquis went on a little wearily Your COunt country countr life lire has dulled your our wits Daron Th u title and the name are arc Justly yours yours they the ours they go with tho prop HOP erty For the rest resl tho the history of your our family an and of oe your career up to the moment when you JOIl enter Porch ester House tonight will ihl be found inside the packet laCket You can cap peruse pere It upon tho Journey journe and remember that wo sO can at all times bring witnesses ses If Ii necessary to prove IHO that you ou are whom you ou declare yourself to be When hen you rou get to CharIng Charing Char- Char ing lag Ing Cr Cross CrosH do not nol forget that It be le bethe the the- carriage and servants ant of oC tho the Baron Karon de de' de Grost which await y ou u. u Petr Ruff his hh Well 0 h he lie said saM thou thoughtfully I i suppose suppose sup sup- up- up pose I alia shall get et used to It It Naturally answered For the moment we are aro passing passin 1 through h a quiet Um time necessitated by bythe |