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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 25, 1905)
2 TITT? OMAHA ILLUSTRATED BE? June 2S. 100ft. mi hpj.hii ii i muni iwiwn -' "M'pjei iHu;!jgagaaLnnj aaiwK ? iMILU - - IMmaleur Cracky tjI M"tn mj III;.--T . . ..... ....-i-i.. , .71 saaKzassraDSBiBaaa JHIM"Hi'll1IWlllHliB'!f ilBltliiflTCTiniUlWIl IP'" 11 '"""L tlului By E. W. HORNUNd. Author of "The Shadow of the Hop?," "The Rogue's March," "A Bride from the Bush," "Stlngaree Stories." "Dead Men Tell No Tales" etc. (Copyright, 1901, by Charle Scrlbner's Son ) I 8TH STORY ... OUT NEXT WEEK I jrMV.3 J foil t 4 Seventh Raffles Story 1AM still uncertain which surprised me more, the telegram calling my attention to the advertisement or the advertisement Itself. The telegram is before nie as I write. It would appear to have lcen handed In at Vere street at 8 o'clock In the morning of May 11, 1807, and received before half pust at llolloway B. O. And in the drab region It duly found me, unwashed but at work before the day grew hot and my attic Insupportable. See Mr. Maturin's advertisement Dally Mall might suit you ear nestly beg try will speak if necessary. . I transcribe the thing as I sec it before me, all In one breath that took awny mine, but I leave out the initials at the end, which com pleted the surprise. They stood very obviously for the knighted spe cialist whose consulting room Is within n cab whistle of Vere Btreet and who once called me kinsman for his sins. More recently he. had called mo other names. I was a disgrace, qualified by an adjective which seemed to me another. I had made my bed, and I could go and He and die In It. If I ever again had the insolence to show my nose In that house I should go out quicker than I came In. All this and more my least distant relative could tell a poor devil to his face; could ring for his man and give him his brutal Instructions on the spot, and then relen't to the tune of this telegram! I have no phrase for my amazement. I literally could not believe my eyes. Yet their evidence was more and moro conclusive; a very epistle could not have been more characteristic of Its sender. Meanly elliptical, ludicrously precise, saving half pence at the expense of sense, yet paying like a man for "Mr." Maturln, that was my distinguished relative from his bald patch to his corns. Nor was all the rest unlike him, upon second thoughts. lie had a reputation for charity; he was golm; to live up to it after all. Either that or It was the sudden Impulse of which the most calculating are capable at tlir.es; the morning papers with the early cup of tea, this advertisement seen by chance, and the rest upon the spur ttf a guilty conscience. Well, I must see It for myself, aud the sooner the better, though work pressed. I was writing a series of articles upon prison life and had my nib Into the whole system; a literary and phtluntlmiplcal daily was pnrding my "charges," the graver ones with the more gusto; and the terms, if unhandsome for creative work, were temporary wealth to me. It so happened that my first check had Just arrived by the 8 o'clock post, aud my position should be appreciated when I say that t had to cash it to obtain a Dally Mall. Of the advertisement itself what Is to be said? It should speak for itself if I could rind It, but I cannot, and only remember that it wits a "male nurse aud constant attendant" that was "wanted for an elderly gentleman in feeble health." A male nurse! An absurd tog was appended offering "liberal salary to university or public school man," and of a sudden I saw that I should get this thing If I applied for It. What other "university or public school man" would dream of doing so? Was anyone In such straits as I? And then my relentless relative; he not only promised to speak for me, but was the very man to do so. Could any recommendation compete with his In the matter of a male nurse? And need the duties of such be necessarily loath some and repellant? Certainly the surroundings would be better than those of my common lodging house and own particular garret, and the food and every other condition of life that I could think of on my way back to that unsavory asylum. So I dived into a pawnbroker's shop, where I was a stranger only upon my present errand, and within the hour was airing a decent if antiquated suit, but little corrupted by the pawnbroker's moth, and a new straw hat, on the top of a tram. The address given In the advertisement was that of a flat at Earl's Court, which cost me a cross-country Journey, finishing with the District railway and a seven minutes walk. It was now past mid day, and the tarry wood pavement was good to smell as I strode up the Karl's Court road. It was great to walk the civilized world again. Here were men with coats on their backs and ladles In gloves. My only fear was lest ,1 might run up agalust orn- or other whom I had known of old. But it was my lucky day. I felt it in my bones. I was going to get this berth, and sometimes I should be able to smell the wood pavement on the old boy's errands; perhaps he would insist on skimming over It in his bath chair, with me behind. I felt quite nervous when I reached the flats. They were a small pile In a side street, and I pitied the doctor whose plate I saw upon the palings before the ground floor windows; he must be in a very small way, I thought. I rather p'tled myself as well. I had Indulged in visions of better flats than these. There were no balconies. The porter was out of livery. There was no lift, and my invalid on the third floor! I trudged up. wishing I had never lived in Mount street, and brushed against a dejected individual coming down. A full blooded young fellow in a frock coat flung the right door open at my summons. ' "Does Mr. Maturln live here?" I inquired. "That's right," said the full-blooded young man, grinning all over a convivial countenance. "I I've come" about this advertisement in the Dally Mall." "You're the thirty-ninth," cried the blood; "that was the thirty eighth you met upon the stairs, and the day's still young. Excuse my staring at you. Yes, you pass your prelim, and can come inside; you're one of the few. We had most Just after breakfast, but now the porter's heading off the worst cases, and that last chap was the first for twenty minutes. Come in here." Aud I was ushered Into an empty room with a good bay window, which enabled my full-blooded friend to Inspect me yet more critically In a good light. This he did without the least false, delicacy. Then his questions begun. "'Varsity man?" "No." "Public school r "Yes." "Which one?" I told htm, and he sighed relief, i ''At last! You're the very first I've pot had to argue with as to what is and what is not a public school. Expelled?" "No," I said after a moment's hesitation; "no, I was not expelled. And I hope you won't expel me if I ask a question in my turn?" "Certainly not." "Are you Mr. Maturin's son?" "No, my name's Theobald. You may have seen it down below." "The doctor?" I said. "Ills doctor," said Theobald with a satisfied eye. "Mr. Maturin's doctor. lie Is having a male nurse and attendant by my advice, and he wants a gentlemau if he can cf- cue. I ruther think he'll see you, 'though he's only seen two or three all day. There are certain ques tions which he prefers to ask himself, and it's no good going over the same ground twice. So perhaps I hud better tell him ubout you before we get any further." And he withdrew to a room still nearer the entrance, as I could hear, for it was a very smnll tlat Indeed. But now two doors were shut between us, aud I had to rest content with murmurs through the wall until ihe doctor returned to summon me. "I hove persuaded my patient to see you," he whispered, "but I .confess I am not sanguine about the result. He is very difficult to please. You must prepare yourself for a querulous invalid, uud for no sinecure If you get the billet." 'May I ask what's the matter with him?" "By all means when you've got the billet." Dr. Theobald then led the way, his professional dignity so thor oughly intact that I could not but smile as I followed his swinging . coat-tails to the sick room. I carried uo smile across the thiesbbold of a darkened chamber, which reeked of drugs and twinkled with medicine Isittles, aud in the middle of which a gaunt figure luy abed ' In the half light. "Take him to the window, take bltu to the window," a thin voice snapped, "and let's have a look at him. Open the blind a bit. Not as much as that, d you, not as much as that! The doctor took Jhe oath as though It had been a fee. I no longer pitied him. It was now very clear to me that he had one patient who was a little practice In himself. I determined there and then that he should prove a little profession to me. If we could but keep him alive between us. Mr. Maturln, however, bad the whitest face that I bar si; 5 MmateurCracksi AND WE CLINKED GLASSES SWIMMING WITH THE LIQUID GOLD OF STEINBERG. 1808. ever seen, aud his teeth gleamed out through the dusk as though the withered lips no louder met ul.out tuem; uor uld tucy, except lu speech, aud onythiug ghastlier ifiau the peipeiuul grin of his repose I dety you to imagine. It was with tills gnu tout he lay regarding me. whliu the doctor held the blind. "So you think you could look after me, do you?" "I'm certain I could, sir." "Single-handed, miud! I dou't keep another soul. You would have to cook your own grub aud my slops. Do you think you could do all that?" ' "Yes, sir; I think so." "Why do you? Have you had any experience of the kind?" "No, sir; none." "Then why do you pretend you have?" "I only meant that I would do my best." "Only meant, only meant! Have you done your best at every thins else, then?" I hung my head. Thts wus a facer. And there was something In my Invalid which thrust the unspoken He down my throat. " "No, sir, I have not," I told him plainly. j ' "He, he, he!" the old wretch tittered; "and you do well to own it; you do well, sir, very well Indeed. If you hadn't owned up out you would have gone, out, neck and crop! You've saved your bacon. You may do more. So you are a public school boy, and a very good school yours is, but you weren't at either university. Is that correct?" "Absolutely." "What did you do when you left school?" "I came iu for money." "And then?" "I spent my money." "And since theu?" I stood like a mule. "And since then, I say!" "A relative of mine will tell you If you ask him. He is an emi nent man and he has promised to speak for me. I would rather say no more myself." ' "But you shall, sir, but you shall! Do you suppose that I suppose a public school boy. would apply for a berth like this if something or other hadn't happened? What I wont in a gentleman of sorts, and I don't much care what sort; but you've got to tell me what did happen If you don't tell anybody else. Dr. Theobald, sir, you can go to the devil, If you won't take a hint. This man may do or he may not You have no more to say to It till I send him down to tell you one thing or the other. Clear out, sir, clear out; aud If you think you have anything to complulu of you stick it down in the bill!" In the mild excitement of our interview the thin voice had gath ered strength, and the last thrill insult was screamed after the de voted medico as he retired in such order that I felt certain he was going to take this trying patient at his word. The bed room door closed, then the outer one, ond the doctor's heels went drumming down the common stair. I was alone In the flat with this highly singular and rattier terrible old man. "Aud a d d good riddance!" croaked the Invalid, raising himself on one elbow without delay. "I may not have much body left to boost about, but at least I've got a lost old soul to call my own. That's why I want a gentleman of sorts about-me. Ive been too de pendent on that chap. Ho won't "even let me smoke, and he's been in the flat all day to see that I didn't. You'll find the cigarettes behind the Madonna of the Chair." It was a steel engraving of the great Raffaelle, and the frame was tilted from the wall; at a touch a packet of cigarettes tumblsd down from behind. "Thanks; and now a light." "I struck the mntch and held It, while the invalid inhaled with normal lips; and suddenly I sighed. I was irresistibly reminded of my poor, dear old ltatlies. A smoke ring worthy of the great A. J. was floating upward from the sick man's lips. "And now, take one yourself. I have smoked moro poisonous cigarettes. But even these are not Sullivaus!" ' I cunnot repeat what I suld. I have no idea what I did. I only know I only Knew that it was A. J., Bailies lu the flesh! II. "Yes, Bunny, It was the very devil of a swim, but I defy you to sink in the Mediterranean. That sunset saved mo. The sea was on fire. I hardly swam under water at all, but went u 11 I knew for the sun Itself. When it set I must lutve been a mile away; until It did I was the Invisible man. I figured on that, aud only hop It wasn't set down as a case of suicide. I shall get ousted qulto soon enough, Bunuy, but I'd rather be dropped by the hangmuu thuu throw my own wicket away." "Oh, my dear old chap, to think of having you by the hniid ugalu! I feel as though we were both aboard the (icritmu liner, and all that's happened since a nightmare. I thought that time wus 1hi Inst!" "It looked ruther like it, Ruuny. It was taking u II the links and hitting at everything. But the gumo came otf, and some tiny I'll tell you how." "Oh, I'm in no hurry to hear. It's enough for me to see you lying there. I dou't want to know Low you came there, or why, though I fear you must lie pretty bail. I must have a good look at you before I let you speak another word!" "I raised one of the blinds, I sot upon the led ami I had that look. It left me all unable to conjecture his true Mute of health, but quite certulu in my own mind that my dear Baffles was not and never would ! the man he had boon. He had aged twenty years; he looked U at the very least. Ills hair was white; there was no trick about that, aud his face was another white. The lines about the corner of Us eyes and mouth were both many and deep. On the other hand, the eyes themselves were alight and alert as ever; they were still keen and gray and gleaming like finely tempered steel. Even the mouth, with a cigarette to close it, was the mouth of ltatlies and no other strong and scrupulous as the man himself. It was only the physical strength which appeared to have departed; but that was quite suflicieut to make my heart bleed for the dear rascal who had cost me every tie I valued but the tie between us two, "Think I look much older?" he asked, at length. "A bit," I admitted. "But it is chiefly your hair." "Whereby hangs a .tale for when we've talked ourselves out, though I have often thought it was that long swim that started It, Still, the island of Elba is a rummy show, I can assure you. And Naples is rummler." "You went there after all?" "Rather! It's the European paradise for such as our noble selves. But there's no place that's a patch on little London as a noncon ductor of heat; it never need to get too hot for a fellow here. If it does, It's bis own fault. It's the kind of wicket you don't get out on unless you get yourself out. So here I am again, and have been for the last six weeks. And I mean to have another knock." "But surely, old fellow, you're not awfully fit, are you?" "Fit? My dear Bunny, I'm dead I'm at the bottom of the sea and don't you forget it for a minute." "But are you all right or are you not?" "No, I'm half poisoned by Theobald's prescriptions and putrid cigarettes, and as weak as a cat from lying In bed." "Then why on earth lie iu bed, Haftlcs?" "Because it's better than lying in Jail, as I am afraid you know, my poor, deur fellow. I tell you I am dead, and my one terror is of coming to life aguln by accident. Can't you see? I simply dare not show my nose out of doorsby- day. You have no idea of the number of perfectly innocent things a dead man daren't do. I can't even smoke Sullivaus, because no one man was ever so partial to them as I was in my lifetime, and you never know when you may start a clue." "What brought you to these mansions?" "I fancied a flat, aud a man recommended these on the boat. Such a good chap, Bunny; he wus my reference when it came to sign ing u lease. You see, I lauded on a stretcher most pathetic case old Australian without a friend In old country' ordered Engadine as last chance no go not an earthly sentimental wish to die in Lon donthat's the history of Mr. Maturln. If It doesn't hit you hard. Bunny, you're first. But it hit Friend Theobald hardest of all. I'm an income to him. I believe he's going to marry on me." "Does he guess there's nothing wrong?" "Knows, bless you! But he doesn't know I know he knows, and there Isn't a disease in the dictionary that he hasn't treated me for Bluce he's hod mo in hand. To do him Justice, I believe he thinks me a hypochondriac of the first water; but that young man will go far if be keeps ou the wicket. He has speut half his nights up hero, at guineas apiece." "Guineas must be plentiful, old chap!" "They have been, Bunny. I can't say more. But I don't see why they shouldn't be again." I was not going to inquire where the guineas came from. As if I cared! But I did ask old Baffles bow In tho world he had got upon my tracks, and thereby drew the sort of smile with which old gen tlemen rub their hands and old ladies nod their noses. Raflles merely produced a perfect oval of blue smoke before replying. "I was waiting for you to ask that. Bunny. It's a long time since I did anything upon which I plume myself more. Of course, in the first place, I spotted you at once by these prison articles; they are not signed, but tho fist was the fist of my sitting rabbit!" "But who gave you my address?" "I wheedled it out of your excellent editor; called on him at dead of night, when I occasionally go afield like other ghosts, aud wept it out of him in five minutes. I was your only relative; your name was not your own name; if he insisted I would give him mine. He didn't insist, Buuuy, and I danced down his stairs with your address in my pocket." "Lust night?" "No, last week." "And so the advertisement was yours, as well as the telegram!" I had, of course, forgotten both in the high excitement of tb'i hour or I should scarcely have announced ray belated discovery witu such an air. As It was, I made Rallies look at me as I had known him look before, aud the droop of his eyelids began to sting. "Why all this subtlety V I petulantly exclulmed. "Why couldn't you come straight away to me In a cub'" He did not inform me that I was hopeless as ever. He did not address me as his good rabbit. He wus silent for a time, and then spoke in a tone which made me ashamed of mine. "You see, there are two or three of mo now, Bunny; one's at the bottom of the Mediterranean uud one's an old Australian desirous of dying In the old country, but In no immediate danger of dying any where. 'Hie old Australian didn't know a soul In town; he's got to be consistent or he's done. This sitter Theobald is his only friend and has seen rather too much of fcim; ordinary dust won t do for his eyes. Begin to see? To pick you out of a crowd, that was the game; to let old Theobald help to pick you. better still! To start with, ho was dead against my having anybody at all; wanted me all to himself, naturally; but anything rather than kill the goose! So he Is to have a fiver week while he keeps me alive, and he's going to be married next month. That's a pity In some ways, but a good thing In others; be will want more money than he foresees, and he may always be of use to us In a pinch. Meanwhile he eats out of my hand." I complimented Rattles ou the mere composition of his telegram, with half the characteristics of my distinguished kiusman squeezed into a dozen odd words, aud let him know how the uld rutllan had really treated me. Rallies was not surprised; we hod dlued together at my relative's lu the old days and filed for reference a professional valuation of his household goods. I now learned that the telegram had been posted, with the hour marked for its dispatch, at the pillar near est Vere street, on the night before the odverttsment was due to ap pear In the Dally Mall. Thts also had been carefully prearranged, aud RafUo's only fear had lxen lest it might be held over despite his ex plicit Instructions, and so drive me to the doctor for nn explanation of his telegram. But the adverse chances hod been wpeded out to tho Irreducible minimum of risk. His greatest risk, according to Raffles, lay nearest home. Bed ridden Invalid that he was supposed to be, nightly terror was of run ning Into Theobald's arms in the immediate neighborhood of the flat But Raffles had characteristic methods of minimizing even that danger, of which something anon. Meanwhile he recounted more than one of his nocturnal adventures, all, however, of a Biugularly Innocent type; and one thing I noticed while he talked. Ills room was the first as you entered the flat. The long, inner wall divided the room not merely from the passage, but from the outer landing as 'well. Thus every step upon the bare stone stairs couliLbe heard by Raffles where he lay, and he would never speak while one was ascending until It had passed his door. The afternoon brought more than one applicant for tho post which it was my duty to tell them that I had already obtained. Between 3 and 4, however, Raffles, suddenly looking at his watch, packed me off in a hurry to the other end of London for my thlnirs. "I'm afraid yon must be famishing, Bunny. It'e a fact that I eat very little, and that at odd hours, but I ought not to have forgotten you. Get yourself a snack outside, but not a square meal if you can resist one. We've got to celebrate this duy this night!" "Tonight?" I cried. "Tonight at 11, and Kellncr's the place. You may well open your eyes, but we didn't go there much, If you remember, and the staff seems changed. Anyway, we'll risk It for onco. I was In last night talking like a stage American, and supper's ordered for 11 sharp." "You made as sure of mo as all that!" "There was no harm In ordering supper. We shall have It In a private room, but you nmy as well dress. If you've got the duds." "They're at my only forgiving relative's." "How much will get them out and square you up and bring you back bag and baggage in good time?" I had to calculate. "A tenner easily." "I hod one ready for you. nere It Is, and I wouldn't lose any time If I were you. On the way you might look up Theobald, tell him you've got it ond how long you'll begone, and that I can't be left alone all the time. And, by Jove, yes! You get mo a stall for the Lyceum at the neorest agent's there are two or three In nigh street and say it was given you when you come In. That young man shall be out of the way tonight." I found our doctor In a minute consulting room and his shirt sleeves, a tall tumbler at his elbow. At least I caught sight of the tumbler on entering. Thereafter he stood In front of It with a futility that had my sympathy. "So you've got the billet" said Dr. Theobald. "Well, as I told you before, and as you have since probably discovered for yourself, you won't find It exactly a sinecure. My own part of the business Is by no means that; indeed, there are those who would throw up the case after the kind of treatment that you have seen for yourself. But pro fessional considerations are not the only ones, and one cannot make too many allowances In such a case." "But what is the case?" I asked him. "You said you would tell me if I was successful." Dr. Theobald's shrug was worthy of the profession he aeemed destined to adorn; it was not incompatible with any construction which one chose to put upon It. Next moment be had stiffened. I suppose I still spoke more or less like a gentleman. Yet after all, I was only the male nurse. He seemed to remember this suddenly, and he took occasion to remind me of the fact. "Ah," said he, "that was before I knew you were altogether with out experience; and I must say that I was surprised even at Mr. Maturin's engaging you after that; but It will depend upon yourself how long I allow him to persist in so curious an experiment. As for what is the matter with him, my good fellow, it is no use my giving you an answer which would be double Dutch to you. Moreover, I have still to test your discretionary powers. I may say, however, that ,that i poor gentleman presents at once the most complex and most troublesome case, which is responsi bility enough without certain features which make it all but Insupportable. Beyond this I must refuse to discuss my patient for the present, but I shall certainly go up if I cun find time." He went up within five minutes. I fouud him there on my re turn at dusk. But he did not refuse my stall at the Lyceum, whlcta Raffles would not allow me to use myself, and presented to him off hand without my leave. "And don't you bother any more about mo until tomorrow," snapped the high, thin voice as be was off. "I can snd for you now when I want you, and I'm hoping to have a decent night for once." HI. It was half past 10 when we left the flat In an Interval of silence on the noisy stairs. The silence was uubroken by our wury feet. Yet for me a surprise wus lu store upon the very landing. Instead of go ing downstairs Raffles led me up two flights, uud so out upon a per fectly flut roof. "There are two entrances to these munslons," he explained be tween stars ond chimney stacks; "one to our sUiircase uud another round the comer. But there's only one porter, and he lives in ths basement underneath us and ufl'ects the door nearest home. We mis him by using the wrong stairs, and we run less risk of old Theobald. I got the tip from the postmen, who come up one way uud down the other. Now, follow me aud look outl" There was Indeed some necessity for caution, for each half of th building had its L-shaped, well drooping sheer to the buse, the para pets so low that one might easily have tripped over them into eternity. However, we were soon upon the second staircase, which opened on the roof, like tho first. And twenty minutes of tho next twenty-five we spent In no admirable hansom, skimming eust. "Not much change in tho old hole, Bunny. More or less maglo lantern advertisements and absolutely the worst bit of tasto in town, though it's saying something, In that equestrian statue with the gilt stirrups and fixings. Why dou't they black the buffer's booU and his horse's hoofs while they are about it? More bicy cllts, of course. That wus Just beginning, if you remember. It might have been useful to us. And there's the old club getting into a crute for the Jubilee. By Jove, Bunny, we ought to be there. I wouldn't lean forward iu Flccadllly, old chap. If you're ssen I'm thought of, and we shnll have to be Jolly careful at Kelner's. Ah, there it U! Did I tell you I was a low-down stage Yankee at Kellner's? You'd better be another while the waiter's lu tho room." , We bad the little room upstairs, aud on the very threshold I, even I, who knew Rallies of old, was taken horribly aback. The table wo laid for three. I called his attention to it in a whisper. "Why, yep!" come through his nose. "Hay, boy, the lndy, she's not couiln', but you leave that tackle where 'tis. If I'm lluble to pay I guess I'll have all there Is to it" I have never been in America, and the American public Is the last on earth that I desire to insult but Idiom and Intonation alike would have Imposed upon my inexperience. I hud to look at Rattles to make sure that It was he who spoke, aud I hud my own reasons for looking hard. "Who on eurth was the lady?" I Inquired Aghast at the first op portunity. , "She Isn't on earth. They don't like wasting this room on two, that's all. Bunny my Bunny here's to us Itoth!" And we clinked glasses swimming with the liquid gold of Stein berg, 1808; but of tho rare delight of that supper I can scarcely trust Continued on I'age Eight)