OCR Text |
Show THE SUNDAY to Tact? Raffles, She Amateur Cracksman By E. W. HORNl'NG THE IDES MARCH OF of th Seri He. KM i T w half past ru abuntretained to tb. wbea 12 1 Albany a. aiiluT art your" belpT Then why cans to me?" Will you Why. indeed?" I echoed. lot rue pass?" Not until you toll me when you ars going and what you mean to do." Can't you guess? I cried. And for many seconds we stood storing In each others eyes. Hava yon got tho pluck? said ba breaking the sin la a tone so cynical that It brought my last drop of blood to tUb boil. You shall see, aald X, as I stepped beck and whipped the pistol from my overcoat pocket. ''Now. wlil you lot mo pass or shell I do it here? The barrel touched my temple and my thumb the trigger. Mad with excitement as I waa, ruined, dishonored and aow finally determined to maho aa end of my misspent life, my only surprise to this day Is that I did aot do so theo and there. The despicable satisfaction of Involving another In one's destruction added lu miserable appeal to my baser egoism, and had fear or horror flown to my companion's face I shudder to think I might have died diabolically happy with that look far my last Impious consolation. It was tbs look that cams Instead wbtek held my hand. Neither fear nor horror waa In It only wonder, admiration and inch a measure of pleased expectancy as caused me after all to pocket my revolver with an oath. You devil," I aald, 1 believe yon wanted me to do It!" Not quite," waa the reply, made With a lltde start and a change af color that cam to late. "To tell yon tho truth, though, I half thought you meant It, and I was never mart fuck noted In my Ilfs I never dreamed you hod such stuff In you. Bunny. Ns I'm bulged If I leg you go now. And you'd bHter not try that game again, far yotf won't catch me stand and look on a second time; We must think of sains way out of the mess. I had no Idea you were a chap of that sort TO era, let me have thn gun." On of his hands toll kindly on my shoulder, while tlie other slipped Into my overcoat pocket, and I suffered him to deprive me of my weapon without a murmur. Nor waa this simply became Raffles had the subtle power of making himself Irresistible at will. Ha waa beyond comparison tho moat maatcrfnl mas whom I have ever known, yet my acquiescence was due to more than the mere subjection of (he weaker nature to the stronger. The forlorn hope which had brought me to the Albany waa turned as by magic into an almost staggering sense of safety. Raffles would help mo after alL A. J. Raffles would be my friend. It was ss though 11 the world had come round suddenly to my side. Ho far, therefor from misting his action, I caught and clasped his band with a fervor as uncontrollable as the freuay which had preceded tt. God bless you!" I erled. "Forgive me for everything. X will tell you tho truth. I did think you might help me In my extremity, though I well knew that I had no claim upon you. Still, for the old school's sake tbs sake of old time I thought you might give me another chance. If you wouldnt I meant to blow out my brains, and will still If yon change your mind." la truth I feared that it was changing, with hia expression, even aa I poke, and la aplte of bis kindly tons and kindlier see of my old school nickname. His next words showed mo my T a, toot desper-at- e The scene of my disaster wne much ai I bad left it. The baccarat roiuitera atlll otww-the table, with the empty glasses A wiudow gnd the loaded ash tray lad beea opened to let the smoke out aBd was letting lu the fog Instead. himself had merely discarded Inhis dining Jacket far one af hie his he arched yet blasers, numerable ('rtnnrs as though I had dragged him reaort. d from his bed. 'Forgotten something?" said he then be saw me on hie mat. Ka," said I. pushing peat him with Ht ceremony. And 1 led the way into hk room with an impudence amaslng W myself. Sot come back for your revenge, tors you? Because I'm afraid I cant was sorry ghs it you ainglo handed. I pelf that the others' We were face to face by hia fireside, md I cat him abort Riffles,' retd I, you may well be uprtaed at my coming back in this way and at this hour. I hardly know rooms before job. I waa never in your you at fight But I fagged for nhnnl and you said you remembered an Of course thafe no excuse; But wll yon listen to me for two minima !" my emotion I had at flint to straggle for every word, but bis face mamamd me as I went on, and X was aot mistaken in its expression. Certainly, my deer man," said ha; many minntee as yon like. Have a b u dalUvu and ait down." And he band-ame hie silver cigarette cane. Ns," said I, finding a foil voice as I shook my bead; no, I won't amok and I wont alt down, thank you. Nor win you ask me to do either when yra'v heard what I have to aay." Beslly?" aald be, lighting his own dprette with one clear blue eye upon M, How do you know?" Bert dm youll probably show me fladsor," I cried bitterly, and you'll tejoitiflad in doing itl But Ita no mt baa tin about the bush. Too know I dropped over f200 Juet now" Bo nodded. "I hadn't the money in my pocket" 1 remember." I bad my check book, and I wrote each of yon a check at that d 1st Wslir Not one of Hum waa worth tho paper it waa wrlttem on, Raffle I am overdrawn already at my bank." Sorely only for (ha moment?" So, I have spent everything." "But somebody told mo you ware ee wall off. I heard you bad coma In for fiiUL there's hupewhen MORNING struck 1, and one again for the half hour, without a wort between ns. Yet I not only kept my chair with patience, but I acquired aa Incan gru-aa- s equanimity la that half hour. Insensibly I had shifted my burden to the broad ahouldera of this apleudid friend, and my thoughts wandered with my eyes aa the minutes panned. TO room was the good sized, square ana, with the folding doors, Ik marble mantelpiece and the gloomy, old fashioned distinction peculiar to the Albany. It waa charmingly furnished and arranged, with the right amount of taste. What struck me most, however, was the absence of the usual Insignia of a cricketer' a den. Instead of tho conventional rack of war worn kata a carved bookcase, with every belt In a Utter, filled the better part of one wall, and where I looked for cricketing groups I . found reproductions of such works as Lore and Death" and The Blessed Damocel In dusty frames and different parallel!. The msa mlght have'beea a minor post Instead of aa athlete of the first water. But there had always been a fine streak of aestheticism la bis complex composition. Home of these very pictures I had myself dusted In his study at school, and they set me thinking of yet another of hia many aide and of tho llttlo Incident td which ha had Just referred. Everybody knows how largely the tons of a public school depends on that of the eleven and on the character of tho captain of cricket In particular, and I have never heart tt denied that ll X. L Hafflei' Dee. our tone wa dld-db- ree gaoTortbat bled to exert ueS fnTuenc as fee tn waa oa tho aide of tho . h. X r he-cu- r"md Be-J1- fhtn-counte- rr. T. taJ . d. nt " fvr bs. "" f'mj r tobclryour - a nice ... tiunuy. A SEPTEMBER real uhst? Hulclde one moment and u? cr.u.e I like the next. What you ;,n: u a drag, my ; m boy, aad yon did rotne to a dei: .on w tli a repnta-tiucent law abkliB i'i.i to lose. we must hive that money by hook or crook." Tonight Baffles?" "The sooner the ter. Every hour after 10 o'clock i morning la an hour of risk. oce of those checks get round u- jour own bank, and you and tt a o. -- honored together. No, we must ru'-- c t!:e wind tonight and reopen your s first thing chars--:,-- desperate a Ni-ut- - - And X rutiv- -r ihiuk I know where the wind can to raised." At 2 o'clock In (lie morning? Ye." But how hut u her-- at hour?' such . aa "From a friend of mine here la Bond street." "He must be a very intimate friend." Intimate's not tb word. I have the run of hia ps-k&d latchkey ail to myself." "You would knock him np at this hour of tho night If he's In bed." And it's essential that I should go In wiih you? Absolutely." "Then I nin but I'm bound to say I don't like the Idea. liiiftW" "Do you prefer the alternative?" ashed my companion, mth s sneer. "No, hang It, that's unfair:" he cried apoloI quite getically In the sauia breath. understand. It's a ordeal. But it ould never do for you to stay outside. I yoa vkat, you shall have a peg before ws surl-ju- st one. There's the whisky, here's a siphon, and I'll ha putting on aa overcoat while you help yourself." Well, X dare aay 1 did so with some freedom, for this plan of his was not the less distasteful to me from Its apparent Inevitability. I must own, however, that tt fewer terrors before my glaaa waa empty, kleso-whfRaffles rejoined me. with a covert coat over hia blazer and a soft felt hat art carelessly on the rurly head ha shook with a smile a 1 passed him tiw decanter. Wbea wo come back," aald he. Work first, play afterward. Io you sea what day It IhV lie added, tearing g leaflet from fitukcfucun-an- . caleq-- tl pool-moo- le a hwe by Xyrlt Ur Urn. MY PART WA8 SIMPLY TO STAND BY WITH TBQ DARK LANTERN. angeta. Yet tt waa whispered In the school that bo was to the habit of par lading the town at night to loud checks and a falsa beard. It wu whispered and dialteltevod. I alone knew It tor a foal I'vw been. lint thb enough toct, for night after night had I pulled for you? Why don't yon torn mo the raps up after him when the rest of sotr He wae walking np and down the dormitory were asleep and kept with very long face Instead. awake by the boor to let tt down again mistake. Couldn't your people do anything? an a given signal. Well, one night ha conto a hr asked at la What for It Jumping boy length. was overbold and within an ace of Igclusions! but I have my vices. Runny, Thank God," X cried, X have ne nominious expulsion in the heyday of ona not of them. Is and fflling X backing earn was an fosple! only child. I hia fame. Consummate daring and exh for everything there waa. My ana Bit down, my good fellow, and have a Intraordinary nerve ra hia part aided nerves. I to soothe your comfort Is that they're gone and will cigarette doubtless by some little presence of wont The far sist Whisky? thing ever know." mind on mine, averted that untoward I cut myself Into a chair and hid my you. Hero's some coffee that I was Now result and no mar need be said of a came in. Bnffles continued to pace the' brewing when you discreditable Incident. Rut X cannot of another listen Ton me. to speak flrh carpet that waa of a piece with chance.' Whet do you mean? Anoth- pretend to have forgotten it to throwing everything rlsa in hia rooms. There ra this man's mercy to my deswas no variation in hia soft and even er chance at baccarat ? Not if I know myself And I waa wondering bow It Yon think tlio luck must turn. peration. footfalls. much of hi leniency waa owing to tho should We It only didn't Suppose Ton used to be a literary little have made bad worse. No, my dear toy t that Raffles bad not forgotten tt ewe," he said at length. . Didnt yon either when he stopped and stood over chap, youve plunged enough. Do yea edit tbs mag. before yon left? Any-- 1 put yourself in my hands or do you my chair once mine. 1 recollect fagging yon to do my Ive been thinking of that night wo plunge no veto. ad literature of all sorts to aot? Very I well, tlien you the narrow squeak, ho began. had to not undertake present and very thing nowaday. Any fool more, ora "Why da yon start?" then check. Fufortunately my n make a living at It I was thinking of it too." the other men, and still more unfortuI Aock my heed. Any fool couldn't smiled as though be bad read my He nt this hard as np I'm nately, Bunny, tite "IT my debts," said X. thoughts! ara moment as yourself." yon Then yon have a flat somewhere?" Welt yen were the right sort of It was my tura to store at Raffles. went on. You bard up? little beggar then. Bunny. You didn't vociferated. I Your in Mount street How am I to alt here and believe that?" talk, and yon didn't flinch. Yoa asked "Well, what about the furniture?" Did I refuse to believe it of your no question and you told no tale lsutfjed aloud In my misery. And with your I wonder If youre like that now." There's bom a bill of sale on every he returned, smiling. 1 drat know, said I, slightly palown experience do yon think that tick for months rooms In this plica sied by hie tone. Tv made such a fellow has a And at that Raffles stood atlll, with and belongs to a chib,or two aad plays mesa of my own affair that I trust 11 eyebrows and stern eyes that a little cricket he must necessarily myself about as tils aa I'm likely to wnM meet the better now he have a balance at the hank? X tell bo trusted by anybody else; yet I never that new the worst ta life went back ra a friend. I Then, with a shrug, my dear man, that at this moment willmy his walk, and for aoma you. aa that; otherwise perhaps I aay were. ever I aa you hart I'm np wwutes neither of us mightn't be to such a bole tonight." spoke. Bnt la have nothing hut my wits to live on iehsndsome, unmoved face I read my Exactly, said Raffle nodding to else. It was snd death warrant and with absolutely nothing himself as though In assent to some win some money to me for necessary ry breath I cursed my folly and my We ra hidden train of thought exactly wsrdice In coming to him at alL " this evening as It waa for you. bettor what X remember of yon, and Ill bet We'd same tlio Bonny. in boat; had been kind to mo at school It's aa true now aa tt waa ten yean together." ben be was Wa dont alter. Bunny; we only ago. captain of tho eleven and pull "IH It. at "Together! I Jumped fag I had dared to look for klnd-fmr- a I suppose neltner of us develop. Bafworld for you. in this do anything him now. Beceueo I waa Is really altered since you need to let that mean Tf I really you fles," said, he rich enough to play that ran and I used to come up won't giro mo away. Think of down ovor band. Yon would stick at hand tt , ?he ,n the summer and do nothing you It! I do I'll anything you Ilka, and rest of the year I had for a pal what? d came nothing When I man on hia merry, his sympa- - waa a drapers At nothing In this world, I was now. ta aa I'm and Just deepen here, hl I had relied os him do If only I can pleased to n7 heart for all my outward diffl-c- e I don't mind what I a scandal." Not oven at a crime? aald Raffle get out of this without and humility, and I waa Billing.' la hack erv-Again I see him leaning There wss as little of rightly I stopped to think, for hia tone had mercy one of the luxurious ebatra wKh which In changed, and X felt sure ha waa chaffthat curling nostril. hia room waa furnished. I see hia Tmpethy rigid Jaw. that cold bine eye ing me. yet his eye seemed as much ta athletic figure; bis pale, sharp, earnest which as ever, and for my part I was glanced my way. I black hia curly dean shaven features; 1 blDDJ feet. hair; hia strong, unscrupulous month. to no mood for reservation. No. not even at that," X declared. witbont wort, And again X feel the dear beam of hie "Name stood between me and the your crime, and I'm your man." door wonderful eye, cold and luminous as a He looked St me one moment In the lifting star, shining into my brain, wonder and another moment In doubt ywi going?" aald he. very secrets of my heart turned the matter off with a shake " n,f business." X then he I replied. I wonder if you mean all that" f fats bead and the little cynical laugh tT0,,bu rw any more Too do In your pro-en- t aald at length. .. all bis own. i mead, but who can tort hi. SWSi 1 thjit years ago. It has bees my curse. Now It's all gone er 7 penny. ' Tea, Xva been a fooL There never waa nor will bo ouch a 'Be I 'Yon're "a chap tokos that tone. Now I think ot It too, you were a plucky little devil at orhouL Yau ones did me rather a Remember It. good turn, I recollect. Bunny? Well wait a bit and perhaps I'll he able to do you a better one. Give me time to think." He got up. lit a fresh cigsreue and fell to pacing the room once mure, but with a slower and more thoughtful step and for a much louger periol than before. Twice he stopped at my chair as though on tbs point of speaking, but osi-time he checked himself and retained his stride In sHeut-e- . Once he threw up the window, which he had shut some time nine and stood for some momenta leaning out into the fug which filled tho Albany courtyard. Meanwhile a clock ou the chimney-piec- e EXAMINER, dar as I drained my glass March 15. Tb Me of March, the Idee of Eh. Bonny, my March, remember.' boy? You wont target them, will you?" And, with a laugh, he threw some coals oa tb fire before turning down the gas like a careful householder.' Bo we went out togetiiar as ilie clock on tho chimney piece was striking 2. e sees Piccadilly wne a trench of raw white fog, rimmed with blurred street lamps od lined wi'.h a ttiln coating cf adhesive mud. tVe met no other wayfarers on the deserted flagstones and were ourselves favored with a very hart stare from the constable of the beat; who, however, touched his helmet on reeogulslrg my romp union. You see, I'm known to the pollcs," laughed Raffles as we pasiwl on. "Poor devils! They've got to keep their we tiler eye open on a night like this A fog may be a bore to yon and me, Bunny, bnt It's a perfect godsend to tle criminal classes epelally so Inis lu their cs sou. Here we are, though, and I'm hanged If tlie bragar Isnt In lied and asleep after all!" TVe had turned Into Bond attest and bad halted An the curb a few yards down on the right ' Raffles wss aiming up at some windows neross the road, windows bnrely discernible through the mist and without the glimmer of a light to throw them out They were over a Jewelers shop, as I could ee by the peephole In tbe shop door and the bright light burning within. But tbe entire upper part, with the private street door next tlie shop, wne black and blank aa the sky Itself. Better give tt up for tonight" X Surely the morning will he urged. time enough." Not a bit of it said Raffles. T bar hia key. We'll aurpris him. Com along And, seizin; my right arm. he hurried me across tb road, opened the door with his latchkey and in another moment had shut it swiftly but softly behind us. We stood together In tbe dark. Outside, a measured step was approaching. We had heart It through tho fog aa w rrosjed tb street. Now, It drew nearer, my companion's fingers tightened ra my arm. It may lie the chap himself. be lie's the devil of a night whispered. bird. Not a sound. Bunnyl Well startle the life not of him. Ab!" Tbe measured step bad passed without a prfnse. Raffles drew a deep breath, and his singular grip of ms slowly relax'd. Be still; not a sound," he continued to the same wbispar. Ws'll take a rise out of him wherever he I Blip off . your shoes and follow ie. Well, you may wonder at my doing so, hut you rsn never have met A. 4. to a cou- Ruffle. Hs'.f IUpoWer ly 10. c3B.bg 1905. 11 ie trVk of sinking-tcoin- iu t;ie leader. And tt waa tin possible n,t to foliow ona who led with such a rest. You might question, but you followed first. So now. wbea I tea id bhn k i k off hie own shoes, 1 did the same a:,d was on the stalls at his liee! before I realised what an ex- as this of apiroa-b-iuway a straeg-- r for money in tbs dead traordinary of nti:. ha were on timacy. and t Ruffles and terms of in1 rnuld not but infor that they were lu tbe habit of playing practical Jokes each other.. B-.- obviously np-.u- i We gn-i-e.- way so slowly up. i ftn.r tliut 1 bad tinis to rnaka mors thus uce ui.;e w reached tlie top. Ul.e stair was unrarpeted. The spread fingers of my right band nothing on the damp wall. Those of my left trailed through a dust that could lie felt oa tlie baute-teiu- . An eerie sensation bad beea upon me slin-- we eulered the house. It increased with every step wo climbed. What hermit were we going to startle e in lus cell I We cauie to a landing. TOe banto-ter-s led us to the left and to the left again. Knur steps tunes and wa wrra on another and a longer landing, and suddenly a match biased from tbs black. 1 never hoard tt atrnrk. Its flash was blinding. When my eye became accustomed to tho light there waa Raffle holding up tlie match with one hand and shading it with the other between I are boards, stripped walla and tlie open doors of empty rooms. Where have yon brought me?" X cried. The house la unoccupied!" "Hush! Wslir be whispered, and ha led (he way into ana of tho empty room. Ill malrh went out as we crossed the threshold, end he struck another without tbe slightest noisai Then ha stood with his back to m fumbling with something that I eould not sea. But when be threw the second match away there was some ether light in its steed end a slight smell of all I stepped forward to look ovor hia shoulder, hat before 1 could do so be bad turned aid flashed a tiny laatera In my face. What's this?" I gasped. What rot- - I ten trick are you going to play?" Tt's plsyed, ha aoswered, with kla quiet laugh. "On I'm afraid so, Ruany." Is there no one ta th bouse, then? No on but oarsetves." Bo tt was mere chaff about your friend to Bond street who could let ua have that money?" "Not altogether. Its units tro that Dinby 1 a friend of mine." "Dauby? The jeweler underneath. What do you mean?" I whispered, trembling like a leaf as his meaning dawned upon me. Are wa to get ths money from tbe Jeweler T Well, not exactly." What, then?" "Tbe equivalent from hie shop." TOero wav no need for another question. I understood everything hut my wn density. He bad gtrsu me a doasu And bint and I bad taken non there I stood staring at Mm ta that empty room, end there lie stood, with bis daric lantern, laughing at me. Yoa --you!" A burglar'." I. gasped. "I told you 1 lived by my wife." ; Why couldn't yoa tell me whet yon, were going to do? Why couldnt you trust me? Why must you llcr I demanded, piqued ta the quirk for all' my horror. "I I wanted to tell you," said b waa oa the point of telling you more' than once. You may remember how I soundwt vnn shout crime, tiioueh you bare probably forgotten what you aid yourself. I didnt think you meant It at the tim hut I thought Id put you to the teat. Now I see you didn't, and I don't Mams you. I only am to blame. Get out of It, my dear boy, aa quirk as you ran. Leavo t to me. You wout give me away, whatever else you do." Ms fiendish Oh, bis clevsrnes Ilad ba fallen hack on cleverness! threat coercion, sneer all might hava been different even yet But ht set me free to leave him to the lurch. He would not Mams me. Ha did not even bind mo to secrecy. Hs trusted ms. He knew my weakness and my strength and wss playing ra both with hia muster's toneh. Did I put Not so fast," said I. till into your bead, or were you going fflj to do It in any cbm?" Not In any rase," said RflWle Its true Ive had the key for day Jpt when I won tonight I thought of chocking It for, as a matter of fact It's not a one man Job. That settles It. Tm your man. You mean 11?" mr i Vcs-f- tonight" or Good old Bunny!" bo murmured, holding the lantern for one moment to my fare. Tlie next he waa explaining bis plana and I was nodding, as tbongh we hnd been fellow cracksmen all our day. I know the Shop," he whispered, because I've got a few things there. It's berm I know tiila upper part to to let for a month, and 1 got an order to view and took a rest of tb key before using it Tbe one thing I don't know la liow to make u connection between the two. At present there's none. We may make It np tor though I rather fancy tbe basement myself. If you wait a minute I'U tell you." He act hia lantern ra the flour, crept to a back window and opened It with ohak-In- g scarcely u sound, only to return, his bead, after shotting tho window with the same cure. That was our an chance," aald h u back window above u hack window, but It's too dark to see anything, and we daren't ahnw an aalaide light. Come down after tna to tbe basement and rememlier, though there's not a onl ra tbe premise you cant make loo little nets There there listen to that I" It was the measured tread that wa had heart before ra tbe flagatoaee outside. Raffles darkened bis lantern, and gain we stood motion leva till It hid passed. Either a policeman," he muttered, or u watchman that nil these Jewelers ran between them. The watchman's th man for us to watch. He's simply paid to eput this kind of thing." Wo very gingerly down ths bit In aplte of stairs, which created ns, and we picked up enr shoes lu the passage; then down some narrow utona at tli fool of which Raffle Slop showed his llpht and rut on his ibora rrt oii.'e mor.-- , we ilotna same la a rather louder tone than bo had per-untie- of the lucuai.ug ieiij jl, md fu.nub.s t euetU.j ly for ss they h uisclf to employ overhead. v'l.'-were already down, it blind, We were now considerably below the wss the i matter to the world ; level of the street ta a small space stand t!irm,kh tbe Utils Into itii as many doors as it had sides. the strut-:-, to twice with my fujt Three were ajar, and wa saw through when wa sat auylioi.r them Into empty cellar but la tbs once when all ws ik-;.rg&in. The f.turih a key was turned and a bolt noise that even I co.ilj hear belo. drawn, and this out presently let us wiih the exeeprien of one nietuill-- : out into tb bottom of a deep; were todeel eqnai crash at the well of fog. a similar door faced hut they eeaxed Incredibly slight, . across this a and Raffles had tits at each double rap from my to lantern close against It and waa hid- ocJ a policeman passed quite half a ing the light wl:h his body wbea a dozen tunes beneath my eye aud the short and sudden crash made my man whom I took to I tho jeweler's heart stand still. Next moment I saw waiehman oftraer Kill during tho hob tiie door wide open aad Raffles stand- ter part of an hour that I spent at tha ing within aad berkaulng ms with a window. Once, indeed, my heart was to Jimmy. It was when my mouth, but only oiu-eDoor No. L" he whispered. Denes tlio watchman stopped aad peered knows bow many mor there'll be. but through th peepbule Into tho lighted I know of two at least Wa won'! hop. I waited for his whlsti I waithtvs to make much auk over them ed for the gallow s or tba Jail! But my either. Down her there's leva risk." signals Lad been studiously obeyed, Wo were new at the bottom of the and tho man passed ra to andteuirbed exert fellow to the narrow atone stair serenity, la ihe end I had a signal to which w bad Juri descended, the yard, my tura and retraced my steps with er well being The one put eemmoa to lighted mttrhas dowa tb broad stair both the private and the business down tho narrow one arras tho ares But this flight led to no and up lut th lobby where Raffles premises. Often passage. Instead a singularly availed me with au outstretched hand. solid mahogany door confiunted us at Well don re.'d h my boy! the top. "You're tbo aarno good man la a pturtq I thought ." mattered Raffles, and you shall hava your reward. Tv handing mo the lantern and pocketing got 1 1.0W worth If I'v got a pannoth. a bunch of skeleton keys altar tam- It's all to my pockets. Aad here's pering for a few minutes with the lurk. something els I found la this locker-v-ery Itl! b aa hour's work to get through decent port and some cigar . that." meant far poor, dear Panhy'a business friends. Taka Cant you pick Itr pull, and you shall N. I knew three locks. It's ns light up presently. Iv found a lavause trying. Wo must cut It oat, and tory, to and w moat hava a wash and brush np before ire go, for I'm till taktf ns an hoar." It took ua forty seven mlnutea by black aa your boot, TO Iron rurtaia waa down, but ba my watch, er, ntiuv, tt took Raffles Instated on raising tt until I eould and never In my Ufa have I seen an thing mere deliberately done. My par. prep through tho glare doer ra tb was simply to stand by with the dark other oMo and are hia handiwork In lantm to ona head aad a small bot- th shop beyond. Ilere two alertrle tle of rack oil In the ether. Raffles llghta wars left burning all night long, and la their cold white rays I eould at had produced a pretty embroidered rase, Intended oheteuely tor hia raoora, find sea nothing amlaa. I looked along but filled Instead with the tools of hia an orderly lane, oa empty Itoi coununsecret trad iacludtog the rock elk ter oa rey toft, glare cupboards of prua this ease hi seiorted a Mt touched silver oa my right aad, faring of drllllag a bote aa Inch la m th filmy Mart eye of the peei-bthat abase ilk a stage moon on diameter end fitted tt t u small but Then he tlw street TO counter bad not bee very rtcnng weal brae euqdtod by Raffles. Its contents were look off hia revert rest and hts Maser, In tbo Chubbs oaf which be bad givpraad fitrm nsatly ra th top atep, knelt m them, turned up Mu shirt en up ut a glance. Nor had h looked cuffs end want to veorti with brace and at tbe stiver, except t choose u cigahit near tb hayhnle. But grot he oiled rette rare for mo. Ho had confined ttie btt to minimise the Mis asd this himself entirely to tbo shop window. be did Invariably before bagtaatng a fresh hols aad often to the middle of s om It took tMrtydwo separate te rut rased that tort. I not! red that through the first etreo-la- r orifice Baffles throat a ferrtager; then aa tba circle barami aa ever lengthroing oval ha got hia hand lhrangh np t tho thumb; mud I heart him swear softly to himself, I wa afraid tor eimi-lt-k- pet-pin- ; th-.- r . rtbl ol bar-log- What la Hr Aa Iron gate an the ethar aldM" Haw ra earth ara wa to get through that? I asked to dismay. nek the leek. Bnt there may ha tire. la that case ther'll he top and bottom, rad wa shall have two fresh holaa to make, a the dose epaaa toward. It wool opes two Inrtea aa tt to." I coo free I did not fool oangulno boat tba lock plrtlng. soring that on lock had baffled ua already, and my disappointment and Impatience mutt hava hem a revelation to ms hud X topped to think. Tbo truth to that I waa entering Into oar nefuriouu uudar-taklnwith an lurolutary uoal of which I was myself quits uoranarlmis at tba Urn TO penance aad tb peril of tbo whole proceeding held me and entranced. My moral sen as and my aenoa of feer were stricken by a common paralysis. And there I toed, shining my light and holding my vial with a keener Interest than I had ever brought to any honest avocation. And (hero knelt A. J. Raffle with hie black hair tumbled and tba same watchful, quiet, determined half mils with which I had aero Mm send down over after over to a county match! At last tho chain of hole was complete, tho lock wrenched oat bodily and and a splendid bars arm plunged up to the shoulder through the aperture and through tho ban of tbo Iron rate spell-houn- d If there's Now," whispered Raffle only on lock itll be to th middle. Jay! 'Here It to! Only let me pick It, sod were tli rough at last Ua withdrew his arm, a skeleton key wna arierted from tbe bunch, and then Mck went hia arm to the shoulder. It was a brealbleM moment I beard tba Icart throbbing m? body, tho very lfalch ticking In my portrt and ever of the skelerod anon the tinkle-tinkl- e came a ton key. Then at lssl -t- here ' gngla unmistakable click. In another finale tbo mnhogtny door and the Fob gale yawned behind u and Raffles was sitting oa an ofiles tabl wiping hia face; with th lantern throwing a sternly beam by hia aid Wo were now to a bars aad roomy lobby behind the shop, bnt separated therefrom by an iron curtain, tba vary sight of which filled mo with despair. Raffle however, did not appear to the lraot depressed, but hung np his coat and hat oa soma pegs to tbo lobby before examining this curtain with bla lantern. That's nothing;" mid he after a min ute'a Inspection-- We'll bo through that to no time, but there's u door ra the other aide which may give us trouble.' And Another door!" I groaned. bow do you mean to tackle this thing? Pry it up with the Jointed jimmy, The weak point of there torn curtains la the toe pro ire you can get from below. But tt makes u note and this ta where you're coming ta, Bunny, This te where I couldn't do without you. must have you overtired to knock tho street's clear. I'U through wbr-come with you and shew a light. Weil, you may imagine how little I Uked the prospect of this lonely vigil, and yet there was something very stimulating In the vital responsibility which tt Isvolvcd. Hitherto 1 liad been a mere spectatur. Now I was to take expart to tb game. And tb fresh ever mere me than made citement to those considerations of and of rafcty which wore already as dead nerves In my breast Fn I took my post without a murmur In tbe front room shove the shop. The bcrii left, fur Jh;Efoaj fljturcs ce hJ nm kf BjTlf Orlivw. by the doere. JMng by As throe compartment ondt tba night by removal) I Raffles panels with separata lock had removed them a few hoars betora their tim and tho electric light obono on n corrugated abutter hare m the riba of an empty cureare. Every article of value was gun from tho on pit re which wre Invisible from the little window to th door. Elsewhere all wu ua tt had beea left overnight And but for a train of mangled Ooora behind- tb Iron curtain, a botite of win and u cigar bon with which liberties bad been taken, n rather block towel . ,J jforlu la th lavatory, a burnt matrt hers and there aad our finger marks ra tha dusty bannisters not n trace of our visit did wo leave. Hod tt to my bred for long? said Raffles aa w strolled through tho streets toward dawn, for all tba world as though wa were returning from n dance. "No, Bunny, I never thought of It till I rew that upper part empty about a mouth ago aad bought a few things to the shop to get tba lay of tho land. That reminds ma that I never part for them; but, by Jov I will tomorrow, and If that isn't poetie Justice what te? On visit showed me the possibilities of tho place, bat n second convinced m of Its Impossibilities without a paL Ho I had practically given up th Idea when you cam along ou th very night and In tbe very plight for tt! Bnt hero wo are ut tlie Albany, and I hope there's aoma fire toft, tor I don't know how you feel. Bunny, bnt for my part I'm aa cold re Keats owl." II couhl think of Keats on hia way from a felony. Ho could hanker for hie fireside like another. Flood gates were loosed within me, and tha plain English of our adventure re olied over me as cold as Ice. Raffles waa a burglar. I had helped him to commit one burglary; therefore I was u burglar too. Yet I could stand and warm myself by hie fire and watch him empty Ma pockets aa though we had done n otlilng wonderful or wicked. My blood fron. My heart sickened. My brain whirled. How I had liked this villain! How I bad admired him! Haw my liking and admiration must tnm to loathing and disgust! I waited for tho change. I longed to feel it in my heart But I longed and 1 waited In vain. X mw tht he waa emptying hia pockets. TOe table sparkled wiih tbelr hoard. Ring by the doarn, diamonds pendant by the score, bracelet algret necklace pearl ruble amethyst sapphires and diamonds diamonds to everything; flashing bayonets of light dazzling me blinding me making ine disbelieve because I could no longer forget. Latof all iri.iccd. bqt my own re- cagienp al-w- fa, tConlinucd on next pnge.) |