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Show THE SUNDAY MORNING EXAMINER, 12 Amateur Cracksman said, I don't see the a tilling are with ua, but of coarse I'm your man. Uj lane may La been half hearted. 1 did ray beat to make it utlierwloc, Iwif-la mouth aiuce our bnt It Bond street exploit, anJ wa ccrtatuiy could have afforded to behave fT some time to come. We had been getting along so nicely; by hi ad vie I had acribbled a thing or two: Inspired by Kaffira, I had even dona au article on cur own Jewel robbery, and for the moment I w u quit eatladed I thought with this sort of wo uuglit to know when we w era well off and conii uv no point in our runbefore we were ning fined rb,k obliged. On the other baud. I wa anxious not to allow Die least disposition to break the pledge tint I bad given a month ago. But It waa tint on my manifest disinclination that Baffle faalunrd. Necessity, my daar Runny? Ioe the writer oaiy write when the wolf I at the door? Ijo the painter paint for bread alone? Must you and 1 lie driven to crime Mo lots of Bow and Iiick of Whitechapel? You pain me, my dear chap. You ucednt laugh, became you do, Art fur arts sake la a Vila catchword, but I confess It appeals to me. In thii rase my motive are absolutely pirc, for I doubt If wa stall ever be able to dispose of inch jiemlhr atone. But If 1 don't have a try for them -- after tonight -- I shall never ba able to hold up my head 1 our-eelT- cl.was Just then of om whose Ltalklug alreadyturn.a name mmim ON DOS & H li- bra Rosenthall had made bla millions on tha dia- mond Belli of Rouch if-lir- a and had coma koto to enjuj llu-according to bit right. llow ba wont to work will scarcely be forgotten a or loader of tba halfpenny evening paper, which reveled is endless auec- dote of Ms arigioal Indlgeura aud present prodigality. varied with inter- sating partlralara of tba extraordinary aatabllahment wblrb tba millionaire act Jluhn't wood. 11m lie kept up In a rettnna of Kafflr. who ww literally liia alarm, and brae be would tally, with enormoua diamond la bit ablrt and on bla linger, in the convoy of n prise flghtiT of heinous repute, who waa not, however, by any mean tba wont element in tbn Rosenthall manage. Bo aid gossip. lint the fart waa auOrimily eatabliaheil by tbo 1 at erf mare of the police ou at leant one occasion, followed by certain inag-l-t were rerial proceeding wbk-ported with Jiunlllahlo gueio and huge headline la tba newspapers aforesaid, and thla waa all on knew of Reuben the Rosenthall up la tbo time wbe-old Xtobemlaa rlub, baring fallen on evil day, found it worth it while la orgeulte a great dinner la honor of o wealthy an rxpuiu-n- t of the rlub principle. 1 waa not at the banquet member took Raffles, inyaaif. but wbo tnld me all about it that very night. "Moat extraordinary ahow I eeer went to la my life, said be. "Xi for 'i- man blcatelf-we- ll, I we pm cl for something grotenque, but i.ie fclloer fairly took my breath away. Jo begin with, be'a the moat astounding brut to look at, well over alx chest like a barrel nud fret, with a greet book uoee and ilia reddest hair mid wblaker you ever aaw; drank like e Are engine, but only got drank enough to make us a apeeeb that 1 wouldnt bare mtaaed for 10. I'm only sorry you werent there, too, Runny. old chap. I began to t aorry mjaelf. for ltaf-Be- a waa anything but an eieltahle person. and newer bad 1 seen him so slatted before. Had he hem following Roeen (hall'a example? Hla eomlng to my room at midnight meetly to tell about hla dinner waa In Itself enough to nenso suspicion wblrb wao certainly at variance with my bnow ledge f A. 3. Rallle. Whet did be eayT 1 Inquired me ehanJrally, divining nome anbtlrr ex-- p la nation of this visit and wondering what on earth It could tie. "Bay? cried Hsfflra. "What did ba ot say? Ue boaalad of hla rise, he and be blackbragged of hie guarded eoelrty for taking him up for lila money and dropping him out of sheer pique and Jua lousy lire anna bo had so much, lit mentioned names, too, with tbo most charming freedom and awor bo was aa good a man as tbo old country bad to show-pa- ra tho old Bohemians. To provo It be pointed to a great diamond In the middle of hie shirt front with a little flngrr load-r- d with another Just like It. Which of our bloated prince could show a pair Ilka that? As a matter of fart they seemed qnlte wonderful stones, with a rarloun purple gleam te them that must mean pot of money. But old Roaeatban swore be wouldn't take &&OUO for tbo two and wanted to know where the other man waa wbo went about with 03,000 la bla ehlrt front and another C&OUO on hi llttlo Unger. Ho didnt exlat If ho did ho wouldn't have the pluck to wear them. Bnt ho had he'd tell n why. And before you could eay Jack llnbtiuoa be had whipped out a whacking great adu-utur- lJ It a t ' rk-be- revolver r "Not "At at the fabler In tha middle of bla apoeeh! But It was nothing to what ha wanted to do. Ue actually wanted ii to let him write hie name In bub let on Ibe opposite wan to show ua why be wau t afraid to t about la ill bla diamond: 'iluit brute Purvis, the prise fighter, who la bis paid bnliy, nad to bully his master before ha mold ho pm aided out or It. There was quite a anle for the moment. One fellow waa Baying hi prayers under the table, and the waiter bolted to a man. "What a grot deque scene: Grotesque enough, but I rather wish they bad let blm go the whole bog and blase away. Ha was as keen as knives to show us how he could take rare of bia purple diamond, and do you know. aa knives to Bunny, I waa aa m tfce table; g-- k-- MIl" And Raffles leaned toward me with a aly, alow smile that mad the hidden meaning of bis visit only too plain to me at last "So yon think of having a try for hla diamonds T He shrugged hla shoulders. "It la horribly obvious, I admit But 1 hare aet my heart upon them. y To bo quite frank, I hare ha.l them on my conscience for eon-.-e time. Ou cocldot hear so much of the man and hie prize fighter aud hla diamond without feeling It a kind of duty to have a go fix' them, bet whou It comes to brandishing a revolver and practically challenging the world the thing becomra Inevitable. It Is simply thrust upon one. i was fated to hear that challenge, Bnnny, and I, for one. mur take It up. 1 waa only Kerry I niuMn't ge on ns; h n I, g and I i; i I whi-die- r t - ir- - "k whi yet and' desperately dark. further end be opened a door with a latchkey, sad It waa darker yet within. Instinctively I drew bark and heard him chuckle. We codd no longer sea luicly At tii loose and ua-A- corn-tinne- pied-a-terre- y; u gain. Ilia eys twinkled, but It glittered too. Wo shall bnve our work cut out," wu n I sud. And do you arpp.vr I should tie keen ou it if wa hadn't?" cried Baffles. 11 y deaf fellow, I would roll Kt. Paul's catlirdrnl If 1 mild. but I could no more acnop a till wlira llie shopwalker wasn't looking than 1 could bag the apple out nf an old woman's lukct. Even that little liusincs last month a sordid affair, but It waa necessary, aud I think Its strategy redeemed It to aoiue extent. Now-- , theres come credit aud mur smrt In going whore (hey boast (hey're on tlicir guard against you. The Bank of for example, la til Meal crili, but that would used half a dozen of ua with years to give to tho Job, ami feiesnwhlla Reuben Knamlliall 1 high enough gamo fur you nud me. Wa know he'a armed. We know how Hilly Purvis ran fight. It'll Is no soft thing, I grant yon. Bill what nf that, my good Runny -- whst of Dial? A inan'a reach must cxcoed hi grasp, dear boy, or whit Ilia dlrkru I a lieaveu for? I would rather we didn't exceed ours Just yet, I answered, laughing, for hla spirit was Irresistible anil the plan was growing iiiura ma despite my vu Bug-lan- qualm. - Trust ms ibai, was bia reply. "I'll sea you through. After all, 1 aspect to flud that 'the difficulties are nearly an on tho surface. Throe fellow both drink Ilk devil, and that should simplify matters considerably. But wa shall ace, and wa must taka onr time, Thera will probably turn out to ba a dozen different way la which tbo thing might ha dona aud wa nlipll have to choose lirtwera them. It will menu watching the house for nt least a week In auy rasa. It nuiy niron Inis of other tiling that will UL muck longer, hnt give nt a weak and I will tell yon more that's to say, If you're really on. W course I am." I replied Tint why should I give you a week? Why shouldn't we watch the bouse together?" Reran two rje are a good aa four and take up left room. Never hunt In couple unless youre obliged, llut don't you look offended, Bunny; there'll b plenty for you to do when tho time routes; that 1 promise you. You shall have your share of the fun, barer fear, and n purple diamond all to yonmelf If wore lucky." On the whnle, however, till conversation left ma Iroa than lukewarm, aud X still rantmilicr tha depression which cam upnu me when Raffle waa goue. I saw the folly of tho enterprise to which I bad committed myself -t- ho sheer, gratuitous, iinneccssary folly of H. And the paradoxes in which Raffle reveled and the frivolous casuistry width was UJTerlbrlesK half sincere and which hi mere personality rendered wholly plausible at the again, a ilom-pi- t vagabond, w'tiii his of mtersui-appealiKl very l:.;tie bauds It li's pockets, his elbows ma when recalled In odd bimvi. ami frayed coat tails awlng-iii'si(i:arc. aJ mlroil the spirit of pure mischief j, vasg-silfrom side to side. I which he him in (lie road. l.i prepared lo UlTVly ami l:i life. t.i;( I did uot find TL-- re lie took an .Vila omnibus, uml It an infectious I ou calm blm on the .it some rows nt the thought of withdrawal tup. but not fnr enough to escape the was not lo t of hla vile tobneco. That lie could culcnsimil fer n On thr- comrary. 1 was impacarry his character skeicli t- such a tient of the rioihy h iim) r Ruffles, who wuu'.il only smoke one and perhaps no eirvil p.irf f my so- brand of rignrrin-s- : It was th last, least touch of li e rrel di.lff rrt.nt. and of h s g.i'irn linn to o innrtifleatlon ontll the it charmed nuav last mon-rn- t there still rnn:annl In me Opee more It made It no hrrtr that thi waa I felt th- - fsscinntlon of .1 romrsde charact-rlJt- ic of the man and of his wbo was firover dnrrili-- or with a facet of hla attitude toward me. For a month ws fresh and untnsp-x-tehad liera, I su;ip.Tw, tho thickest character. As w uear-n- l Ficra-LIlI wondered thieve in all I.on.lu. and yet our . was curiously iucumplet--B'lJh all fc! rpnrmiug frankn-s- s there wns ia llaffc a rein of caprlcioii reserve which wa perceptive l the !; to be very lrr'.tutinx. lie stinciive siK.Tctlvenrf of I'jo ir.veicr-atc rriniiual. He wjuid mal.e of EMItcv uf i;r.!iinii cnius-rn- . For exauiplc, I never how or whore he dispose.! cf tiip R..i;il tret Jewels, cti Ihe z'V- ii both st::i r hii!: tho out war.! Urea cf linric ro.I of o:!i- -r vc-.- g f. lows about town. lf- wj cinalstCBtiy myilerlous nhont that and other details. Ilf whi.-lJ n f. , 11,.. II tl-.- ind'g-a'lnll- np-set- com-paris- on-lu'- -nt c r:i refle--tlu- fult-iwe- ITm-hic- u. p.-s- pit-b-- he t-i- H-- re-r- e g d y a c tnys-tcri- e s l ,L. Yjqra des-TU-- d tu-kll- By E. W. HORNUNG PIECE ' v auc-caad- Ghe A COSTUME I 'ouid truet me or uurortuiu I could no longer afford to not. resrat. but I dal resent his want of confidence In ire now. I aald nothing about ft but It rankled every day and nevtw more than in th week that the Euventball dinner. When i ibe club he would tell 1 met Raffle Die nothing. tVhen I went to bla room h was out or pretended to ba. One day be mid me he wan gening an well, but slowly. H was a more game tbua he had thought, but when 1 hegau to uk questions be would say no more. Then and there. In my annoyance, 1 took my own decision. Pim-- he would tell me nothing of the result of hi visit, I determined to keep one on my own account aud that very evening found my way to the millionaire's front gates. he wa occupying Is, I Tba Lou believe, quite the largest In th SL Juha'a wood district It stands In the angle funned by twofbroad thoroughfares, neltlier uf which, a It happens. Is a bus route, and I doubt If many quieter spots exist within tha four mile radius. Quiet also was tha great square bouse, in its garden of grass plots and shrubs; the lights were low, the millionaire and bia friends obviously spending their even lug elsewhere. Tba garden walla were only n few feet high. In one there waa n aide dour opening into a glass passage; In tha other, two grained and varnished gate, on nt either end of the llttla semicircular drive, and both wide open. Ho still was the place that X had n great mind to walk boldly In and learn something of the premises; In fact I waa on tha point of doing when 1 beard n quick, shuffling step ou th pavement Mind me. I turned round and faced the dark scow I and tba dirty allnrfaed Cats of n dilupl-lata- d Raffles, J?05. J7, te lie low till they mm bark, and longer. If possible w most doctor the whisky. That would simTtt plify the whole thing, though it'a not very sporting game to play. Still, w must remember BoaentbaUe reeach other. volver. Wt dont want him to eign hie All right Bunny! There' no hanky name on ua. With all those Kaffirs pinky this time. These are studios, shout, however. lta tea to mo on th my friend, and I'm one of the lawful whisky and a hundred to one against tenants. ua If we go looking for 1L X brush Indeed, la another miuu'e we wet with the heathen would spoil everyin n lofty room with skylight eaaela, thing, If it did no more. Beeidee, there drawing cupboard, platfonn and every are the ladlwo" other adjunct rave the signs of actual Th deuce there are! labor. The first thing 1 saw, aa BafLadles with na 1, aud the very fles lit the gas, was it reflection In his voices for raising Cain. I fear, Z fear silk hut on the pegs beside the rest of the clamor! It would be fatal to u hie norma! garments. eontralre, if w can manage to Looking for tho works of art?" stow ourselves away unbeknown half Raffles, lighting a cigarette and tho battle will bo won. If RuaenthaU beginnlag to diveet himself of bia turns In drank It'a n purple diamond I'm afraid yon won't find any, apiece, if be aits up sober It may be rags but therr'a lb canvss I'm a I way goa bullet Instead. We will hop not ing to make n start a;oa. I tell them Bunny, and nil th firing wouldn't be Im looking high and low for my Ideal on ou side; hnt It's on tha knees of model. I have the itsn lit on printh gods. ciple twice n week, end look la and And ao we left It when we shook leave a newspaper and a smull of Sullhands In Piccadilly not by any manna are how after shag! na much later na S could have wished. ivangood they Meanwhile I pay my rent and am a Raffles would not nek me to hla rooms that night He aald he made it a rule good tenant In every way. and Its . Thens to have n long night before playing very useful little no saying how useful it might be nt n cricket and-oc- lier games. His final pinch. Aa it Is, the billycock cornea ia word to me woe framed on tho asm and the toped gum out, and nobody principle. takes the slightest noth of either. At Mind, omly one drink tonight, Buu-ntwo nt th outside aa yon valuo this tint of ulglit tbs chances are that there's not g soul In the bulkling exyour life and miner I remember my abject obedience and cept ourselves." You never told me yon went in for the endless, sleepless night It gars me disguises," aald L watching him aa he and th roofs of the houses opposite cleaned the grim from bla face and standing out at Inst against the bln hands. gray London davra. ( wondered whethNo, Bunny, I've treated you very er I should ever see another end waa shabbily nil around. Thera waa really vary hard on myself for that little exno reason why I shouldn't have shown pedition which I had mad on my own yon thla place a mouth ago, and yet willful account. It was between 8 and 9 o'clock In th there was no point In my doing ao, and tramp. Yon utter circumstances are Just concelvablo la evening when we took np onr position You fool, aald be. KHotr which It would have suited ns both for la th garden adjoining that of Reuben Raffle: you to be In genuine ignorance of my Rosen thall. The house Itself wu abut That's It lia wblaiiered savagely; whereabout. I have something to up, thanks to tha outrageous Ubertine "tell all th neighborhood give me sleep on, na you perceive. In case of next door, wbo, by driving away the away at tba top of your voice. need, and of course my name la not neighbors, had gone far toward dellv With that ha turned bla back upon Raffles In the King's road. So you will ering himself Into our hands. Pracm and shambled down tha road, aee that one might bolt farther nad tically secure from surprise on that far worae." shrugging hla shoulders and mutteraide; we could watch our house under Meanwhile you use tho place as a cover of a wall Just high enough to aee ing to himself aa though I had refused him nlm a. A few momenta I stood dressing mom? over, while n fair margin of shrubs in astoumtei. Indignant at a loos; then It'e my private pavilion, aald Raf- either garden afforded us additional I followed hlin. Ilia feet trailed, hla fles. Disguises ? In sum case they protection. Thus Intrenched we bad knee gave, hla back waa bowed, bis are half the battle, and Its always stood na hour, watching a pair of lighthead kept nodding; it waa the gait of pleasant to f?fllhattiLthfiwqrt come ed how windows with vague shadows flitting eon tin nally across the bllnda and listening to the drawing of corks, the clink of glasses and a gradual crescendo ef coarse voices within. Onr tuck seemed to have deserted us. The owner of the purple diamonds waa dining at home and dining nt undue length. I thought It was a dinner party. Raffles differed. In the end we proved right. Wheels grated Jn tha drive; a carriage and pair stood at the steps, there was a stamped from the dining room, and the Iqud voices died away, to burst forth presently from the porch. Let me make our position perfectly clear. We were over the wall, at tha slds of tbo house, but a few feet from the dining room windows. On onr right om angle of tho building cut tbo back lawn in two diagonally; on our left another angle Just permitted ns te ee the jotting steps and th welting carriage. We saw Rosenthall come out saw the glimmer of bis diamonds before anything. Then came th pulady with a brad of bslr gilist, then like a bath sponge, then another,- and the party was complete. Raffles ducked and polled me down In great excitement. "The ladle era going with them, he HE ACTUALLY WANTED ITS TO I.ET HIM WRITE HIS KAMI whispered. "This Is greet!" That's better still." IN BULLETS UN TUB OPPOSITE WALL. The Gardenia! th millionaire had a Utah Ts'il? Tears ti7 ago. 'Tn-senilto the worst you ueedVt necessarily bawled. And that's best of an, said Raffles, be waited for me midway lx- -t ween be convicted under your own name. two lamp poets. As I came up he waa Then they're Indispensable In dealing standing upright as hoofs and wheels crunched through tho gate and rattled lighting rank tobacco In a cutty pipe with the fences. I drive nil my barwith an evil smelling match, and (he gains la the tongue and raiment of off nt a fin speed. Now what?" I whispered, trembling flamro showed ma the suspicion of a RhoredlUh. If I didn't there'd be the smile. very devil to pay In bihekmail. Now, with excitement. You most forgive jn.v brat. Bunny, this cupboard's full of all sorts of togThey'll be clearing away. Tea, bars but It really waa very foolish of you. gery. I tell tho woman wbo cleans come tbelr shadows. The drawing Here am I trying every dodge begthe room (hat It's for my models when room windows open on the lawn. Bunging at the doer one night hiding In I find em. By the way. I only hope ny, It's the psychological moment the shrubs the next lining every morI've got something thafll fit you, for Where's that mask? tal thing but aland and stare at the you'll want n rig for tomorrow night. I produced It with a hand whose house ae you went and did. Its a 'Tomorrow night! I exclaimed. trembling I tried In vain to still and eostnme piece, and In yon rush In your could have died for Raffles when be Why, what do you mean to do? The trick aald Raffles. ordinary clothe. I toll you theyre I intend- mad na comment on what ba could on the lookout for us night and day. ed writing to you as soon aa I got back not fall to notice. Ills own bands If tbs toughest nut I ever tackled." to my rooms to ask you to look me were firm and cool as ha adjusted my "Well, snid I. if you had told me up tomorrow afternoon. Then 1 waa mask far me and then hie own. so liefor I shouldn't have come. You gjing to unfold my plan of campaign By Jove, old boy, he whispered tnld me nothing. and take you straight Into action then cheerily, yon look a bent the greatest lie looked hard at me from under and there. There nothing like putruffian I ever sawl These masks alone the broken brim of a battered billy- ting the n error. players In first If will down s nigger If we meet one. cock. the sitting with tlu-l- r pads on that a But I'm glad 1 remembered to tell yon You're rigid. be aald at length. their apple cart. That waa anothnot to shave. Tonll pom for WhiteIve been ti close. It'e become sec- er of my reasons for being ee confound- chapel if the worst comes to the worst ond nature with ine when I've anyedly close. You must try to forgive and yon don't forget to tnlk tba lingo. on. here's Bnnbut an end of It. thing me. I eoukln't help rmiembering how Better sulk like a mole If 70000 not ny, - far ae you're concerned. I'm well you played up last trip, without rare of It and leave the dialogue to me; going home r.ow, nud I want yon to any time to weaken on It beforehand. but please our stars, thsre will be no follow me. hut for heaven's sake keep All I want Is for cool and need. Now, era yon ready? you M be ami don't apeak to me snnrt tomorrow night a you were your diktam-"Quite." urv-unl'l I speak to you. There then; though, liy Jet- -, there' no ot yourgsg? a Anil he was off eiart. g'ie ine between the tse esse:" I felony 1 SEPTEMBER hr ?fi. i . r - i , ... 1 1 bought you "You were w;il-.- rigl-r- . find it ao. l hare. Mind yon. 1 du:r this w ill lie the fouahrr job jy :ii! We shall prolwbly get In r. i.:,..i:t say tidl.-u'-y nt all; it's the 1 . Lcitiug uni iigam llut may Guminox u.--. Thats the w.iist of aa irregular hi!iili(iii:" cried Ruffle wllb quite a -- I burs! of v ii'inu'is ns. rre y.m. Kiuiry. I -- pent the whole of M it Ut n " shrubbery of the i;Jrn next e'eor. siking over the vtl), s:,U, if s me, somebody was .ibonf i,! n ht lone: I don't i .tont believe U.SH the Hs(T,' they ever get - bcl v devils: f No. f mean Rnron-'.ial- l and that pasty faced t Purvis. They were rp nud drink'.i.g from midnight, when Ikey came broad daylight, when I cleased om Even then I left ui sober enough i slang each other. the way. tiny v,-- y nearly came to blew In the g'lt.Vn v. ithlu a few yard of ire. and 1 li -- v.i something that and make Hoxcn-;ii.,i- l dime In sh.ijt (rojk-K- l ut a critical Vii'i knor. i ,t an 1. 1. B. Is? "Illicit diamoa.l .:er?" Eviu-Uy- . MY::. ,eem that Roren Mi- hull whs iu.e. mut have let it ut to Purvis in hit cups. Anyhow, I with It and i the breakwater .brrateuihg lilm at Cape Town, cm i icgln to think our i .t 1 fee. friend are Bur about Ttier.-- ' imtblr.g rl-- I i : t- all-p- oor bin-sel- u h-- mo-me- : w:-.:- fri-..- nt t.hi'i- - ::i p'sn in cefe - ',i-- r - stnir'T t Xt nll mi th "dont excIteT Its a 'fair top? Ws dont sweat to knew 'ow you bruog it shouted Purvis, getting in me art. On'y dont you go for to shoot second time. 'cos w Tat nwmed, s'help mo Gordr Ah, you're a kqowin one." said Rosenthall. fingering his triggers, but youve struck a kaowiaer. Hot yuss, we know ail abaht that! Bet a thief to ketch a thief bo, yuss.My eyes had tarn themselves from the round black muzslra, from the diamonds that had been onr usre, tho pasty pig face uf tbo over-fa- d pugilist aud the flaming ebaeka and book nose of Rosenthall himself. I waa looking beyond them at th door-wa- y filled with quivering silk and plush, block faces, whits eyeballs; woolly pates, but a sudden sllenc recalled my attention to tho millionaire. And wily hie nose retained Its color. "What d'ye mean? he whispered. With a hoarse oath. "Spit it out, or, by 'Christmas, I'll drill you! "Wbort price that brlkewater? drawled Rafflee coolly. - "Ehr aside, or d'ye want it yourself "Youi drunk," said Purvis! . , tween us. s,w ,ou uke JT, tumblerful sine you come :n, aud mode you drunk s a fuoL Pu l ir. self together, old man. You Z. do what youll be sorry "Then 1 won't short at him. 1 n fo, oaJ, boot roun aud rouu the 1,.., YouIT quite right. i feller. 'him. Great mislitake. RoungJ roun. There like thatr Hi freckled abut up over Pur via shoulder, mauve lightning from his ring, a red flash from hu volver and ehsieka from the women 7, the reverberations died sway. splinter lodged In my hair. Next Instant the prize fighter ad him, and I was safe from th but finally doomed to the J" policeman was in our mldsi. li feg euterod through the drawing wig. dow. He waa an officer of few wonu and creditable promptitude. ;B t twinkling he had the handcuffs 00 r while the pugilist explained the wrists, situation and bis psuon reviled the fore aud it representative with malignity. A fine watch they kept; a hit of good they did. In when all waa over and the whole household might have been murdered In tbelr sleep! The officer ouly deigned to notice him as be march sd me off. W know all about you, sir, n.t he contemptuously, and he refused the sovereign Purvis proffered. "You will be seeing me again, sir, at . g. d.r. d.-e- Rosen tha lTs revolvers were describing widening orbits. Whort price that brlkewater old Lb B.r Where whore did you get hold 0 asked Rosenthall, with a rattle In hla thick nack meant for mirth. Ton may well erst" eaya Raffles. "Its all over the pile were I corns thatr from." "Who ran spread such rot? "I dunuo," says Baffles; arst the fi-ip-s fraleman on yer . knows. Th gentleman ou his left had turned livid with emotion. Guilty conscience lever declared Itself In plainer terms. For a moment his small eyes bulged Ilk the currants In tlie suet of Ms face; the next he had pocketed hie pistole mi a professional Instinct and was upon ns with his fists. Out o' the light out o' the light! yelled Rosenthall In a freuzy. He was too late. No sooner bad the burly pugilist obstructed his fire than Raffles was through the window at a Some splinters lodged in my hair, . . bound, while I, for standing still and saying nothlug, was scientifically felled to the floor. I cannot hsv been many momenta without my senses. When I recov-- s ered them there was a great to do In the garden, but I bad the drawing room to myself. I sat up. RoeenthtH and Purvis were rushing about outsids, cursing the Kaffirs and. nagging at each other. h Over that wall, I tell yer! I tell you It was this one. Can't you whistle for the police? "Follro be dashed! Ive had euongh of the blessed police. Then we'd better get back and make . rare of tha other rotter. Oh, mako sure o' yer skin. That's what you'd better da Jala, yon block hog; If I catch you skulkin'" I never heard the threat I was creeping from tba drawing room on my bands end knees, my own revolver swinging by its steel ring from my teeth. Msrylt-bone- Khali I come now? "As you please, sir. I rather that the other gentleman requires you men. end I don't fancy this young bu means to give much trouble." Oh, I'm coming quietly, I ssid. And I went. In sllenoe we traversed perhaps a hundred yards. It must liars been midnight We did not meet s soul. At last I whispered: How on earth did you manage Itr Purely by luck," said Hafflss. -- 1 had the lack to get dear away through knowing every brick of those bsrl garden walls and th double lack lo have thee togs with the rest over at Chelsea. The helmet is one of s collection I made up at Oxford. Here it goes over tills wall, and we'd liettcr carry tbs coat and belt Iwfore meet a real officer I git them onre for a fancy ball ostensibly, and thro-- , by bangs a yam. I always thought they might come In useful s second time. My chief crux tonight ws getting rid of (he hansom that brought me back. I sent him off to Kcotlatul Yard with 10 bob and a special message to good old Mackraste. The whols detective depaqUnent will Im si In about half an hour. tf course I speculated ou our gentleman hatred of tha police, soother hup slice of luck. If you'd got away, wvii and good; if not I felt h. was tbs man to play with his mouse a long as possible. Yes. Bunny, Its been mare of costume pleee than I Intruded, and we've ceme out of it with a . good deal lew credit; but, by Jom-we're jolly lucky to bare come out of It at all.' Toe Hnui mt More. When the uisc awl witty Hlr Thom;i as More wtis beheaded Id bead stuck on a pule ou London bride-- , where It was exposed for fourteen days, nudi (0 the grief of his dsugii ter, Margaret Roer, who resolved ia secure It. Oue day," says Aubrey. " cite was passing under the bridge, looting nt her father's bead, she esclslni-ed- : 'That brad hse lelu many s time In my lap. Would to God It would fa'l Into my lap ss I psas under! Khe ba l her wish, and it did fall Into her lap. Probably she had bribed one of tlie keeper of the bridge to throw It over Just as the but approached, and tli exclamation was Intended to avert the At all suspicion of the boatmen. events, she got possession of it sail preserved it with great care In a Iradei casket until her death, and It is now Inclosed In a niche In the wall of her tomb In St. Dunstan's chhrefa, Canterbury. Notes and Queries. For an instant I thought that tha boll also was deserted. I woe wrong, and WorMIr taren I crept upon a Kaffir on all fours, Speaking of laughter, I have often Toor devil, I could not bring myself If the laughing man and fits to deal him a base blow, but I threat- wondered woman really get along betlaughing reened him most hideously with my world than the man and In ter the volver and left the white teeth chatwoman who do not laugh, or If they tering in hie black head aa I took th laugh nt all merely grin at some stairs three at a time. Why I went amusing thing," uld tha observant upstairs in that decisive fashion, as man. I do not know, I am sure. Of X can though it were my only course, course you will find that men sod wonot explain. But garden and ground men of both types probably In yonr floor seemed alive with men, and Z own aequalntanca have hesn abl to might bare- done worse. along fairly well In tlw world. get X turned into the first room I cams Is no doubt good capital is a Laughter la It wu a bedroom empty, though great many instances. It is equally lit up. And never shall I forget hew true that the grim face, the sour look, I started, as I entered, on encounteroften proved valuable has may eay, (I ing the awful villain (fast was myself asset. The which would seem to indist fall length in a pier glass! Masked, cate that there Is n time to laugh and a ' armed and ragged, I was indeed fit Bhoourr time not to laugh. New Orleans carrion for a bullet or the hangman, "Yes. and to one or the other I made up my Then follow me." In an Instant we were over the wall, mind. Nevertheless, I hkl myself In Frau AM's Cmapaatea In another on the lawn behind the the wardrobe lwhlud the mirror, and Frqnx Abt, the famous compowr, house. Tbo was no moon. The very there I stood shivering aud cursing was strolling home one uftemoa I ot most Raffles stars In their courses hod veiled them- my fate, iny folly, and Brunswick when be met n frkmd, for I dart sold to him : selves fur our benefit. I crept at my all Baffles first and leader's heels to some French win- say half an hour. Then the wardrobe "Yon seem very happy, dear fellow. dows opening upon a shallow veran- door was flung suddenly ojen. They Have you heard any good news? had stolen Into the room without a da. He pushed. They yielded. "Oh. no; I've Just taken dinner," w sound, and I was hauled downstairs, the Luck again, be whispered: nothreply. an Ignominious captive. You evidently enjoyed 1L Whatdn ing bnt luck! Now for a light. in followed the scenes hall Gros And the light camel you have to rat? continued Ibe friend. A good score of electric burn era The ladies were now upon the stege, A turkey. replied Abt. and at sight of the desperate criminal ' And bow many were at table? glowed red for the fraction of a secone accord. If ond. then reined merciless white they screamed with ed the other. beams Into onr blinded eyes.. When truth, I must have given them fair There were only two of ns, Mil we found onr night four revolvers cov- cause, though my mask wu now ton Abt. ear. ered us. and between two of them the sway and Md nothing bnt my left Wbo waa yonr companion T" Inquire! colossal frame of Braben Rosenthall Rosenthall answered their shrieks with tbs friend. The woman with hook with a wheezy laughter from a roar for silence. The turkey," replied Abt the bath sponge hair swore at Mm bend to foot. In return. The place became shrilly Mea Wltk Buris. Good evening, boys," he hiccoughed. a babel Impossible to describe. I reWhat a vast difference there Is be"G!ad to nee ye at last Shift foot or how would member wondering long It tween on beard end another! Thera finger, you on the left though, and be before the Purvis Is the police long, untrammeled beard, broad you're a dead boy. I mean you, you and the ladies were appeared. fnr calling them which the owner caresses s and I '.n and thick, gre.iser! he roared out at Raffles. giving me In charge without If it were an Infant. Men with sw" know yon. I've been waitin for you. Rosenthall would mt bear of it beards I've been wetcblu' yon all this week. may. I think, ns a role, be trustIe swore that he would shoot man o.--v ed rather more than other men. Csn Plucky smart yon thought yerself, jman who left his sight He bad bad you Imagine a Venetian doge of didn't you? One day beggln next police. He woe not gotime shammln tight and next one o' nough of the member of the council at ten wlthent ng to have them coming there to spoil a beard? I cannot If you have seen them old pals from Kimberley what port; he wu gang to deal with mt a man of mark fondle Ms long beard never comes when Pm In. But you own way. Wth that he dragged In left the stine tracks every day. yon mehis the processes of reflection you from rll t bands, flung me during win ln npt m.woudcr whptber or buggtii. end tlie saute tracks every nsd scut a bullet crashagainst a ii equilibrium if his mind lo would ti!ht nil round the tiiuud preaiiees." thro-i! iiSB lueh he Were ig he n'Cht to b S1? '" "All Raffle: ,ing rav'.row." .f wS basktn Tlmes-Democrs- t. . lt de-.n- iihr rc. g y Agf !, . |