The Washington times., 1894-11-12

Deen very popular among inc male pOrLlOn OI
baliety, and like the noble animals males us
ously are they still support their old favorite
cycoming to feed at her new mansion.
Jack Briggs also was fairly well known in
certain quarters as Jack Briggs but like the
countess, of late he had been figuring in quite
d new character, a little less bohemian-if
may use so mild a term to express his ordi-
nary way OF living; and much more respect
able il humble In fact, while the iascinat-
ing Mrs. Daring was doing her utmost to
behave as countess ought to do who de-
sired to become a favorite at court, Jack
/ Briggs, the burglar, did his best 10 pose as
one OF her most sedate and highly respectable
! funkeys
The world OF fashion was taking approving
notes of the former Mrs. Daring in her new
role. as the little world below the dining-room
fiat was of Mr. John Briggs, and both being
splendid specimens of humanity in their diff
ferent ways, the approval to certain extent
was deserved.
The countess was twenty-five. tall. divinely
/ fair. and so exquisitely shaped that her dress
! maker used her as the model to fashion her
/ other customers from; the burglar was
/ twenty-seven. with the most perfect lower
/ limbs in the world for knee breeches and silk
/ stockings, and fists capable of cracking the
| skull of even the most solid-headed OF po ice
men, while surmounting his strong bull-neck
was good-iookng face that. with the stall
! wart figure, had made many d servant girls
! heart throb in the past as we'll as the present.
! Jack had been in the service OF the countess
! for the last three weeks-that is since her
! marriage with the earl. He bad changed his
name and position, he had come with a
/ bushel of forged recommendations and as his
/ young mistress was allowed to choose her
| own servants, had him picked out from a
number OF other candidates by reason of his
noble proportions aud good looks. The coun-
/ tess liked good-looking men about her and had
/ i,.iiu nj oh
! Ke had acted up well to what he professed
! to be- for this was his special method of
working at his own lay. and he had received
! a careful training as a funkey before going
into the more venturesome profession OF crib
/ cracking. and on this night when he par-
posed taking leave OF the service, the serv-
ants were under the impression that he was
in his own room PROSTATE with a sick head
| ache or some other llunkey and lady-ike COM
/ plant, so that he had the coast clear before
him.
He proposed going away that night but
not Just vet; not until he had taken another
look at her iadyship and the diamonds which
she was at the moment wearing so he seized
the chance when the ladys maid was out of the
room 10 make his silent entrance. his present
intention after he bad examined round
little, being TO wait patiently in the capacious
wardrobe until her adyship had retired and
then get away quietly without disturbing any
one.
He knew that the maid was at that moment
walking in the square with his friend Flash
Jim,' whom he had introduced her 10 at
ball, and that she was not likely to hasten in,
so he proceeded leisurely enough with his skel-
eton keys to open the different drawers in
scientific fashion, abstracting what he thought
would be most useful to himself and leaving
the other articles undlsturbed while be
stuffed the goods which he decided TO take
with him carefully into a bag that he had
I brought for the purpose. In this selection
he was judicious and discreet. All such treas
ures as love letters and banknotes he laid
back in their right places again after avery
cursory examination. combining his attention
strictly to articles Of fjeweiry and gold pieces.
With a soft sigh OF pensive satisfaction he
relocked the last drawer, murmuriug to him
self gently as he looked atiectiOnately at the
well-flled receptacle; "A better haul than l
expected, 500 guilds and double that in stuff.
Now. for a spell of the wardrobe until this
| blooming party is over and then for the crys-
tails"
He was just about to take another glance
round the boudoir in case any article of fur
niture had escaped his first scrutiny when he
saw the door open and had Just time to bolt
behind the heavy hangings of the doorway
leading TO the dressing-room as the countess,
with her priceless jewery about her, entered.
| followed by one OF the guests, heavy cav
airy officer whom Jack recognized as one OF
her NEST attentive cavaliers.
"Ho, ho' thought Jack, IA bit of firta-
tion 1 suppose is what have to witness next;
yet she doesn't look over fond and he is any,
thing but smiling. What's the game l Won
der?''
He was soon to know the game and take
hand in it also, for with an ugly parting of
her rosy lips and a nasty scowl upon her
pretty brow. the countess faced round upon
her companion as soon as she had shut the
door and turned the key in the lock and said:
- Now, Capt Dick Marr, l can only give
you a few moments before we are missed,
have you brought my letters back?''
"Yes, Blanche. have you the price OF them
here?"
II have, as you desired the price of them
in notes and gold, fifteen letters, that is the
number l wrote"
Exactly, l have them here intact"
Let me see them before l get you the
money"
Get the money first, Blanche, and then
you will have them"
mo; I'll not run the risk of being cheated
again, Capt. Marr. Show me my letters and
I'll get you the money
The captain and The countess looked at each
other with the suspicion OF two Whitechapel
| hawkers. 1t was the iGnoble termination
common enough to most fashionable intrigueS
! after the gilt and gamor has worn of the
/ sentimental romance which is so charming 10
.
/ tic surroundings of moonlight, shimmering
SILKS. and highly spiced language, and Jack
Briggs, the solitary spectator, built up the
whole drama from this last act, being still
romantic in spite of his wisdom teeth having
I BSen cut early.
For moment the eX-sentimentalists locked
az each other with the calculation of two
piekpockets, and then the captain took the
packet OF letters from his breast pocket, and
b1ldlng them out so that her ladysh1p could
cn1ut them, he said with laugh:
( You see. they are all here, Blanche.
/ Yes returned the countess, sullenly.
'Now will get you'the money.
She turned to go into her dressing-room,
and as she did so the concealed burglar made
a sudden resolution. and like the man of ac-
tion that he was, acted upon it.
Excuse me. my lady,'ehe said, deferen-
TALLY. as he stepped from his cover, ''but if
you please there's no need to pay the captain;
besides, l don't think you'll find sufficient to
satisfy him in there. Permit me to help you
Her ladyship's packet, if you please, Capt
| MARI"
The countess uttered a stiaed shrek as she
saw her fiunkey emerge from the curtains,
and with nervous wrench at her necklace
| she sunk on the nearest couch and covered
her face with her hands.
The gallant captain muttered word be-
ginning with large d as he looked into the
barrel of a revolver which Jack covered him
with and then he passed over the valuable
correspondence TO the victor.
''See if the list is complete, my lady" re-
marked the faithful servant softly, as he
passed the packet on for her inspection.
"Yes," murmured the countess in very
faint voice.
Thanks madame. Now, captain. think
You'll be missed if Won don't oin his lord