The record-union., 1897-02-28

the bank quietly enough. Then as to
| the alarm, that was all right. He had,
with Slater's permission, just before
the doors closed, sent one of the bank
messengers with a letter to the police
station, ostensiby about his lost dia-
mond ring, but in reality the letter that
had excited the admiration of his
friends bearing the genuine signatures
of Beverley and Slater. He had, un-
| observed, devoted a little attention to
| the handle OF the drawing room door,
and the only remaining task was To
prevent CASTOR, his wife, or sister
leaving that room between the hours
mentioned in the letter, s and 10 p m,
and SO discovering that the strong
room door was open.
Just ) o'clock. The Colonel made his
| first move and almost fancied he could
hear his friends attack the outer door.
How slowly the minutes seemed TO
pass Half a dozen times he glared at
the hands of the clock. and half a dozen
times wondered If 1t had stopped.
Quarter past 5 chimed.
Now, if all were well, they were in
the strong room.
| Check. Colonel"
| "Ah. yes: beg your pardon. I'm play
ing badly o-night-there." The Colonel,
always a philosopher. decided that it
was useless worrying himself. and set
tied down to the game in real earnest,
| and, presto, before he knew ii the
hands Of the clock pointed to 9:1J. An
! hour gone. 1t was impossible, he
! thought, that the whole affair could
| really so through so smoothly. so quiet
| ly and, as if in answer to his thoughts.
| his hostess rose.
You will excuse my leaving you,
| Colonel Walton" she said; our maid
has been called suddenly to her mothers
| by telegram, and am sure you are dy-
ing for some Coffee
| The Colonel smiled consciously when
| the telegram was mentioned, and pro-
| tested at the trouble he was OCCASION
| ing, but as the ladies still moved toward
| the door he instinctively sprang up to
| open it for them.
| He turned the handle and pulled the !.
door sharply forward. but as it came it
| met his outStretched foot then sud-
| denly rebounded and fastened with a
snap. leaving the china handle in his
grasp.
Nine thirty
| He looked towards them with COM
| ical air of despair, and then attempted
! to fit the handle on again, but SO
| clumsily that the shaft was thrust right
| through and fell upon the mat without,
while he stood-the picture of gentle
manly embarrassment-w the handle
| in his hand.
You've done it now. Colonel" cried
Slater, looking up from his study of the
game. Thirty feet from the ground,
were prisoners until some one releases
us from the outside"
What is to be done?"
Finish the game, at any rate" sug
gested CASTOR, who perceived the vic
| tory rested with his side; and the Col
onel, with profuse apologies for his
clumsiness, walked towards the window
and gaZed down into the street.
The music of THE Gondoliers'' seemed
to have caught very strongly upon the
good people of Durnstable. A man
passed below, whistling Il Stole the
Babe" and the Colonel turned again
towards the room, and as he did so an
idea seemed to strike him. He walked
over to the fireplace, picked up the slen-
der FURNISHED steel poker and inserting
the end into the aperture where the
shaft of the door-handle fitted, used it
as a spindle, and with a deXterous twist
turned the lock and opened the door.
"Ah! got it"
Colonel Walton. you are an inven-
tive genius"
Mrs. Slater, many people have done
me the honor to make similar obser-
vation.'
CASTOR won his game, then coffee and
music, permission to smoke for the gen.
tlemen, and time, that once dragged.
was now fleet-footed. Never before had
the Colonel shone so brilliantly or been
so full of anecdote. A. last Il o'clock
came, and he rose
"One more game before you go, Col
onel,' CASTOR begged as the ladies left
them.
"Well. well, as you like. But be care
full, I'm in winning mood now
Come along, then, it is your revenge
1T is, and I'll have it,
The pieces move silently for half a
minute, and then the manager gasped.
"Confound it all! What's that"
That, CASTOR, my dear boy" the
Colonel replied, as he rose, with a grim
smile, that is what every man gets once
or twice in his lifetime and never learns
to like-'Fools Mate od-night, dear
boy. Goodnight. "-Haun Nee in Cas-
sells.