Evening star., 1898-10-08

This nocturnal backing was peculiar. The
stout man 5 idea Was evidently to distrib-
ute the weight of the gold as unostenta-
tlously as possible through his luggage. 1t
was by no means an nconsderable weight.
There was, Mr.. Ledbetter says, altogether
Eeariy tlS,0oo in gold in the black bag and
on the table. There We're also many little
rolls of f. bank notes. Each rouleau of f25
was wrapped by Mr.. Led5etter in paper
ihose rouleauX were then put neatly in
cigar boxes and distributed between a trav
ellns trunk, Gladstone bag and a hat
box About f6CO went in a tobacco tin in a
dressing bag. Ten pounds in gold and n
number OF to notes the stout man pocketed
Occasionally he objurgated Mr. Ledbetter's
clumsiness and urged him to hurry, and
several times he appealed to Mr.. Ledbet-
ter's watch for information
MI I5edoetter strapped the trunk and
oag and returned the stout man the kew
III was then ll:JO and until the stroke of
Midnight the stout man made him sit on
the Gladstone bag, while he sat at a rea-
sonapiy safe distance on the trunk and held
the revolver handy and waited
He appeared to be now in a less agrees
siVe mooN' ard, having watched Mr. Led
better for some time, he offered a few re-
marks.
From your accent, I judge YOU are q
man of some education" he said lighting
a cigar No don't begin that explanation
or yours. l know it will be long-winded
from your face, and I'm much too old a
liar to be interested in other mems living
ou are, L say, person of education You
do well to dress as a cuIate. Even among
educated people you might pass as a
curate-'
Il am a curate" said Mr.. Ledbetter cor
at least
You are trying to be. 1 know. But you
didn't ought to burgle You are not the
man to burgle. You are-if [ may say it,
the thing will have been pointed out to YOU
before-a coward"
Do you know" said Mr. Ledbetter. try
ing to get fresh opening, lit was that
very question"
The stout man waved him into silence
You waste your education in burglary
You should do one of two things Either
you should forge or you should embezzle
For my own part, 1 embezzle. Yes-I en-
bezzle. All! What do you think a man
could be doing with all this gold but that?
Listen! Midnight Ten. Eleven
Twelve. There is something very impres-
sive to me In that slow beating of the hours
Time-space; what mysteries they are!
What mysteries! It's time for us to
be moving. Stand up"
And then, kindly but firmly, he induced
Mr.. Ledbetter to sling the dressing bag
over his back by a string across his chest
to shoulder the trunk, and overruing a
gasping protest, to take the Gladstone bag
in his disengaged hand. So incumbered Mr.
Ledbetter struggled perilously downstairs
The stout gentleman followed with an
overcoat. the hat box and the revolver
making derogatory remarks about Mr.. Led
better's strengthtand assisting him at the
THE backa door," he directed and Mr.
Ledbetter staggered through a conserva
tory, leaving a wake of smashed flower
pots behindi hiniI Never mind the crocl
cry, said the Stout man; its good for
trade. We waitohere until quarter past.
You can put those things down you
have!" Mr. Ledbetter collapsed, nanting
on the trunl1 ''Hast night" he gasned a
was asleep in my slittle room and / no more
dreamt-"
There's 4a need for you to incriminate
yourself" said the stout gentleman LOOKING
at the lock'of the revolver. He began to
hum. Mr.. Ledbeeter made to sneak and
thought better ef1it.
There presently came the sound of hell
and Mr.. Ledbettsr was taken to the back
door and instructed to open IT fair
haired man in yachting costume en-. cred
At the sight of Mr. Ledbetter he siarted
violently and clapped his hand behi,d him
Then he saw the stout man. "Binehamn
he cried, who's this?
"Only a little philanthropic do of m;na-
burglar I'm trying to reform. Caught him
under my bed Just now. He's all right.
He's a frightful ass. He'll be useful to
carry some of our things" ::
The newcomer seemed inclined to resent
MI -LedbetterS presence at first but the
stout man reasSured him.
He's quite alone. There's not a gang in
the world own him. No! Don't start
talking, for goodness sake"
They went out into the darkness of ,h,
garden with the trunk still bowing Mr.
Ledbetter's shoulders. The man in vacbt
Ing costume walked in front with the Clad
stone bag and pistol; then came Mr. Led
better like Atlas: Mr.. Bingham followed
with the hat box, coat and revolver as he
fore. The house was one of those that
have tfeir gardens right up to the cliff. AT